Any reports from Baltimore Training?

[justfoundthisboard]

My travel officer at my new office told me I am authorized to stay at the hotel, though someone at Falls Church told me to live at home and commute to save the agency money. So I think it is my choice. However, if the classes are in Rockville, I am of course going to live at home. That's what I need to find out!

[mongo]

Surely they sing REM's "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville."

[happy]

I had dinner with a few of the ALJ trainees last night up in Baltimore. Yes, they are looking at the Board. They had a great laugh over some of the posts on this thread. Don't know why they aren't posting, though. Probably not a whole lot to say. They did indicate that their class was a great bunch of folks, very vested in learning the program, and no one is trying to stand out and be a know-it-all.

[southerner]

I agree with an earlier comment. Though PII concerns are understandable, in the current e-file world and with current technology, taking handwritten notes seems rather outmoded when a laptop is available.

[odarite]

RU was clearly in a different section of the 2001 class than I was. We had them for a few days, did a writing assignment and turned them back in. They were a major pain, not unlike current agency laptops. I don't think PII is the issue for training as there is, so far as I know, absolutely no PII in any training room. The reason stidents are asked not to bring laptops to the training sessions is because they have no way to provide security for them while the students are out of the room and you would have to carry them around with you all the time.

[mango]

Just some random thoughts:

The first week was an introduction to what is known as the 5 step evaluation. You will come to know this well. The instructors were a mixed bag. Some better than others. This last week (week 2) was very in-depth coverage of the 5 step process. The instructors were again a mixed bag. The second week went by very fast. The next two weeks will be practical applications developing and writing opinions. There is no home work per se, but some take the CFR and rulings home to read.

We are staying at the Residence Inn in down town Baltimore. It is very nice. The only complaint is the emergency vehicles and their sirens at all hours of the day and night. They serve breakfast every morning in the hotel and an evening meal Mon – Thursday. That makes it nice. We are picked up in a school bus (not like I went to school in) at 7:15 each morning and driven to the SSA building. I think it is in Woodlawn, but am not sure. I have seen some refer to Rockport, but it is the SSA headquarters. We start class at 8:00 and wrap up at 4:30. The bus then returns us to the hotel. There is a very large cafeteria in the SSA building so lunch is no problem. The cafeteria has a very large selection and variety for lunch. We get one hour for lunch.

The hotel is in downtown Baltimore a couple of blocks from the water front. It appears to be in transition. The area is a business/commercial area, but I would not describe it as one I feel safe walking around. The water front area has some very nice areas/restaurants and is nice to walk through. You want to watch yourself on Baltimore street as a few blocks from the hotel is what is referred to as the Block. It is the red light district of sorts. The police station is on the next block. Go figure. Charles street is a block away and a very nice walk. Recommend you check it out along with Little Italy (near the water front).

It is a little unusual, but there is not a class schedule. It is a list of instructional blocks each day which gives the subject and the duration. The first week was a problem with breaks. It seemed they wanted to hold to a 2 hour block 15 min break 2 hour block lunch etc. That is not very good. We pushed a little and took breaks about every hour or so the second week. The chairs in the class are extremely uncomfortable. The SSA building is very nice and well maintained. There is computer access in the school, but if you are looking to read your SSA e-mail, it takes about 10-15 minutes to boot as it is booting from home station. Some boot it in the morning and then go back later to check on e-mail.

SSA pays one week after the end of the pay period so you should get your first check during the first week of training. They have something called employee express that lets you check on your pay account. You need an id and password to access it. I guess they mail it to you, but I did not get mine prior to leaving for training so have no access. I would recommend you get a mailing address at your new station as soon as possible so SSA can mail you things like the id and password and the gov’t credit card you need.

The commissioner spoke during the first week and I thought, very informative. I believe budgeting is his primary concern. As it drives everything, it makes sense to me. He was asked about the numbers of new hires. While I did not take note, he indicated they would be hiring more judges each year to account for attrition and to maintain the numbers. I think he is shooting for 1250. I think there is some feeling that with SSA going to an electronic file system, there is some who are having difficulty transitioning from paper. This may result in additional attrition of ALJs and account for the comments I read somewhere about offering buyouts for some. Of particular note was his comments about hiring support staff. He recognized the short falls and is attempting to address it. He is looking to get to 4.1 support staff per ALJ. The new budget allows for this by providing for new hires and backfills of those that had left. He also acknowledged that 4.1 may not be the correct number, but they will continue to evaluate it in terms of overall numbers and office specific numbers.

As to the class content, it is a lot of material and if you know nothing about medical terminology, it is a bit overwhelming. The class has about half SSA people and half off of the street (rough estimate). All seem to be very engaged and involved in the instruction. All of the SSA people have been very helpful and willing to help out those with little or no background in SSA law.

