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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 17, 2013 22:25:01 GMT -5
In the end, I went for just about the whole country because this door only opens up every so often. I thought exactly the same thing & left my GAL fairly wide. I do not have the constraints that many applicants have on location, so I will take just about anywhere. And like you said, this door does not open very often!
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Post by minny on Jul 17, 2013 23:04:21 GMT -5
I have a 15 year old who is in a very good school situation, and a mother nearby who (don't tell her I said this) is elderly, so I also selected a very limited GAL. But, I'm in the South so, hopefully, not in a dreaded highly desirable area.
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Post by DreamNalj on Jul 18, 2013 7:58:18 GMT -5
Oo-rah, teufel hunden...LOL!
But ya gotta love a bulldog owner/parent:)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 8:44:45 GMT -5
"I wonder what people think of as the rural South?"
I for one LOVE the rural South. Cheap homes and short commutes. Everyone who clings to the East and West Coast should really consider embracing small-town America. A lowly ALJ can live like a king in the right location. I worked in the DC area at one point and had a 1hr 45min commute ONE-WAY every day. Now, I live in a nice neighborhood five minutes from work.
I did want to tell the original poster that when I arrived at my first duty station with my family I mentioned that I needed to be home about 3:30 every day to meet my daughter's bus. That was four years ago. Since then about 1/3 of my hearings have been here, and the other 2/3 have been by video. It has worked out very very well. I think it's a rarity to find such an accomidating employer in that respect.
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 18, 2013 8:54:58 GMT -5
Robg you are dead on about money going further and congestion being less of an issue. I have heard people (not necessarily here) refer to cities like Knoxville, Birmingham, Savannah, and even Nashville as rural or small towns. I just think people who think those towns are in the middle of a soy bean field might be surprised.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 18, 2013 8:58:11 GMT -5
lurker2active, I doubt that you will want to or even be able to travel home very weekend. The first year requires a lot of time and some weekends to stay up, this is good in that you will accumulate credit hours. You will find you will be lucky to go home every other weekend and maybe even every third weekend. By the time, you pack, get to the airport, wait for your flight, fly home, get from the airport to home, you are looking at 5-6 hours at the least, usually. Then you have to turn around and do the same thing to get back. Being in the same position you are, my wife and I switched off flights so that we got a minivacation every other weekend adn when she came to see me, it was like a vacation, because no one had to run to the office to check the answer machine, pick up files, let the plumber in to change the toilet, you get my drift. It was not a bad situation, but hectic. You can make anything work, be creative. Private practice does give one a lot of flexibility as far as hours and days working, but the downside is no health care, no retirement, no security, no robe, but I digress...
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 18, 2013 9:07:08 GMT -5
My situation is probably unique. I have two elementary school aged children. My husband and I currently have a small private practice. Therefore, he can not easily relocate, and would have to sit for another bar if he had to move out if state. When we were looking at the GAL Mrs. Gaidin and I looked at places where she would or wouldn't have to take another bar exam. It was surprising how many states have reciprocity or something that works just as well. Obviously many do not and some there is a pretty long delay between requesting reciprocity and actually getting it but its not as bad as you might think.
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Post by valkyrie on Jul 18, 2013 11:01:11 GMT -5
Just a thought. The last hire off the old register is going to be small, and probably won't make much of a dent in the vacancies from what I am hearing. The more the vacancies add up before any large hire, the greater the opportunity to transfer after said hire. That's what happended the last time around, and from what I saw, most everybody in my training class had gotten to where they wanted to be through transfers within about two years. (no guarantees!) So as frustrating as it will be if there is no hiring off a new register within a year, it will likely mean more vacancies and some reduced stress during the following transfer fun. During those two years you can rack up credit hours and make yourself a 10-plus hour per day, four day work week, and after a year you can hopefully make significant use of the flexiplace benefits.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 18, 2013 11:10:19 GMT -5
Just a thought. The last hire off the old register is going to be small, and probably won't make much of a dent in the vacancies from what I am hearing. The more the vacancies add up before any large hire, the greater the opportunity to transfer after said hire. That's what happended the last time around, and from what I saw, most everybody in my training class had gotten to where they wanted to be through transfers within about two years. (no guarantees!) So as frustrating as it will be if there is no hiring off a new register within a year, it will likely mean more vacancies and some reduced stress during the following transfer fun. During those two years you can rack up credit hours and make yourself a 10-plus hour per day, four day work week, and after a year you can hopefully make significant use of the flexiplace benefits. Excellent points! I am sure there are many outsiders who do not know the wonderful ability to apply CH (credit hours) and to have a flexible work schedule. A foreign concept to many I bet! It was a shock to me when I started at ODAR, and now I am quite spoiled with it. Love the flexibility, and any down side that happens along in any office can be overcome. Your place of work is what you make it to be. Attitude is everything! Let those that basque in misery do it by themselves .... no need to jump on that ship!
