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Post by pubdef on Mar 13, 2014 20:48:28 GMT -5
This evening I received the email saying that my Written Demonstration submission did not meet the required minimum score. I was anticipating that I would not make the register as my status had changed to See Details which has always been a harbinger of bad news.
While I am not surprised I am disappointed. Not because I think that I deserved it or that there was no way this could happen, but because like most people I don't like shooting and missing. But there are a several things that soften the blow and I wanted to talk about those.
1) This community has been amazing. Not only helpful with getting through this process but even now it's been great. Just minutes after I posted that I did not make the register, I had PMs from others from this board who made the register expressing their condolences. It's amazing that strangers can unite in this process, where ultimately we are fighting for only a handful of spots, and become friends.
2) If this community and the people I tested with in DC are any indication, I did not meet the required minimum because I was testing against some truly gifted individuals. There wasn't one person who wouldn't make a fantastic Judge in my testing group. Everyone was impressive.
3) I have a job that I absolutely love and an amazing family. I'm still quite young and could use a few more years of experience to prepare for the next time around.
4) I'll appeal the decision just to see if there was an error made.
I hope everyone else who doesn't meet the minimum will have some things of their own that soften the blow. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I couldn't have done this with a better group of people. Do what you need to make your career even better and enjoy the next few years of your life.
To those of you who eventually make ALJ: keep the coffee warm as I'm going to be working on my 'riting skillz. I'll hopefully see you in a few more years.
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Post by funkyodar on Mar 13, 2014 20:51:10 GMT -5
It's the gov's loss PD. damn proud to know you bud.
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Post by anotherfed on Mar 13, 2014 20:58:50 GMT -5
So sorry!
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Post by crab on Mar 13, 2014 21:02:11 GMT -5
Love that spirit, PD. Keep fighting and hang tough.
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Post by dreamer13 on Mar 13, 2014 21:03:18 GMT -5
Yep. See details group is definitely bad news. Good luck to those moving on. Although I didn't make it, I'm happy to at least get some closure. I can move on with my life and not keep wondering.
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Post by trekker on Mar 13, 2014 21:03:32 GMT -5
I'm out as well. But my spouse was planning a move out of the country anyway so it will be goodbye. As with other reporters, I missed the WD which also surprised me. I've taken and passed four bar exams at least two of which were heavily weighted essay exams. Oh well. Not going to appeal. I spend way too much time in appeal land anyway. Just remember to be nice to the claimants.
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Post by burghbum on Mar 13, 2014 21:09:27 GMT -5
Apparently my inactive status derailed me. I disclosed it in the very first assessment and explained that I was in good standing but forbidden from active practice due to the nature of my employment with the judiciary. They moved me forward; spent my money to head to D.C.; now I don't even get to know what my score would have been....
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 13, 2014 21:11:58 GMT -5
I made it and am grateful to have done so. However, I have met in person or in cyberspace far to many people who did not make it who deserved to do so. I have enjoyed all of your company and if I make a cert and ultimately get the job I will certainly keep the coffee warm. It has been a privilege.
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Post by gunner on Mar 13, 2014 21:12:24 GMT -5
I will skip to the punchline: I apologize to any SD folks to whom I gave false hope. I honestly cannot fathom how my WD score did not meet the minimum, though I'm glad they told me outright and didn't leave it up in the air between the WD and SI. Perhaps I have an overinflated sense of my own abilities. Maybe, not having written the particular type of thing before, what I gave them was not what was expected. Perhaps I needed to be taken down a notch and the universe served up this golden opportunity to eat crow in public, yet anonymously, with no actual consequences other than to my ego. Or maybe they did mess up the scoring somehow. Like the number of licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop, the world may never know. Cheers and congrats folks.
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Post by funkyodar on Mar 13, 2014 21:15:41 GMT -5
Apparently my inactive status derailed me. I disclosed it in the very first assessment and explained that I was in good standing but forbidden from active practice due to the nature of my employment with the judiciary. They moved me forward; spent my money to head to D.C.; now I don't even get to know what my score would have been.... This blows.
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Post by Gaidin on Mar 13, 2014 21:19:02 GMT -5
Apparently my inactive status derailed me. I disclosed it in the very first assessment and explained that I was in good standing but forbidden from active practice due to the nature of my employment with the judiciary. They moved me forward; spent my money to head to D.C.; now I don't even get to know what my score would have been.... I believe I would appeal.
