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Post by february on Jun 19, 2016 19:21:40 GMT -5
I agree--this is all super helpful. Some of it is going way over my head right now, but I anticipate coming back to this in a couple of months when I'm sure it will be even more helpful.
On the off chance there are other NODARS out there who happen to have complimentary access to PLI courses through their current employers, I wanted to point out that there's an on-demand CLE program on disability law that might be worth a couple of hours of your time. It's geared toward attorneys who want to do pro bono work representing claimants, but I found parts of it to be useful in giving a general overview of the law and process. I wouldn't pay for it myself, but if you can access it for free, and you're looking to accrue a few more CLE hours, it's worth taking a look.
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Post by christina on Jun 19, 2016 19:38:22 GMT -5
Be careful with those courses. Some have mistakes in them.
Better to start off with our internal training for those who no ssa law background.
These Courses are good down road to see how ssa bar is thinking on issues.
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Post by funkyodar on Jun 19, 2016 19:47:46 GMT -5
I agree with Christina. Don't worry about the law or the process till you get to your office.
In your first three weeks you will get tutorials on the systems. Focus on learning those to the best of your ability.
There will be conference calls and vods and reading assignments that will quickly introduce you to ssa, the law and the process.
It was once required but not sure it is anymore, but you should ask to spend an hour or so with someone in every position to learn what it is they do and where they fit. Getting a walk thru with an sct will tell you more about how the file is arranged, the development steps and what not then any other training. Read a few opinions and spend some time with the writers. Talk to the scheduler and figure out the lay of the land regarding who has what days, whether you will ultimately travel, what the SOP is for VEs and reporters.
Make your mentor or better yet as many judges as you can walk you thru how they prep a case, hold a hearing and do their instructions and edits.
WATCH AS MANY HEARINGS AS YOU CAN. FROM AS MANY DIFFERENT JUDGES AS YOU CAN.
For those with insider experience, the first three weeks are boring as hell. But for a nodar they are invaluable.
Just try to pick up the broad strokes. The month in FC will fill in the detail and is really superb training designed for folks with no ssa background.
Funky
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Post by february on Jun 19, 2016 20:14:11 GMT -5
Oh, I've see enough program on topics I'm knowledgable about to know that one should always take CLE with an enormous grain of salt. That said, PLI is pretty reputable, and it was helpful for me to hear the overview of the process and to hear the perspectives of several claimants representatives. Also, the CLE hours came in handy since I'm not sure yet what I will do about my bar license status (sadly, my state doesn't count ALJs as judges for licensing purposes). I'm looking forward to the official training and glad to hear that it's so awesome.
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Post by gary on Jun 19, 2016 20:58:58 GMT -5
I agree--this is all super helpful. Some of it is going way over my head right now, but I anticipate coming back to this in a couple of months when I'm sure it will be even more helpful. On the off chance there are other NODARS out there who happen to have complimentary access to PLI courses through their current employers, I wanted to point out that there's an on-demand CLE program on disability law that might be worth a couple of hours of your time. It's geared toward attorneys who want to do pro bono work representing claimants, but I found parts of it to be useful in giving a general overview of the law and process. I wouldn't pay for it myself, but if you can access it for free, and you're looking to accrue a few more CLE hours, it's worth taking a look. There was one for free on PLI for anybody. I took it as part of my MCLE requirement earlier this year. |
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Post by Pixie on Jun 19, 2016 22:18:02 GMT -5
Oh, I've see enough program on topics I'm knowledgable about to know that one should always take CLE with an enormous grain of salt. That said, PLI is pretty reputable, and it was helpful for me to hear the overview of the process and to hear the perspectives of several claimants representatives. Also, the CLE hours came in handy since I'm not sure yet what I will do about my bar license status ( sadly, my state doesn't count ALJs as judges for licensing purposes). I'm looking forward to the official training and glad to hear that it's so awesome. Probably not so much as they don't count them as judges, but more that the CLE training they receive doesn't comply with the state CLE requirements, for obscure reasons such as not enough training by outside speakers. In my state, the Article III judges have been exempt because of the required training by their governing body, the Administrative Office of the US Courts. When it was pointed out that our required training requires approximately the same number of hours (not including the AALJ Conference which is voluntary), the state CLE commission agreed and exempted us from the CLE requirements. Interestingly, State Court Judges are still required to pony up the required CLE hours, as there is no required training for them (other than the state CLE requirements). Every state is different and YMMV. Pixie. |
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Post by inpatientlurker on Jun 19, 2016 22:56:52 GMT -5
If you want to learn about Social Security from the initial application all the way through a District Court appeal, James Publishing puts out a great book that I used to learn the practice of Social Security Disability Law: jamespublishing.com/shop/social-security-disability-practice/ I highly recommend the book for learning about the practice. Even though it covers a lot of the process that we don't need to know to decide cases, it helps provide a good understanding of what the claimants go through. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 7:17:03 GMT -5
For all the new hires and wannabes out there still waiting, I would highly recommend you save this thread as one of the best I have read on here for quite awhile. You are getting direct first hand experiences here that you will NOT receive in training.
