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Post by robespierre on Mar 17, 2009 16:33:16 GMT -5
Hello all. I'm a brand spanking newbie at this. I just got interested in becoming an ALJ over the last couple of weeks.
My question: What can I do NOW in order to be prepared for fast action on the day when they open the examination again? I.e., can I pre-prepare my application?
I ask because it seems to me that when they open the exam they create a sort of "race to the mailbox" where you have only a couple of days to get your documentation in.
Btw, my compliments on a great board. Very insightful posts and great good humor (usually).
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Post by vand**e on Mar 17, 2009 17:52:44 GMT -5
I guess I would recommend adding this site and the USAJOBS ALJ page into your favorites and checking them on a daily basis. I don't think there's really any other way to catch the open period for new applications (whenever it reopens). I think one of the wonderful insiders on this board (who have been of invaluable assistance in helping me maintain my sanity thought this long process  might be able to give you a few days notice before the reopening occurs. I would also recommend taking the day off whenever it reopens so that you complete the lengthy on-line application under the wire. I think the open period last summer was only about 2 days long. I'd also recommend searching this website for discussions of the general requirements for the job (e.g. 7 years litigation experience, etc...). I hope this helps and wish you well in the process! Van |
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Post by jagghagg on Mar 18, 2009 6:11:29 GMT -5
Robespierre, Vive la Révolution ! Just gather together lists: Lists, Lists, Lists. • Lists of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses of judicial references, of professional legal references, of your adversaries, of your co-counsel. • Lists of your cases, what court they were in, address and phone number of that court; who was the judge - THEIR address and telephone number and e-mail address; who were counsel on the cases, what THEIR addresses and contact information is, what the case was about, what your role was in the case, what the outcome was, etc. (Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.) • [ Make sure you have checked with and cleared giving out the names and contact information for anybody and everybody you are listing. Nothing is worse than having a contact respond with a "Huh? Who?" to an investigator.] • Make sure you have your bar number handy and put it everywhere!!! My GAWD, don't let your application fail because you didn't put THAT sucker in somewhere. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth over that last time!) • Make sure you have the contact information for your bar(s). • Make sure you have a list of all your legal employment ( what-when-where), who your supervisor was and all their contact information. • Have your resume ready in WORD so you can cut-and-paste from it. • Have your law school transcripts handy. If you have all that handy and keep updating it, then when they open the Register, you will be ready to go. Hmmmmm, now I better go do all that for myself.....  Good luck on your Reign of Terror.  |
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Post by robespierre on Mar 20, 2009 16:35:31 GMT -5
It's not possible to fill out the app now? In other words, there is no form of application online somewhere that I can fill out now and submit when the time comes?
Thanks for the responses.
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Post by nonamouse on Mar 20, 2009 17:06:35 GMT -5
It's not possible to fill out the app now? In other words, there is no form of application online somewhere that I can fill out now and submit when the time comes? Thanks for the responses. Maybe and no. When the posting is closed, the application is not available for viewing by anyone who did not already get it. If someone kept a paper copy of the questions, they might be willing to mail it to you. You could then type your info and be ready to copy and paste it into the online forms. What you can do now is upload your resume to USAJOBs or type one into their online resume builder program and save it. You will need to submit both resume and application as part of the initial process. I had to type the whole resume in and then type the application on the same weekend back in 2007. What a nightmare! You must register with USAJOBs and then go from there to the application manager site where the application is linked to the assigned job announcement number once it reopens. USAJOBs will allow you to set up a daily email notification of job openings that match a saved search. If you save "ALJ" as your only search term it will email you when the application process reopens. You might get a couple of other announcements that only apply to current ALJs looking to change agencies, but it cannot be helped. |
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Post by semipa on Mar 20, 2009 17:41:38 GMT -5
Beware on relying solely on the USAJOBs email notification. This last opening, the announcement closed before the emails arrived for some.