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Post by basileia on Mar 13, 2014 21:20:40 GMT -5
Apparently my inactive status derailed me. I disclosed it in the very first assessment and explained that I was in good standing but forbidden from active practice due to the nature of my employment with the judiciary. They moved me forward; spent my money to head to D.C.; now I don't even get to know what my score would have been.... The same thing happened to me. I was inactive judicial, although my state doesn't mandate that, they just consider it full good standing to be inactive if you work for the judiciary. Out of an abundance of caution though, I went fully active again after I applied and have been ever since. Now after well over $1k spent for a trip to DC and all that time an effort, I get an NOR that says I am ineligible. I plan to appeal, since I actually am eligible and have been for most of the process. Plus, arguably, under the language of the application you (and possibly myself) were eligible while inactive. Regardless, I am rather upset about the time and money spent over something that was supposed to have been covered early in the process.
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Post by moopigsdad on Mar 13, 2014 21:43:47 GMT -5
I am sorry for all those who did not receive a NOR. An appeal never hurts. I was "complete" and lucky enough to receive a NOR. The people on this Board, in general, are all excellent people who are highly qualified. Unfortunately, whether bad luck or other reason some will not be on the new Register. My heart goes out to all of you. Even for those of us moving on, there is no guarantee of a position, just a chance (probably a small chance) of becoming an ALJ. We are still in the marathon process with a ways to go. Good luck to all on the Board.
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Post by niqueoftime on Mar 13, 2014 22:11:56 GMT -5
Ditto, well said! Cheers to you all! This evening I received the email saying that my Written Demonstration submission did not meet the required minimum score. I was anticipating that I would not make the register as my status had changed to See Details which has always been a harbinger of bad news. While I am not surprised I am disappointed. Not because I think that I deserved it or that there was no way this could happen, but because like most people I don't like shooting and missing. But there are a several things that soften the blow and I wanted to talk about those. 1) This community has been amazing. Not only helpful with getting through this process but even now it's been great. Just minutes after I posted that I did not make the register, I had PMs from others from this board who made the register expressing their condolences. It's amazing that strangers can unite in this process, where ultimately we are fighting for only a handful of spots, and become friends. 2) If this community and the people I tested with in DC are any indication, I did not meet the required minimum because I was testing against some truly gifted individuals. There wasn't one person who wouldn't make a fantastic Judge in my testing group. Everyone was impressive. 3) I have a job that I absolutely love and an amazing family. I'm still quite young and could use a few more years of experience to prepare for the next time around. 4) I'll appeal the decision just to see if there was an error made. I hope everyone else who doesn't meet the minimum will have some things of their own that soften the blow. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I couldn't have done this with a better group of people. Do what you need to make your career even better and enjoy the next few years of your life. To those of you who eventually make ALJ: keep the coffee warm as I'm going to be working on my 'riting skillz. I'll hopefully see you in a few more years.
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Post by downbutnotout on Mar 13, 2014 22:21:12 GMT -5
Apparently my inactive status derailed me. I disclosed it in the very first assessment and explained that I was in good standing but forbidden from active practice due to the nature of my employment with the judiciary. They moved me forward; spent my money to head to D.C.; now I don't even get to know what my score would have been.... I had a similar denial - I am inactive in one jurisdiction and "special" status in another (which enables me to practice for the Federal government). I think I am going to appeal but honestly have no idea what to expect. I am considered to be in good standing, too... I am inclined to think a technocrat kicked us out!
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Post by DogLady on Mar 13, 2014 22:52:31 GMT -5
First, let me say that I've enjoyed this board over the past few months.
I was a SD, and my WD did not meet the min score. As others have said, I am surprised b/c I felt okay about my WD, and usually know, or at least have a strong feeling when I didn't do well on something. I'm sure typos hurt me since I type fast and spellcheck was disabled.
Anyone have good advice about appeals?
How many SD people made it on the list?
