|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 1, 2016 11:09:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by ba on Mar 1, 2016 11:32:05 GMT -5
Is there a good thread that discusses the GAL theories? Especially advice on choosing your GAL. List every place you can even consider thinking you can stand to be for two years and err on the side of inclusion because SSA will give you an opportunity to reduce it if you make a cert. Done.  |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 1, 2016 11:35:51 GMT -5
This is a good discussion about of GAL strategy but it is essential to remember that it is now 15 months to get on the list which probably translates to a bare minimum of 16 months before a transfer could be effectuated. That assumes an opening that ODAR wants to fill in a location on your transfer list that someone ahead of you on the transfer list doesn't take. Counting on transfers as part of building your GAL is definitely a buyer beware situation. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/2539/gals-transfers?page=1****edit follows**** I think GAL choice is particular to each of us whether your concern is your kid's school, healthcare concerns, climate, economic factors, etc. So there just isn't any 1 size fits all advice except that you need to be prepared to live with the choice for a while. ***** second edit follows***** sealaw90 found an old map with all the cities in 2013 plotted on it. I am linking to his post in that other thread. When the new GAL comes out we will try to get this updated. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/93499/thread****** third edit follows******* Revised for 2016 GAL Map aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/3742/2016-gal-map?page=1&scrollTo=93668*****fourth edit follows****** There was a discussion about transfers and GAL selection and an ALJ discussed how hard the wait for a transfer has been on him and his family. It was hard truth and I think you all should read it. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/95748/thread |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 8, 2016 10:08:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 8, 2016 10:15:29 GMT -5
Thanks, Gaidan. That is very considerate. I have had a ton of newbie questions because I am living it. But, I have tried to make best friends with the search feature. Common pitfalls to avoid when applying (to avoid to getting axed at stage 1) would be a good subject for renewed old threads at this juncture. There are certainly threads from the April 2013 time frame where people talk about the reasons they think they did not get invited to phase two. The only real advice for phase one is read the directions and follow them. Do not answer the questions you want them to ask. Answer the question they ask instead. |
|
|
|
Post by Pixie on Mar 8, 2016 11:19:18 GMT -5
I think what I might do in this thread, if there are no serious objections, is to occasionally clean the thread of all but the links Gaidin has provided and a few of the very helpful comments. This will keep it from getting cluttered and be easier for candidates to find topics on point. Pix.
Edit Note by Pixie: Normally I would delete this post as well, but I think it best to leave it so members will know why their posts were deleted. Pix.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 8, 2016 11:24:49 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixie on Mar 8, 2016 12:28:21 GMT -5
Judge Funk posted some excellent comments in his Primer thread. It was created about the time this thread was created. It occurs to me that perhaps we should keep the two of them together. I have pasted his comments below. If some of you feel that this thread needs to stand alone, please let me know. If enough of you feel that way, I will delete this post. Pixie.
Posted by FunkyOdar in his Primer thread:
Ok, guys and gals, this wonderful board is an amazing resource for all those that go blindly into the maze of alj hiring. But, as we enter a phase where different groups are in vastly different stages of the game, things seem (at least to me) to be getting crossed, catywampussed and confused. Judging from the many PMs I have received and several postings on the board, many of our newest members are confused on just what they need to be worried about. I am far from any expert on this dark and silent process, but I thought I might try and start a thread to shed what small light we have.
First, it's important to know the Cast and figure your role in it. The Register (the list of people OPM has qualified to be considered by agencies for ALJ positions) is really an ever changing thing. The current Register (created from the new testing and job opportunity announcement from March 2013) has people already on it. There are folks that have been on it since the very first round of NOR scores were released in 2014, some 10 point eligible veterans (who can apply at anytime) that have been added since those first NOR scores and now a newer group that tested back in August/September and got there scores more recently.
Second, there is a group that has finalized all the levels of testing and are merely awaiting their NOR scores. Third, is all you newest folks that have found the board in hopes of starting the process from stage 1 when the expected "Refresh" happens in or around April of this year. Also, interspersed into the mix are people like me (who went thru this new testing) and have been already hired as an ALJ, earlier appointees who were hired off of now expired registers and went thru different testing, and the wonderful moderators Pixie and ALJD (without whom this board would not exist).
It is important to know your role. If you are joining the board now in hopes of starting the process in April, you don't need to worry yourself at this point with any of the discussions about the online testing phase, the final DC testing phase, NORs, certs, agency interviews, 3 strikes, rule of three or anything else until you cross that bridge. A guesstimated number of 6000+/- applicants started the trek in march of 2013 and all but around 800-1000 of them were cut well before they ever had to worry about most of that stuff.
Right now, focus on phase 1. It seems simple but it is a trap that has caught many an unsuspecting applicant. They will ask you if you have 7 years of litigation or administrative law experience. This is not a yes or no question. There are ample threads on here that talk about that and you should read them. All of them. You should also put consideration into your GAL (geographic availability list), as you will be asked at the time you submit your initial application about where you would be willing to serve. Only on 2 occasions in the past have applicants been allowed to add to the list they originally sent in. You can cut cities later, but adding is much more rare.
