Non-SSA ALJs: Please weigh in on your experiences and agency

[sandiferhands (old)]

Most of the discussion here seems to center on SSA positions. That has been fascinating to read, but I would also like to hear from current ALJs about their non-SSA positions, e.g.:

What agency do you work for?
Please describe generally the work you do?
Are there any quirks, cool things, etc. about your cases for that agency?
What background would best prepare a new ALJ for your agency's cases?
Do you have any idea about the availability of open ALJ slots with your agency for the incoming ALJs?

Thanks for sharing. S

[factfinder]

You are violating etiquette - what you ask would cause the judges to identify themselves. This post should be removed by the moderator.

[keepsake]

I agree with factfinder - but would give sandiferhands a break as a new member who maybe doesn't realize that most other agencies have so few judges (whether any of them actually follow this board regularly or at all is another question) that answering these questions would reveal their identity. For example, I think USPS has 1 judge and EPA has I believe 3. Not a lot, if any, anonymity in numbers this low or even in numbers getting up to 10 or so. I suggest to sandiferhands that he look at the list of agencies that have ALJs and go to their websites to get a sense of what kind of work these other agency judges do. Furthermore, as discussed in other posts - the hope of getting an SSA ALJ gig and then getting picked up by one of these other agencies is slim given the sheer numbers of positions and the relative lack of tunrnover as I understand it. Can happen and has happend, but really a long shot just based on the numbers.

[hod]

Also in fairness to our new member-no one is forcing anyone to answer or reveal herself. If an ALJ from another agency wanted to send a private note or even a public one-there is nothing to prevent such action.

[privateatty]

Jun 25, 2013 13:05:15 GMT -5 hod said:

Also in fairness to our new member-no one is forcing anyone to answer or reveal herself. If an ALJ from another agency wanted to send a private note or even a public one-there is nothing to prevent such action.

True. But the other posts on this thread are also accurate. NLRB, DOL and OMHA all have more than 30 Judges. The rest of the Agencies that employ ALJs do so in much smaller numbers. Each Agency provides a much different legal framework (natch) and (from what I hear) a somewhat different work environment. Some ALJs write their own decisions, some don't. Some are engaged in regulatory work, some in adjudicatory and a few, I think, are a mix. Alot travel, but some don't. Some ALJs act like USDC Judges and preside over epic battles that can last weeks...the differences are legion.

[hod]

Jun 25, 2013 17:02:52 GMT -5 privateatty said:

Jun 25, 2013 13:05:15 GMT -5 hod said:

Also in fairness to our new member-no one is forcing anyone to answer or reveal herself. If an ALJ from another agency wanted to send a private note or even a public one-there is nothing to prevent such action.

True. But the other posts on this thread are also accurate. NLRB, DOL and OMHA all have more than 30 Judges. The rest of the Agencies that employ ALJs do so in much smaller numbers. Each Agency provides a much different legal framework (natch) and (from what I hear) a somewhat different work environment. Some ALJs write their own decisions, some don't. Some are engaged in regulatory work, some in adjudicatory and a few, I think, are a mix. Alot travel, but some don't. Some ALJs act like USDC Judges and preside over epic battles that can last weeks...the differences are legion.

[JudgeRatty]

So, is there a "list" somewhere of all the different agencies that pull from the same register that SSA uses? Forgive me if there is an applicable thread and I am repeating an already asked question. And do the other agencies post openings separately on USAjobs or do they just go to the register?

[hopefalj]

Jun 25, 2013 20:18:34 GMT -5 JudgeRatty said:

So, is there a "list" somewhere of all the different agencies that pull from the same register that SSA uses? Forgive me if there is an applicable thread and I am repeating an already asked question. And do the other agencies post openings separately on USAjobs or do they just go to the register?

Someone can correct me, but I believe the number of agencies that hire directly off the register are few, and the opportunities to get hired off the register to another agency is rare. I believe most other agencies post vacancies on USAJobs, but the requirements usually indicate you must have experience as an ALJ. Several hires are from the ODAR ranks, I believe.

[sbr]

Here is a link to an SSA OIG report, which I believe has been posted on this board elsewhere:
oig.ssa.gov/sites/default/files/audit/full/pdf/A-05-12-22144.pdf
Appendix G shows the number of Federal ALJs as of December 2010, so its a few years old, but gives folks a general idea of which agency federal ALJs are at, I've copied the table below:

Table G–1: Number of Federal ALJs as of December 2010
Federal Agencies Number of ALJs
1 Social Security Administration 1,448
2 Department of Health and Human Services 70
3 Department of Labor 44
4 National Labor Relations Board 39
5 Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission 19
6 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 15
7 Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission 12
8 Department of the Interior 11
9 Department of Homeland Security 7
10 International Trade Commission 6
11 Department of Justice 4
12 National Transportation Safety Board 4
13 Department of Agriculture 3
14 Environmental Protection Agency 3
15 Federal Labor Relations Authority 3
16 Securities and Exchange Commission 3
17 Commodity Futures Trading Commission 2
18 Department of Housing and Urban Development 2
19 Department of Transportation 2
20 Federal Maritime Commission 2
21 Department of Education 1
22 Federal Communications Commission 1
23 Federal Trade Commission 1
24 Office of Financial Institution Adjudication 1
25 United States Postal Service 1
26 Merit Systems Protection Board 0
27 Small Business Administration 0
TOTAL 1,704

[chinook]

If you are not a sitting ALJ (or former ALJ) the only way you can get hired is through the register. Postings on USAJobs are only for transfers. That said, since this process began in 2007 (after the litigation), I know of six agencies other than SSA that have gotten certs to hire new judges (I know of these either because I was contacted by the Chief Judge for an interview while I was on the register or I know a Judge that was hired without going through SSA). Some of these six have hired off the cert while others have not. I know of one agency that has adversarial hearings that got three names of individuals that had never been in court. They did not hire any and went the transfer route. Getting hired without going through SSA is a matter of lucky timing, geographical preference (usually DC), and SCORE. Most that get hired directly have very high scores.

[JudgeRatty]

Thank you sbr and chinook! Very helpful!

[71stretch]

The numbers, compared to the SSA numbers, are very small, so the number of openings is very very small. Most are in the DC area, some agencies have offices in a few other large cities. for positions that will hire from this register, you will need a high score and the right GAL to have a realistic shot at one of those positions in the event of an opening.