Pixie and I are virtually identical in our methodology; yet she and I have yet to meet (I think).
Funky, OK1956 (who is next office to me) know each other well; yet we are on opposite ends of spectrum on "how to" process claims.
Both processes work very well as each ALJ has learned how best to manage their time.
I as Pixie have pre-reviewed my cases and each case is 90% completed to decision at least a week (if not 2) before the hearing. At the hearing, I run the hearing. Period. From start to finish. The rep will contribute some direct exam and then some cross of the VE. The reps I routinely see (my cases are 98% video) know to have themselves and their clients at the hearing site a minimum of 1 hour in advance, preferably 2. This is because I leapfrog; they are not there or ready on time, I leap to the next on docket. Hearings run no more than 45 minutes on average. My SCT sends out in advance to all repped cases a prehearing inquiry. Reps are "requested" to submit a prehearing brief outlining all facts, referencing exhibits and giving me their step 5 analysis, at least 10 days prior to hearing. (Those who fail to do so are "inquired of as to why they failed" in front of their clients at the hearing, almost all reps do not fail again). Some reps have become extraordinarily good on their pre-hearing briefs such that I do on the record favorables and take them off docket and try to sub in another if possible. For cases that cannot be OTR'd due to one small issue or another, the hearings last 10 minutes as I do a bench decision, reading into the record my preparations as well as the rep's brief. Rep's objections requests for subpoenas etc are heard and I rule on them immediately at the hearing and move on. I do not have ME's at hearings. (I just volunteered to cover two dockets in which the other ALJ had prescheduled 2 ME's per hearing, every hearing. (Where does that office get their money??) Anyway I cancelled all the ME's as unnecessary, undoubtedly ticking them off) If I need medical opinions I will have already sent out for ME interrogatories during my workup a week or two earlier. The only certain delays I truly run into are my Spanish dockets where an interpreter is required for each case, thus extending the hearing time. Those are truly long hearing days/weeks. Those case are very well pre-reviewed so as to knock out all issues in advance and cut down hearing testimony to what is truly needed.
New hires:
1. You will be given lists of acronyms (DOUT, ARPR, DWPC, etc) and the powers that be will wonder why you do not know these all on your first day. Don't worry about it. I still do not know nor use 80% of the acronyms you will hear. You will use about 20% over an over (SGA, PRW, RFC, etc) and will get training on those.
2. You will get reps that "imply" at your first hearings that "Well, Judge, we always have done this, this-a-way..." Smile, and firmly inform them, that may be true then but now in your hearings this is the way you are going to do things and they need to get used to it. Then do it.
3. You will be placed on internal email lists of other ALJs in your class wherein the emails blasts are "how do I" what do I do" etc. Get on those email lists and use them; they are invaluable.
4. Start your personal bench book for minute One on your first day. As noted previously herein I use OneNote (electronic app provided by SSA) for mine rather than 3 ring binder. Everyone is different. If you do not see OneNote on your computer on day one, ask your HOSA (the office computer guy) to load it. Either way your bench book is going to be your "go to" knowledge source. It is up to you to build it. It is not required, mandated, but IMHO it is absolutely vital to your work.
5. As Funky advised, attend as many hearings with as many judges as you can from day one. You are going to eventually nod off after the umpteenth hearing, so then take a break.
6. And never ever stop asking questions.
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Post by christina on Jun 20, 2016 7:29:30 GMT -5
i agree with papaj this thread provides great info.
one thing i think noted on here was figure out what works for you. i agree with that too. and keep an eye on alpo. alpos generally get attention if there are too many or any stay in alpo too long.
alpo by the way stands for case with ALJ, post hearing. our acronyms for the system alpo is in only allow for codes up to 4 letters, which is why it is shortened to alpo.
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Post by gary on Jun 20, 2016 9:10:30 GMT -5
i agree with papaj this thread provides great info. one thing i think noted on here was figure out what works for you. i agree with that too. and keep an eye on alpo. alpos generally get attention if there are too many or any stay in alpo too long. alpo by the way stands for case with ALJ, post hearing. our acronyms for the system alpo is in only allow for codes up to 4 letters, which is why it is shortened to alpo. So, if you have too much ALPO they'll treat you like a dog? |
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Post by onepingonly on Jun 20, 2016 9:14:04 GMT -5
[quote author=" gary" source="/post/104545/thread" timestamp="[/quote]So, if you have too much ALPO they'll treat you like a dog?[/quote] Yes, in that management will hound you if your cases linger there too long. |
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Post by christina on Jun 20, 2016 9:21:18 GMT -5
i agree with papaj this thread provides great info. one thing i think noted on here was figure out what works for you. i agree with that too. and keep an eye on alpo. alpos generally get attention if there are too many or any stay in alpo too long. alpo by the way stands for case with ALJ, post hearing. our acronyms for the system alpo is in only allow for codes up to 4 letters, which is why it is shortened to alpo. So, if you have too much ALPO they'll treat you like a dog? About right  |
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Post by tripper on Jun 20, 2016 10:00:11 GMT -5
I was shocked and overwhelmed by how many acronyms there are and how much people use them. It is like a foreign language at first.
