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Post by jennifer on Sept 26, 2007 15:50:10 GMT -5
But, Oldtimer, that wouldn't necessarily be 150 different names, would it? Wouldn't some individuals wind up on the top 3 for a number of cities?
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Post by oldtimer on Sept 26, 2007 18:43:10 GMT -5
[assuming that my initial premise is correct] I frankly have no idea whether OPM would then provide 3 names for a given city ( in addition to the individual who appears in the top 3 for more than one location) or only 2 names (in addition to the individual in the top 3 for more than one). Pix? Anyone?  |
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Post by odarite on Sept 26, 2007 18:53:36 GMT -5
My best understanding, and I am not now nor have I ever been detailed to OCALJ, is that they get the top three names for each location, regardless. However, I suspect that because of the "all" selection, it may be that the first city for which OPM lists the names, it gets candidates 1, 2, and3 overall. Assuming that the first 4 cities have the top three candidates as "all", the 4th city would get candidates 4, 5, and 6. But I think only OPM can really answer this question.
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Post by wentwest on Sept 26, 2007 19:36:46 GMT -5
Aljsouth knows what he's talking about. It would be folly to assume hiring is modified based on some perception of trying to get and keep good people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hiring is done based on internal cues of ODAR. These do include need, as presented by volume of filings, but also political pressure and internal power distribution among Regional Chiefs. Then there is the absurd factor of vacant desks. Has ODAR specified where these "new" offices will be, to the point of actually negotiating leases? It certainly takes a while to partition space, install electronics, etc. There have been no announcements for Chief ALJs in new offices yet.
People request transfers for all the usual reasons you can imagine. But there is clearly a pattern of requesting transfers to places that are warm and have low taxes. Look at the States without their own income taxes. Look for States that don't tax Federal pensions. Places like California are desirable for the climate (at least on the Coast), but houses are very expensive, taxes are high, and there are smaller transfer lists than to Florida. I certainly hope prospective ALJs are looking at housing costs when weighing possible locations - it can be a rude surprise to find you've accepted a job where the house you like costs $900,000.
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Post by aljsouth on Sept 26, 2007 19:44:58 GMT -5
Well, that is a new thought. I never really paid attention to the 3 name rule per site. I knew that was the practice but what if the top 3 scores had all marked all. Not probable, but it could happen. Honestly, I don't know. I do agree that there must be some way to deal with this possibiity.
As to putting people were they want to go rather than putting people somewhere where they scheme to leave, I agree. The problem is that at one time the agency actively put people somewhere else than where the wanted to go. Yes, I know the candidates listed locations, but often the agency put a candidate into Houton when he/she was from Dallas, and put into Dallas the candidate from Houston. I saw this happen in the 01 hire. The agency then sweated the judge for numbers in order to move.
The transfer list changed the method of transfer, but the institutional memory of the agency did not change with the times. The agnecy could allow the candidates to list their preferences among the sites available. This would help. However, to be fair, as long as candidates insist on listing sites they really don't want or will take in order to manipulate their way to where they really want to go, then there will be this problem.
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Post by judicature on Sept 26, 2007 19:57:12 GMT -5
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Post by aljsouth on Sept 26, 2007 20:00:14 GMT -5
aljsouth, your logic regarding adding judges based on caseload per judge makes sense. I remember seeing a link to the monthly report or similar statistical compilation by hearing office on this board or its predecessor. Does anyone have the link so we can check out the statistics? I recognize that it may be an exercise in futility, but it gives us something to read and discuss while we wait...and wait...and wait. Skibum, I don't have a site and really don't think I would be allowed to release agency information. However, I will be happy to take a squint at figures and give an impression about a particular site. Understand, filings pe day per ALJ is important, but some places have high filings but low case dispositon per day per ALJ. I doubt the agency will look at this. It is NOT usally a case of a bunch of lazy ALJ's. There may be only 3 case techs to pull cases for 10 judges. Of course, these techs have other duties besides pulling cases. Hence the low production. I was in an office with one of the worst HOD's in history. ALJ monthly production often was below 30. Yet, after this HOD left, the same judges and staff with a much better management team met goal month after month. Still, filings per ALJ per day is a very helpful figure. Alas, there are some ALJ's that simply don't produce cases. In any group of a thousand or more this will always occur. From the stories I have heard there have been some strange birds as ALJ's. Most work diligently. |
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Post by judicature on Sept 26, 2007 20:03:15 GMT -5
Here - I'll save everyone some time ;D:
Aug 20, 2007, 1:53pm, powerties wrote:
So does anyone have any insight on how this will play out? For instance, if SSA decides to hire 125 bodies, will OPM for all intents and purposes simply send over a list 375 folks who by and large each checked "all" duty stations? Or will OPM simultaneously send over 125 different lists of 3 people? Or will OPM send over ranked 1 and 2 and 3 for, say, a DC job. Then when number 2 is picked, will they send over a list comprised of ranked 1 and 3 and 4. Then when number 4 is picked, will they send over a list comprised of ranked 1 and 3 and 5, and so on?
on Aug 20, 2007, 3:51pm, vet replied:
They send over a big list to cover all contingencies. SSA then goes into a dark room. Dry ice is dropped in water and the room fills with a vapor. Lisa and Franco do a mystical dance over hot coals. Then they begin figuring out how to get to the ones that they want to hire. If you are third on the list as far as score goes for your number one city, and you are the son of a Supreme Court Justice, they will find cities for the 2 above you one way or another and then be able to offer you the city of your dreams just so they can say something at a D.C. party. If you are Joe S$9& the average lawyer, you will have to see what shakes out. The order that SSA chooses to fill the cities is within their prerogative. They can't pass over certain vets so those guys are golden. The key is to send them elsewhere to keep the desirable spots for the insiders. It is a game of permutations and impossiblity complicated strategems. Buy the book - the federal alj handbook. It might give you a clue. Register on the connect board and post/suck up to pix and she might help you. There isn't much you can do now except to get ready for the insanity check that is taylored made for SSA future aljs who have made the grade.