Not sure if this is helpful and I don’t guarantee the accuracy of the facts. It is my impressions and recollections. Please don’t’ blast me if you disagree or otherwise.

[privateatty]

Thanks, mango, for educatin' us wannabes. Nice to have some reporting from the front lines...

[justfoundthisboard]

Thanks, Mango. It helps to know what we will be in for, and that its not in Rockville.

[bettrlatethannevr]

Thanks for the detailed update - much appreciated.

[mango]

Something I forgot to mention is the dress code. People where from coat and tie/ suit to jeans. Jeans are the exception. Most are dockers type with collared shirt. No shorts, sandals etc. May want a suit or coat and tie for the graduation. It is supposed to be a walking across the stage and getting a diploma with photos ceremony.

Seems most judges I have talked to are opting for robes. Don't know how that works into the graduation.

[odarite]

Robes are a very personal decision, although some offices are "robier" than others. Don't let anyone pressure you into this decision, one way or the other and if you are uncertain, put the decision off. But either way, robes have nothing to do with graduation, and you attend it in business attire, generally suits.

[jagghagg]

Oh no!!! Not the dreaded "robe discussion" again!!!!!

[odarite]

In the word of the immortal William O. Douglas: "dubitante"

[jagghagg]

May 11, 2008 15:31:42 GMT -5 wilddog said:

Beats the footie pajama discussion.

I'd take a lively discussion about the pros and cons of footie pajamas ANYTIME over another in-depth discussion about "Black Robe Fever" !!!

[decadealj]

I am an ALJ who has been following this board and its evolution for years- my complements to Pixie who has done a tremendous service for the ALJ community. I think the robe discussion should be "what does the claimant think?" It is especially compelling now with so many hearing offices relocated to the same building as DOs. I fought it for years- separate door or floor so what? "Its the same place I went to and was denied twice". But that battle is over. The first time our HOCALJ went to one of our remote sites (located in the same building as the DO. but with a separate door of course, he didn't take his robe. ( My office has gone from no robes to all robes over the past 15 years) When he began his first hearing and called the hearing to order, the claimant spontaneously said "Where is your robe"?

I really lament the transition of the last 15 years- it all began with HPI. Our office has gone from a very professional place of due process to "bean counting management" with both group supervisors and the hearing office director coming from the DO and paralegal high school graduates ordering the attorneys they supervise to ignore the ALJs instructions. When I was sworn in as an ALJ, The Secretary of H&HS, Donna Shalala, stated "If you remember nothing else, remember this- as an ALJ you are the firewall between our citizens and a large government bureaucracy". Folks that is the difference between an ALJ and an Appeals judge- you ensure that policy does not conflict with law; it is the Appeals Council function to enforce the policy for the Commissioner if there is a conflict.

[lawdog98]

That is so true about HPI. I came well after the event but there are still many who are very bitter about how that all went down.

[mango]

Some one asked me about bringing there own cars here. My thougths:

I flew into BWI as did most that flew in. $15 for the supper shuttle and about $30 for the cab. I don't have a car and it is not a problem. I think the parking is a problem and expensive. There are plenty of places to eat within a short walk and shopping (although a bit touristy) within the same distance. I am a big car driver so I usually drive everywhere, but I think the car would be more of a hassle than an aid.

The bus to and from school works fine for me. A few drive to school, but have to get a permit to park there. I prefer the simplicity of the bus ride. Most of the instructors ride the bus and it is good opportunity to talk with them or other ALJs about the instruction.

As to robes, my comment was directed toward what we wear at graduation. I have not heard whether it is an option at graduation, but the coat and tie/suit would certainly be appropriate there so thought folks might want to ensure they had it with them.

[Wino]

What is HPI? (I am still learning SSA acronyms.)

mango: Thank you for your descriptive and practical information.

[morgullord]

Hearing Process Improvement.

It was supposed to improve case processing in hearing offices but it was actually designed to slow things down. In that respect, it worked extraordinarily well. According to the sales pitch, HPI reduced the pairs of hands that touched a case from 13 to 11; however, it actually increased it to 17 or more. It also resulted in the promotion of qualified, competent case-pullers to paralegal positions where, 8 years after the fact, they are generally still limited in the types of decisions they can write. Don't get me started on this.

I am not bashing paralegals; two of the finest writers I know are paralegals. However, many of the ones promoted under HPI struggle with complete sentences. Analysis is out of reach.

HPI managed to decimate our capacity to get cases pulled and reduced the overall competence of decision writing agency-wide.

[jagghagg]

HPI sounds like something that was the result of a Lean Six Sigma endeavor. (I think LSS works well in a process that involves widgits, but fails with regard to processes that involve applying independent thought to each matter that goes through it. You know, like a case....)