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Post by lawmaker on Mar 20, 2009 17:44:51 GMT -5
It's not possible to fill out the app now? In other words, there is no form of application online somewhere that I can fill out now and submit when the time comes? Thanks for the responses. It is my understanding that the test is open at all times to those with veterans preference. |
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Post by workdrone on Mar 20, 2009 18:00:23 GMT -5
It is my understanding that the test is open at all times to those with veterans preference. Not true. Only if you are a 10 point veteran (disabled, purple heart, etc.). 5 pointers only get to apply with everyone else when the register is open. |
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Post by morgullord on Mar 20, 2009 21:29:27 GMT -5
Prepare a narrative work history that is limited to 2000 keystrokes per job. Count spaces and punctuation in your keystroke count. Fine tune it. Buff it. Polish it.
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Post by jandea on Mar 21, 2009 7:50:43 GMT -5
Newbie:
I wrote you a personal message adding my 2 cents. Put please understand, I didn't make the cut so you get what you pay for. jd
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Post by ssaer on Mar 21, 2009 20:19:12 GMT -5
Robespierre, Vive la Révolution ! Just gather together lists: Lists, Lists, Lists. • Lists of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses of judicial references, of professional legal references, of your adversaries, of your co-counsel. • Lists of your cases, what court they were in, address and phone number of that court; who was the judge - THEIR address and telephone number and e-mail address; who were counsel on the cases, what THEIR addresses and contact information is, what the case was about, what your role was in the case, what the outcome was, etc. (Blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.) • [ Make sure you have checked with and cleared giving out the names and contact information for anybody and everybody you are listing. Nothing is worse than having a contact respond with a "Huh? Who?" to an investigator.] • Make sure you have your bar number handy and put it everywhere!!! My GAWD, don't let your application fail because you didn't put THAT sucker in somewhere. There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth over that last time!) • Make sure you have the contact information for your bar(s). • Make sure you have a list of all your legal employment ( what-when-where), who your supervisor was and all their contact information. • Have your resume ready in WORD so you can cut-and-paste from it. • Have your law school transcripts handy. If you have all that handy and keep updating it, then when they open the Register, you will be ready to go. Hmmmmm, now I better go do all that for myself..... Good luck on your Reign of Terror. |
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Post by ssaer on Mar 21, 2009 20:25:59 GMT -5
Most of the information listed in jagghagg's prior post is NOT required for the current examination process, although it was a part of the former (and now superseded) process. The references will be required if a person scores high enough to be certified to an agency, not as part of the examination process; ditto for most prior legal employment; case lists and case specifics are no longer needed at any time, and neither are law school transcripts or bar contacts.
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Post by northwest on Mar 21, 2009 22:19:26 GMT -5
If you are an attorney, you might want to see if you can get some judicial or quasi-judicial experience, either as a pro tem judge or as an arbitrator, for example if your county has a program for mandatory arbitration of civil disputes. This will give you something to write about to show your competence in judicial decision making.
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Post by nvnatv on Mar 22, 2009 9:15:31 GMT -5
All good responses. I just happened on the notice the day it was posted. I heard later that it closed the same or the next day, as so many applications were received. When I went to DC for the written test, I was appalled to find out that many of the people taking the test (current SSA employees) had been given a month's notice that the opening was going to be posted. So they were ready. Perhaps the best thing you can do to ensure being ready is to get to know someone in SSA so you can be in the know too.
Other than that, start collecting examples from your work history that demonstrate various skills and knowledge. While the questions may differ, I believe it is fairly standard to ask questions like: Give me an example of an error you made and how you corrected it. etc etc.
If you put thought into those things now (look at the last one for examples of questions), you will be ready to put those ideas on paper for the application.
Good luck.
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Post by oldjag on Mar 22, 2009 14:10:31 GMT -5
The month notice came from the OPM website and not the SSA. The OPM site had multiple notices that the application was going to open, and not notice was sent by SSA until a few days before the thing actually opened.
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might be able to give you a few days notice before the reopening occurs. I would also recommend taking the day off whenever it reopens so that you complete the lengthy on-line application under the wire. I think the open period last summer was only about 2 days long. I'd also recommend searching this website for discussions of the general requirements for the job (e.g. 7 years litigation experience, etc...). I hope this helps and wish you well in the process!