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Post by odarite on Sept 26, 2007 21:07:24 GMT -5
In January 2007 NOSSCR published a ranking of all ODAR offices in their monthly magazine. Unfortunately, they only have electronic access to the latest issue. But if anyone saved the information when it was electronic, or is willing to slog through the January isssue, no agency secrets will be compromised. I fail, however, on both counts
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Post by chris on Sept 26, 2007 21:48:18 GMT -5
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99
New Member
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Post by 99 on Sept 27, 2007 5:41:14 GMT -5
Yes, but there are internal monthly rankings of individual office backlogs available. These numbers used to be housed on the OCALJ site, but are now in the same location as the monthly activity report (MAR). Looks like Albany and Atlanta North have the highest number of cases pending per ALJ during August.
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Post by odarite on Sept 27, 2007 7:30:14 GMT -5
I take back what I said about NOSCCR. I looked at my paper copies, and in January they published the total pending for each office. This is a useless number because a pending of 10,000 cases in a 15 judge office is no problem but in a 6 judge office a huge problem. In July they published a list by average processing time. This has a little more meaning because there is some rough correlation between how long it takes to get a case out the door and how many cases per ALJ an office has. The numbers were for the July MAR month, and the 10 worst were (in no particular order) Atlanta, Atlanta North, Columbus, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Lansing, Miami, Peoria, Dayton and Mayaguez. I still would not place too much credit in this information, as it is still not really telling you where the greatest need is for additional judges. In addition, the 1000 day case initiative is skewing those numbers, more in some places than others.
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Post by tdtksbp on Oct 3, 2007 15:29:06 GMT -5
I just found this new site today and it is many times better than the old ALJ site. It is nice to see less bickering and much more helpful information.
Does anyone know if Lexington, Kentucky has anyone in or out? I would also be interested in close locations such as Louisville, Cincinnati, and Huntington.
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Post by tdtksbp on Oct 3, 2007 15:59:58 GMT -5
I have now seen the ins and outs for Lexington, Cincinnati, Huntington. Anyone know about Louisville?
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Post by aljsouth on Oct 3, 2007 16:08:59 GMT -5
I have now seen the ins and outs for Lexington, Cincinnati, Huntington. Anyone know about Louisville? 0 in and 0 out Louisville |
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Post by oldenough on Oct 5, 2007 14:46:57 GMT -5
There are two openings in Seattle; they are likely to fill them. There will likely be two more in May, and likely two more in January 2009. They are talking about splitting the office and opening one in Tacoma.
Lost which thread, but someone eliminated KC Mo.
Consider this: Last week I was in KC and looked at a beautiful house: 4000K plus square feet, 13 year old custom built, 2 1/3 acres, in the burbs. $399.950. This house would cost 1 and 1/2 million in Seattle or environs. And you likely would find it on 1/2 acre at best. So balance the issue of parking downtown KC (Seattle does not furnish parking, and parking is $8 to $10 a day) vs. buying a house.
But be forewarned about KC Mo: the school system is notorious, going back to the 60's or 70's when the federal district court took it over for integration.
Of course, the burbs are better; and you want the Kansas burbs, not the Missouri one.
If you get an offer you need to research everything before you commit.
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Post by chris on Oct 5, 2007 21:11:36 GMT -5
I had mentioned that I do not like the location of the KC office, but I didn't mean to trash KC. I lived there briefly and loved the area. The people are great and housing is very reasonable compared with most major metro districts in other states. The Kansas burbs are definitely one of the better places to live. There are some high crime areas (especially swatches of downtown) and some nasty commutes though.
The house that cost $399K in KC and 1.5 mil in Seattle would be closer to $5 mil in San Francisco. I've heard the ODAR office there is a nice place to work but you won't be living in SF on an ALJ's salary, unless you really like 400 square foot apts in bad neighborhoods.
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Post by wentwest on Oct 8, 2007 21:56:03 GMT -5
In the past there was one last unstructured interview with a couple of Regional Chiefs before you were offered a job. At that interview you can (should) ask where they are considering for you to be placed. It is the ONLY way I ever found out what might happen. The next thing you hear, if you are lucky, is a phone call from someone who knows nothing except to ask, "Will you take an ALJ job in _______?" Should you have the massive nerve to ask for time to discuss this with your family, you might be granted 24 hours. So, there is no time to investigate real estate or schools or anything. You should be prepared NOW to say yes to the places on your list, and your family should be prepared, too. Yes, you can transfer to another place after a while, especially if you are willing to be a HOCALJ. But you really can not be certain of that. While I'm sure all of you on this board trying for an ALJ job are anxiously awaiting that phone call, be aware of the amazing work and stress that comes with saying "Yes". So, research your chosen locations now.
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Post by Propmaster on Oct 9, 2007 17:11:07 GMT -5
Anyone have info for St. Louis, Missouri and Creve Coeur, Missouri? Thanks in advance.
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Post by kingfisher on Oct 11, 2007 15:41:12 GMT -5
Anyone have info for St. Louis, Missouri and Creve Coeur, Missouri? Thanks in advance. The New Transfer List has been issued. It has not yet been posted on the AALJ website. But, per union rep, transfer offers are about to be started. So, I can give you current information about those spots, but since transfers are about to be offered, it may soon be moot. Creve Coeur has 3 request to transfer in, 3 to transfer out St. Louis has 2 requests to transfer in, 1 to transfer out |
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