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Post by onepingonly on Jul 27, 2013 23:10:24 GMT -5
About the only gov job close to ALJ in pay is SES, which has numerous disadvantages. Most SESers are held to MUCH more stringent production requirements, supervise large offices, have lots of union issues, have tough performance appraisals, and serve at the pleasure of the administration. The substantive requirements are more rigorous, and you need a political connection. ALJs are appointed for life, serve no probationary period, have no performance appraisals, report to no actual supervisor, and do not need to supervise anyone. By the way, exjag, congratulations on the promotion! GS-15s don't grow on trees.
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Post by workdrone on Jul 27, 2013 23:25:11 GMT -5
And after three years, you're essentially at the equivalent of a GS 15/10 in the same location. Touche. For ALJs in high COLA areas (Huston, NY, SF, LA), they get very close to the ALJ pay cap of $165,300 after 3 years. For the rest of the ALJs, most of them hit the pay cap by year 5, or year 7 at the latest. See: 2013 ALJ locality pay chartALJ pay progressionFor a GS-15, it takes 18 years to get to GS-15/step 10, which currently caps out at $155,000. And for a GS-15 living in a high COLA areas like LA, it takes 12 years to hit the 155k GS-15 pay cap, and at the maximum salary, GS-15/10 is still about 8k lower than an ALJ. See: GS Pay ChartsGS Step Increases
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 27, 2013 23:37:58 GMT -5
I thought the feds put a freeze on the automatic step increases (not just for ALJs) not long ago. Is that not the case?
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Post by hopefalj on Jul 28, 2013 0:22:46 GMT -5
I thought the feds put a freeze on the automatic step increases (not just for ALJs) not long ago. Is that not the case? No. COLA raises were frozen, but step increases have continued on. I believe there may have been some discussion about freezing step increases, but nothing has come of it yet. You do raise a good point that the possibility of a future freeze is out there, though.
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Post by christina on Jul 28, 2013 7:49:02 GMT -5
exjag, given how much the ALJ gig will boost ur retirement pay, it does make sense to do that. Yes, you'll be giving some really cool stuff up but you can offset the travel options by travelling on ur own. Can't offset the other stuff but I think the increased retirement can make up for that. Just my 2 cents on this topic.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 28, 2013 8:12:57 GMT -5
Retirement is not as fantastic as you may think. You get one percent per year, so even if you top out, $165,000.00 and retire after 10 years, you only get $16,500.00 per year retirement. 20 years gives you $33,000.00 per year. You need to throw as much into you TSP account as possible, which is about 15% and the Agency will match 5%, giving you a fair additional amount for retirement.If you have worked for the Government for 10-15 years and can do another 15 years and have been good with your TSP and add in your Social Secuurity amount you can retire with maybe 50,000 - 60,000 a year. However, if you have been in private practice with no retirement program and been writing off enough expenses so you haven't paid squat into Social Security and have no savings, you are in a world of hurt..
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Post by crab on Jul 28, 2013 8:47:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the insight, Christina! And Workdrone, great links with very helpful information. Bartleby, I think the federal retirement system looks great as you describe it - I'm sure many folks would like a good salary with all that matching (I'm certainly one of them, lol).
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 28, 2013 8:58:28 GMT -5
Especially, considering most places of work don't even offer any retirement benefits at this time, just a 401k.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 28, 2013 9:19:46 GMT -5
Agreed. the pay isn't bad but I would think it. is below what a similarly experienced lawyer makes in private practice. but the benefits are unmatched by anything being offered today to my knowledge.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2013 9:29:57 GMT -5
Funky, Christina, Batleby, Onepingonly et al. Thank you for the advice, much appreciated. I am putting the carriage before the horse and need to worry if I make the register and if I score high enough to even get an interview. Premature for me to worry about the job but I am grateful for the discussion because if I ever were to take on such a job I would do so with my eyes open. Doing so would hopefully not put me in the same position as extang which really sounds like he regretted his decision for a long time. I have enough regrets at this state in life, do not need one that I will relive every day. Again, many thanks!
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Post by crab on Jul 28, 2013 9:33:16 GMT -5
Yup and the salary seems great when you factor it's a 40 hour week with tsp and other QOL perks like compressed schedules, credit hours and lots of leave....
