Could someone catch me up?

[testtaker]

Jul 7, 2008 10:42:58 GMT -5 Propmaster said:

I have been practicing Social Security law at a non-profit since I got out of law school. I pride myself on my expertise at the law. I'm much more of an appellate lawyer than a trial lawyer. When I look forward to what I want to do with the rest of my life, I don't have any desire to learn a whole bunch of new areas of law. After practicing confidently for years, I would hate to find myself in a state court with little idea of what I was doing. I have slightly more, but still very little, interest in being a judge who hears 8000 different causes of action.

I want a job that 1) pays well, 2) lets me go home in the evenings to be with family, 3) allows me to use my knowledge of Social Security law, 4) allows me to avoid the frustration of other people making what I consider "wrong" decisions on my cases.

SSA ALJ fits this bill exactly. Being an ALJ is literally (and possibly pathetically) the pinnacle of my ambition.

Amen, PM.

And I'm sure you'll be joining the ranks, soon.

[nylawyer]

okay, this may be getting overly technical, but... the e-mail from OPM says that:

If you received a NOR with a final numerical rating, you may retake the examination after one year has passed from the date of the final NOR and the examination opens to the receipt of new applications.

The one year period is to when you can re-take the examination... does that mean I can re-apply this summer and just not take the examination until October? Or am I not permitted to re-apply to take the examination until a year has passed?

I sure hope when they post the announcement on USAJobs they are really clear as to who may and may not apply (and, if I can't re-apply, can I change my geographic preferences? Or anything else for that matter?)

[nylawyer]

okay, hadn't seen that, but it makes sense. Like I said, I just hope there is some clarity when the opening is posted.

[pm]

I don't see any confusion regarding who can apply. It seems very clear.

There is also no confusion regarding the fact that those on the register will be able to change their geographic choices.

There is confusion as to the exact details of how that geographic change is made and when it will be effective.

As to whether you can change anything else, I'm not sure what else you would be changing other than contact information and you already can do that.

[jerseymom]

I emailed "[e-mail]" to ask about expanding geographic preferences. Here's the scoop: Anyone on the register WILL NOT be able to take the 2008 exam. You WILL be be able to change your geographic selections according to the rules which will be listed in the announcement. I guess we should all keep an eye on usajobs.gov.
Hope this helps & good luck to all.
JM

[nylawyer]

thank you very much, jerseymom. I can't believe you were able to get an answer, I e-mailed them a dozen times trying to find out if there was a way to see how my score broke down, and never got anything back.

[jerseymom]

You're welcome.

[nylawyer]

okay, I've read through this thread and several others on the board, and I am a little confused. Let me see if I can boil this down to a couple of questions- does anyone have any idea how many of us are left on the current register? Because it sure seems like almost everyone is gone if I am doing my math right. Or, are there other people who were on the register prior to this year who aren't in my calculations?

And, what are the chances of another round of hiring before the new cert gets complete (which, since they haven't even announced it yet, I am guessing is several months away).

I am going to be appalled if I end up being the only one who tested last year who doesn't get at least an interview.

[chinook]

Don't worry nylawyer, you are not alone. For a variety of reasons I am restricted to the Washington DC area. My score is in the mid 60s. Social security has not hired anybody off the register in this area and my score is not high enough to be called by the other agencies that have hired. I figure it was an interesting exercise but am not likely to wear a robe before I retire.

[nylawyer]

not a judge yet- my understanding was that there was roughly 700 who got past the first part of the application process last year. Of that 700, I have to assume that some dropped out rather than move onto the the written phase and interview, given the cost and time commitment, particularly for anyone outside the DC area. I am also assuming that at least some of the people who did move on and got contacted for interviews ended up declining for whatever reason- maybe they made their geographic options broader than they really meant, or got another job, or whatever. So, I guess the question becomes- exactly how many ALJ's have been hired, both by SSA and any other agencies, since the new register came out? Because I thought it was a much higher number what would yield 400 people being left on the register, but my information could very well be faulty.

Another question though, kind of an afterthought- last year I recall that scores were being compiled on this site. I don't see that link anywhere, does it still exist? And if not, does anyone know how many total scores were reported? And, what was the lowest score?

[semipa]

nylawyer, there were roughly 166 scores reported and the low reported score was 47.75 although I have anecdotely heard of lower scores.

[odarite]

Jul 17, 2008 16:43:33 GMT -5 notajudgeyet said:

No one seems to know whether SSA willl do another round of hiring before the new register is completed (at least 6 months out).

Given that all speculation is the government is going to be on continuing resolution until at least after the new congress is seated in January, and I have heard March as more likley, the odds are against a new cert before the register is supplemented.