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Post by christina on Jun 20, 2016 22:34:13 GMT -5
We were talking about alpos earlier. jagvet graciously agreed to show an example of the trouble that too many alpos can cause!! thanks JV!!! |
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Post by jagvet on Jun 20, 2016 23:21:00 GMT -5
Thanks, christina. Note one of my favorite character actors, William Schallert (Patty Duke's TV father) was the grain merchant whose grain the tribbles ate. Another character actor, Whit Bissell, was also in the scene. Yes, too much ALPO and you get tribbles! Ah, I remember it well. |
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Post by banks on Jul 6, 2016 13:32:40 GMT -5
Funky is correct; each their own, and again it all boils down to "time management" of which again, you will NOT receive any training. Do what works best for you and your office. Myself (I commute 127 miles one way): I either am in office or Teleworking; regardless logged in usually at or before 6:30 am. How do you do this? I would imagine that this is probably a fairly rural/highway/no traffic route but still, that's a lot of driving. Do you stay overnight often near the office? |
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 6, 2016 13:45:04 GMT -5
Funky is correct; each their own, and again it all boils down to "time management" of which again, you will NOT receive any training. Do what works best for you and your office. Myself (I commute 127 miles one way): I either am in office or Teleworking; regardless logged in usually at or before 6:30 am. How do you do this? I would imagine that this is probably a fairly rural/highway/no traffic route but still, that's a lot of driving. Do you stay overnight often near the office? What's amazing about this is PJ still does all this commuting in his original first car. Still has the torn canvas roof where Dino stuck his head through it at the drive in, still has the left side body damage from when those brontosaurus ribs caused it to tip over. But it gets great mileage. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 13:55:23 GMT -5
Commuting to an ODAR office is not at all unusual. As noted mine is 127 miles one way. For TW purposes you are permitted to be as far as 2 hours away, but that is a mythical beast of incomprehension. For example: 2 hours, by air? by walking, by driving? No one knows. Play it by ear in each office. (Our own CALJ lives in KC and teleworks to DC, go try to figure that one).
For myself since I am now in TW and combined with credit hours, I drive over say for example on Monday; stay in the nearby HI Express (so I am smarter after sleeping there); do hearings through Thursday and back home for Thursday dinner. The next week is TW with maybe an in and out drive to the office for one day. Fridays are credit hours off days. Repeat weekly.
The drive is very easy; < 2hrs on open uncrowded interstate. That is literally a going to dinner or going shopping drive here. So in reality I make the roundtrip drive to the office at most 4x a month. Easy Peasy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 14:04:39 GMT -5
Funky says: "What's amazing about this is PJ still does all this commuting in his original first car. Still has the torn canvas roof where Dino stuck his head through it at the drive in, still has the left side body damage from when those brontosaurus ribs caused it to tip over. But it gets great mileage."
True, true.
But what Funky does not say is at least over here we have cars. Over yonder in the hollers where he is, well, let me just point out that during all of training I had to continually remind him to wear shoes. And then a year later having to sit beside him for retraining, every morning, it was the same thing from Funky to me:
"Hey Papa, kin you tie this'un tie for me agin? I done forgot how since yesterday."
And I would grin and say:
"Now Funky, it's okay. It's complicated I know, so let's start over again. Now this is called a "clip on tie.......""
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Post by banks on Jul 6, 2016 14:16:26 GMT -5
Commuting to an ODAR office is not at all unusual. As noted mine is 127 miles one way. For TW purposes you are permitted to be as far as 2 hours away, but that is a mythical beast of incomprehension. For example: 2 hours, by air? by walking, by driving? No one knows. Play it by ear in each office. (Our own CALJ lives in KC and teleworks to DC, go try to figure that one). For myself since I am now in TW and combined with credit hours, I drive over say for example on Monday; stay in the nearby HI Express (so I am smarter after sleeping there); do hearings through Thursday and back home for Thursday dinner. The next week is TW with maybe an in and out drive to the office for one day. Fridays are credit hours off days. Repeat weekly. The drive is very easy; < 2hrs on open uncrowded interstate. That is literally a going to dinner or going shopping drive here. So in reality I make the roundtrip drive to the office at most 4x a month. Easy Peasy. That sounds doable. So for the first year before you had TW, you spent M-W nights at the HI Express? |
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