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Post by grassgreener on Jul 18, 2013 13:15:12 GMT -5
[/quote]Excellent points! I am sure there are many outsiders who do not know the wonderful ability to apply CH (credit hours) and to have a flexible work schedule. A foreign concept to many I bet! It was a shock to me when I started at ODAR, and now I am quite spoiled with it. Love the flexibility, and any down side that happens along in any office can be overcome. Your place of work is what you make it to be. Attitude is everything! Let those that basque in misery do it by themselves .... no need to jump on that ship![/quote]
For credit hours, you have to work straight 8s, don't you? What happens if your on another schedule - 5-4-9 or 4-10s, are you just donating those extra hours?
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Post by bartleby on Jul 18, 2013 13:35:03 GMT -5
Remember, as a Judge, you can always pick up 8 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.
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Post by valkyrie on Jul 18, 2013 13:38:42 GMT -5
Don't forget that ALJs are the lynchpin of the entire ODAR process, and when we do our jobs poorly, or not at all, everyone suffers, including the claimants, the clerks, the writers, management, the reps, and the other ALJs. So if you find yourself in a difficult geographic situation that YOU willingly put YOURSELF in, don't spread the pain. Either suck it up or resign your appointment. There are a lot of horror stories on the Board about despicable ALJ mistreatment, some of which are probably true, (I will be publishing the others in the future under the title Scary Bedtime Stories for ALJs). But there is also a long tradition of ODAR ALJs who's number one priority from the time they arrived at their new duty station was to transfer the hell out as soon as possible and pregnant dog and moan about how long it was taking. Naturally, they spent more time learning about the transfer list and the Union Contract, rather than the SSA regs and procedures, and they dumped many of their responsibilities on other employees, because you can, if you want when you are an ALJ. We had a crusty old former Marine NCO in our office who would refer to these ALJs as "the new Second Lieutenant." I never served in the military, but the meaning was pretty obvious, and not a complement.
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Post by lurker/dibs on Jul 18, 2013 14:39:56 GMT -5
My husband and I talked about that same thing...he and the children will travel to where I am when I can't get get back. I guess it will depend on the travel times. And when school is out, I'm sure my husband will schedule his court calendar around so that he and the children can come stay with me for more than just a weekend. We are lucky that we currently have an associate and he will hire an additional associate or two to cover the work that I currently do in the office. So, an associate can cover court dockets if he were to come stay a while with the children. It really isn't about him taking another bar exam or getting licensed in another state. Our practice is thriving and quite successful. And our staff and associates depend on our practice remaining open. Being an ALJ would be a pay cut for me and our household. But it's where my passion is, where I want to be, and what I really believe will make me happy. So, essentially, we are sacrificing by me becoming an ALJ. It seems disrespectful for me to go after the job when I already have a wonderful job that I love when so many others are in dire need of a job or who would relish the pay increase. But, I truly want to be an ALJ. The flexibility I mostly am referring to is holidays off, no calls from clients from jail at 2am, and a regular, set work schedule. Private practice lends itself to a certain amount of flexibility. But, if you're not working, you're not getting paid, especially when the firm is run by me and my husband--and oddly we like to vacation together And I nearly always work 7 days a week, at least a couple of hours on Saturdays and Sundays, and usually 10+ hours during week days. If I could be home at 5:30 daily, I would get to see my children more, perhaps attend a field trip, too. I could also be home when school is out for federal holidays, something I don't always get to do in private practice. One of my local ALJs said that I would probably feel like I was on a permanent vacation if I got the position, as there is no stress of worrying about holding clients hands, quarterly taxes, overhead, employee disagreements, etc. I have no problem working 40+ hours per week, it's the "running a business" stress that overwhelms me at times. Though working as I do, it seems that school/extended day/summer camp/etc is currently the primary care giver for our children. I do not look forward to missing the daily events of my children's lives. But I believe that being able to be home for holidays and not have to run to the office every day on the weekends will give me a lot more "quality time" with my children. Hopefully I will get to move close to home eventually. If not, then I'm sure my husband and I will have to rethink our current expectations of the situation.