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Post by trekker on Mar 13, 2014 23:00:38 GMT -5
You know this is quickly becoming weirdo land or better the twilight zone! A number of DQ'd because of not meeting active attorney status. Really. (This is the reason I refuse to take bar exam #5.) Some of you are members of the judiciary (as ALJ's) or have special status based on your jurisdictional bar rules. I wonder if I should have been kicked out on that along with my WD failure. Facts: I have taken 4 bar exams. Passed all four on the first try. Kept active status in first three for many years. First was on left coast. Next was exam in DC (bad advice from a mentor in left coast state.) Then had to take exam in VA because you couldn't waive into VA from DC and you couldn't take VA exam if you weren't a resident and I was part of a military family. (See bad advice from mentor.) Moved back to left coast and took exam #4 (9 years after passing exam 3) where there was no reciprocity or credit or anything including from the neighboring state. Had to take bar exam. Passed. Tired of paying for 3 bar memberships (office would only pay for one). Then moved back east 7 years later. Okay can't afford dues in 4 states at this point. Go inactive in one because there is a remote chance I will move back there or at least need it sometime in my life. Withdraw from 1 left coast bar because I had one case in 15 years there. Couldn't justify or afford the yearly increases of $50-100 in bar dues that took it up to about $700/yr. Keep DC (but not really practicing there anymore -- but did for awhile) because it gives a break in the dues to public interest lawyers. Go on special pro bono status in 4th jurisdiction and am actively doing pro bono work there -- from 2500 miles away (I do visit regularly). The bar rules from jurisdiction to jurisdiction vary so widely how can OPM properly interpret them. I really feel bad for those of you who got kicked to the curb at this late date on this technicality. At least they graders thought I could not write a proper sentence. APPEAL. That is what we do best.
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Post by murphyslaw on Mar 13, 2014 23:13:52 GMT -5
I failed the structured interview. I have no idea how or why. I know that there were only 2 people in the room, one from OPM and a younger attorney. There was not an ALJ. They asked me to sign a waiver or I would have to reschedule the interview for another day. This was kind of unfair since I would have had to buy another plane ticket. How does the appeals process work? What is the likelihood that we can succeed? How did they score the structured interview? Completely Bummed.
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Post by 71stretch on Mar 13, 2014 23:19:48 GMT -5
First, let me sat that I've enjoyed this board over the past few months. I was a SD, and my WD did not meet the min score. As others have said, I am surprised b/c I felt okay about my WD, and usually know, or at least have a strong feeling when I didn't do well on something. I'm sure typos hurt me since I type fast and spellcheck was disabled. Anyone have good advice about appeals? How many SD people made it on the list? Don't know, but there's at least one "complete" person who didn't make the register.
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Post by downbutnotout on Mar 13, 2014 23:45:56 GMT -5
You know this is quickly becoming weirdo land or better the twilight zone! A number of DQ'd because of not meeting active attorney status. Really. (This is the reason I refuse to take bar exam #5.) Some of you are members of the judiciary (as ALJ's) or have special status based on your jurisdictional bar rules. I wonder if I should have been kicked out on that along with my WD failure. Facts: I have taken 4 bar exams. Passed all four on the first try. Kept active status in first three for many years. First was on left coast. Next was exam in DC (bad advice from a mentor in left coast state.) Then had to take exam in VA because you couldn't waive into VA from DC and you couldn't take VA exam if you weren't a resident and I was part of a military family. (See bad advice from mentor.) Moved back to left coast and took exam #4 (9 years after passing exam 3) where there was no reciprocity or credit or anything including from the neighboring state. Had to take bar exam. Passed. Tired of paying for 3 bar memberships (office would only pay for one). Then moved back east 7 years later. Okay can't afford dues in 4 states at this point. Go inactive in one because there is a remote chance I will move back there or at least need it sometime in my life. Withdraw from 1 left coast bar because I had one case in 15 years there. Couldn't justify or afford the yearly increases of $50-100 in bar dues that took it up to about $700/yr. Keep DC (but not really practicing there anymore -- but did for awhile) because it gives a break in the dues to public interest lawyers. Go on special pro bono status in 4th jurisdiction and am actively doing pro bono work there -- from 2500 miles away (I do visit regularly). The bar rules from jurisdiction to jurisdiction vary so widely how can OPM properly interpret them. I really feel bad for those of you who got kicked to the curb at this late date on this technicality. At least they graders thought I could not write a proper sentence. APPEAL. That is what we do best. Trekker - I am in the bar membership boat. There seems to be a few of us scaterred about. I have started a stand alone thread if you want to share issues/strategies. I agree - twilight zone to have come so far and get that notice. Good luck!
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