And that's it. That's all you should be concerned with at present. A huge percentage of people never make it out of that simple phase. If you do, then you can go read up on what little (thanks to confidentiality requirements) has been reported about the online testing (another place where dreams have gone to die). Get by that, then worry about the DC proctored testing and interview. get by that, then you can wait and hope for an NOR that gets you on the register. Only once you are on the register will things like certs, agency interviews, rule of 3 or 3 strike rule matter to you. And you have a long, long, treacherous way to go before that point.
The people on this board are incredibly helpful and informative. That is truly an amazing thing given this is a competitive process populated with attorneys. You can help keep it a pleasant environment by remembering a few things.
1. ALJD and Pixie have worked hard for years to keep this board civil, informative and on point. If they give you a polite little nudge or warning.....heed it.
2. Read the sticky notes at the top of the general discussion board list. They have a wealth of info on the process, the ALJ job and the function of this board. While some of the info is a bit outdated and applies to the old testing methodology, most has been amended and updated to reflect the new reality. Most questions you have about the process have at least basic answers in those sticky notes.
3. Use the search function. Want to know what the boards best guess is on how the three strike rule is applied? There are probably no less than a dozen threads where that is the topic. If I were just starting this process, I'd focus on trying to read almost all the substantive threads started since March of 2013. The collective knowledge and experience of this board is overwhelming and worth its weight in bitcoins.
4. JOIN THE BOARD. I understand the desire to remain anonymous. But, if you just lurk you are missing out on seeing all the additional info and stats in the Poll section of the board. That section is likely way more useful than the general discussion board. And, please vote in the polls. It's completely anonymous and helps our resident stats guy Gaidin keep info current. Edit Note by Pixie: And make sure to put your reason for wanting to join in the hard to find white box.
5. Finally, remember that this is an internet board where people are competing for the same limited number of jobs. Everyone here is incredibly helpful in light of that, but still. In the end, very one who gets one of the gigs keeps 2 or 3 other members from getting it. Don't ask questions about particulars of the testing. Not only is everyone that went thru it bound by a confidentiality agreement, it's just wrong to ask someone to give you a leg up when doing so could put you ahead of them in the likelihood of getting hired. Why would someone tell you what was on the SJT if you are just gonna use that info to get a better score than them and pass them over on the register? Those of us already in the job want to make sure our future colleagues are worthy of the gig. That means they made it without unfair advantage and honor things like confidentiality agreements. You want to know as much about the process as possible. I get that. Read what's already on the board, it's been vetted. But don't ask me, one of the people you are competing with or anyone else for restricted details.
OK, off my soap box. All of the above is just my humble opinion and attempt to be helpful. I hope everyone, be they current register residents, awaiting NOR scores or getting their apps ready for the refresh, good luck. We need all the help we can get.
Funky
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 8, 2016 12:40:05 GMT -5
Funky[/quote]I deleted my post above that linked to this post in the other thread. I believe this post is invaluable and I completely agree it should be preserved here.
Edit by Pixie:It is good to have the imprimatur of the original poster. I will leave it up, then. Pix.
|
|
|
|
Post by gary on Mar 8, 2016 17:32:25 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 10, 2016 16:25:10 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Propmaster on Mar 14, 2016 12:51:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 25, 2016 10:18:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by trickbag on Mar 25, 2016 10:32:54 GMT -5
You can also use google to search the boards, which I have found more effective than the in-house search feature. Just use the following search at google.com, where [your search terms] is what you're looking for: site:aljdiscussion.proboards.com [your search terms] NB it doesn't search the Polling Palace since that's not public. |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 28, 2016 21:37:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 29, 2016 8:08:53 GMT -5
A lot of people are worried about their resumes or how to answer different questions on the the application. I will not answer those questions any more other than to point people back to this post. In the Spring of 2013 a great many fine lawyers didn't make it through to the online testing. There are a number of threads from that time that will help you figure out what they thought they did wrong. Anyone you ask today is telling you what they remember from 3 years ago. Maybe it is accurate or maybe their memory is clouded by time. When in doubt I strongly recommend going back to look at threads from the same month and the month or two afterwards in 2013 to see if you can get someone's real time observations. That may still leave you with questions but at least you won't be flying blind. A good thread about folks who did not clear the application step. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/2124/appealing-on-experience-issue?page=1 |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Apr 11, 2016 8:42:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Apr 14, 2016 10:46:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by gary on Apr 14, 2016 10:53:42 GMT -5
The article is good on applying and on the testing. It is not current in describing the cert process, so rely on the Board rather than the article for information on that part of becoming an ALJ. |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Apr 21, 2016 11:39:09 GMT -5
A number of people are confused by why so many people are on the certs. This is because of dual certification which gary does a remarkable job of explaining. Here is one his many fantastic explanations the process. aljdiscussion.proboards.com/post/97074/thread |
|