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Post by lurker/dibs on Jul 18, 2013 14:43:56 GMT -5
I plan on making myself at home where ever I get placed. In my local ODAR we call those ALJ's "revolving door judges". They want to walk in and walk out. And it's easy to spot miserable ALJ's. I think one should be ecstatic to have the opportunity no matter where they are placed. Please do not misread what I type as meaning that I won't relish the opportunity and enjoy any position that I get.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 18, 2013 15:14:05 GMT -5
Lurker, you just described why I left private practice and went to ODAR in the first place. When I worked as an associate at the big class action firm I was travelling all the time and spending long periods away from home. i had been made a "litigation team leader" and was told i would be making junior partner soon right around the time my first child was born and I remember my managing partner giving me the stink eye for telling them i would need to make sure i was home for the birth. Then I started watching the jr partners and how hard they worked, really no less travel than me, just more $. So i took my next bonus, packed up the family and ran to my wife's old small hometown and hung a shingle with the idea of being the old country lawyer, fishing with the judge, poker with the DA, sponsoring a little league team.
i had done pretty well, so I went all in and bought a nice building, hired a full staff and tried to hit the ground running. I learned quick that there are dozens of country lawyers all chasing the same car wrecks and divorces. I didnt have to travel but taking on the managment responisbilities for a small firm ate just as much time. To make ends meet i had to revert to some of my old class action, mass tort and big litigation ways and connections and did pretty well, though no better quality of life. Then tort reform became the item de jour and even settling a simple no question car wreck started requiring independent medical examinations, depositions and mediation. Just not worth it.
Luckily, an old law school buddy turned me on to ODAR. Took a pay cut to come on as an AA, but the QofL was amazing. Old fees that kept trickling in helped until i made SAA a couple years later. Still not making what i did, wont even as an ALJ. But those field trips and dance recitals are worth a ton and cant be replaced with a bigger check. I wont go back. Even if I dont get ALJ, I plan to hide right here in my perfect little federal foxhole till they run me off.
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Post by sealaw90 on Jul 18, 2013 15:51:03 GMT -5
Lurker, you also described to a tee why I came back to the government after being a solo in private practice. On one hand it is great, but ultimately the headaches and 24/7 timetable get to you. I hope for your family's sake you get selected for a nearby ALJ spot, or a short commuter plane hop away.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 18, 2013 16:10:00 GMT -5
Let's all take private pilot training and go in together on one of those private plane timeshare deals....
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 18, 2013 17:52:20 GMT -5
Even if I dont get ALJ, I plan to hide right here in my perfect little federal foxhole till they run me off. Exactly how I feel! I want an ALJ position, and will go just about anywhere to get one. I think I will do a good job, but if I fail to get a position, I will still love my current job.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 18, 2013 17:56:32 GMT -5
Let's all take private pilot training and go in together on one of those private plane timeshare deals.... Funkwings? Funklines? Funky Air? No, that last one is out. But then again, not too far off from funky-odar. LOL!
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Post by lurker/dibs on Jul 18, 2013 18:10:05 GMT -5
Oddly few people realize how much work goes into running a private practice. There is much more responsibility than just the practice of law. It's excellent money, but funky is right--there is nothing compared to dance recitals and soccer games and honors programs. I definitely think the pay cut will be worth it, especially as far as the kids go.
I'll count myself very lucky to get an ALJ job. And I think my children will appreciate it once they are old enough to really understand.
I just think this is an unimaginable opportunity and I really hope that I don't miss out on this go around. But if I do, I'll keep on living the dream! It's very difficult to keep a balanced view on this process. On one hand I am ecstatic I've made it this far and can see the light at the end of this long, hard tunnel. On the other hand I read how experienced the competition is, their insider connections, etc and I feel like there is no way I will make it. Are others on the emotional roller coaster with me??
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