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Post by workdrone on Jul 28, 2013 10:00:52 GMT -5
Agreed. the pay isn't bad but I would think it. is below what a similarly experienced lawyer makes in private practice. but the benefits are unmatched by anything being offered today to my knowledge. Agreed. While the raw pay may not appear all that impressive compared to top end private sector legal jobs, it's far out weighted by the fact that it's usually 40 hrs a week, you never have problem taking your vacation, and no rainmaking. Not having to keep track of billable hours and kissing clients' rings for business is priceless.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 28, 2013 12:59:37 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for giving your views and experiences. I'm on the rear end of my career now and am fortunate enough to be drawing a pension, which gives me options. I really like my new job but who knows if I want to be doing Final Pretrial Orders and dealing with crabby federal judges for the next 10 years. I also hate the grind of ESI and all the satellite litigation and all the really high tech stuff it takes to put on trials these days. I hate billing hours. I've worked really really hard--often at the expense of not spending time with my kids--but they are no worse for the wear. I like the idea of the flexibility and benefits of the ALJ job. I'd like to travel and the ALJ salary with my pension would help me to get my kids through college. I know how to manage a caseload, have worked in idiotic environments with clients and supervisors making really stupid decisions. I know how to deal with all kinds of people and make expectations clear. I really don't care about the room I'm in or being a judge. I would like to help people and at least provide them with process and I like medical issues. The ALJ job could be okay at this time of my life. I looked up the ALJ's in my current city and many of them have varied backgrounds and I recognize some names. (Also, it seems a lot of brief writers get their revenge on those disability judge sites--interesting). It also seems that there are some VERY inconsistent decisions and production rates amongst the judges. I teach at a law school as an adjunct and there are opportunities to get involved with cutting edge projects so I can keep intellectually stimulated that way. My challenge would be not to burn out and try to catch up on backload--been there before and I am not the 9-5 type. I applied for this job because it was time to leave my prior job and I applied for many jobs. Luckily, I found one where I would be happy to stay at indefinitely. I almost didn't even complete phase 2 of the process for this but did so shortly before midnight on the day it was due. I have a GAL limited to my current city and would not move and would not want to be a SSA judge in another city. Soooooo, I will see what happens with the testing and interview and see what happens. I'm very curious about the next phase. I'm not really in any hurry. This gives me the realistic view I needed and if I progress, I'll talk to the ALJ's in my city. if not, I really haven't lost anything. Thanks! Eyes wide open, realistic approach and expectations, good plan. I think you have the perfect attitude. Best of luck
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 28, 2013 13:04:52 GMT -5
As an aside, I left a phone number I needed at work and went by this morn to get it. There were 3 aljs there plugging away on a sunday morning. one of which I know has already maxed his 24 credit hours so for him at least thisis a donation of time.
No comment on these judges' efficiency. Just facts to be consideredby those expecting a "stress free" easy gov job .
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 28, 2013 13:21:14 GMT -5
Of course they could be in there working today so that they can blow off working and look at Facebook this week. Or they are there because they hate their home life even more.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 28, 2013 13:27:46 GMT -5
Of course they could be in there working today so that they can blow off working and look at Facebook this week. Or they are there because they hate their home life even more. True
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Post by workdrone on Jul 28, 2013 13:34:03 GMT -5
You can only carry over max of 24 credit hours into the next pay period (biweekly).
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Post by cougarfan on Jul 28, 2013 13:45:35 GMT -5
As an aside, I left a phone number I needed at work and went by this morn to get it. There were 3 aljs there plugging away on a sunday morning. one of which I know has already maxed his 24 credit hours so for him at least thisis a donation of time. No comment on these judges' efficiency. Just facts to be consideredby those expecting a "stress free" easy gov job . I've seen judges do that. I've been at it for a year now. I have not worked a weekend day since starting this job. I will work extra hours until I max out my credit hours and then not until I've used them. First time in my career I'm not working weekends or into the evening.
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Post by cougarfan on Jul 28, 2013 14:31:12 GMT -5
How did you train yourself to just stop at the end of the credit hour time? Just got up and walked out? I always want to finish before I leave. Yea, it was pretty weird at first, but so was not working on Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, etc. For me, I started riding the public bus to and from work, which I find I enjoy, so I could tell myself that I have to leave at a certain time to catch my bus. And then, just get up and walk out! (that was a hard adjustment). I have had to learn to look ahead and if I don't think I have time to finish a hearing prep I will do some decision editing, reviewing requests for good cause for untimely filing, etc. I rarely leave something unfinished when I leave.
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Post by cougarfan on Jul 28, 2013 14:36:17 GMT -5
Wait--is my math correct? If you work 52 hours per week (I always work at least this), you get one week off per month? Or 12 weeks off per year in addition to vacation? If so, that is an unbelievable benefit. I think it's a little harder in practice than in theory, just making the hours match up. But for example, a judge in my office takes every other Friday off without any problem and without using vacation time. If you can manage your credit hours, and work around your docket you should be able to do something close to that. I've used my credit hours for things like flying out to help my son drive back from college (a nice 3 day road trip with him I never would have been able to enjoy in my previous career) and for a portion of our family vacation this Summer. But I have been inspired by my colleague and may start just taking off every other Friday, again I will need to adjust to that concept.
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