I'm hearing that the Office of Personnel Management (OMB) will soon start taking applications for Administrative Law Judge positions at Social Security. In the past when this has happened, OMB decided in advance to only hold the application process open until they received a set number of applications. If I remember correctly, it was something like 1,000 the last time. They start receiving applications almost immediately after they announce they're taking applications and often fill up their quota in a day or two. Thereafter, they refuse to accept any more applications. It's usually not long after we receive such an advance warning until OPM starts taking applications. Keep looking at this website. It could happen tomorrow, Good Friday. It could be early next wee. I'll try to post something here but don't count on getting word from me immediately.
9 comments:
What a strange process! Applications open for a day or two with virtually no advance notice or advertisement except for people who are in the know? That seems like a method much more concerned with making the selection process easy for the people conducting it than it is for getting the best candidates for the job.
@8:05, STRONGY agree (and I say that as a retired ALJ). To boot, they require a great deal of background info on the app, e.g., leading cases, opposing counsel, presiding judge, etc., but often don't provide the app before the announcement opens.
Nonetheless, it's still a pretty good job, and I urge anyone interested to (at least try) apply.
I had an ALJ give me a heads up on the announcement coming a few days ago. Obviously the insiders are more in the know and can have all their ducks in a row once the announcement officially opens.
I honestly don't know why a competent attorney would want to apply for this position as it is currently situated. I understand folks who apply as they wind down their careers but nearly all the new judges as of late have been young folks. Long hours, a capped amount of income, lack of respect, and no control over staff does not seem like a very appealing career situation to me. I guess if you have given up on trying to advance your career path and enjoy being miserable, then becoming an ALJ might be a worthwhile endeavor.
Agree with 11:56am. ODAR has no respect for ALJs, blame them for everything wrong with the agency, and micromanages them.
ODAR management, as a general rule, has no respect for the dignity of its employees, micromanages everyone's work to the excess, enforces unattainable production quotas and resembles the sweatshops common during the industrial revolution. What's really unfortunate is ODAR management has never been able to see this and make the necessary managerial changes to improve itself and the agency as a whole. There are too many recalcitrant managers in Falls Church endowed with too much power who adamantly refuse to change the functioning of the agency, despite the one million plus backlog.
Consider the recent post to hire AAJ's. The only agency attorneys who would have time in grade at the GS-14 level are Appeals Officer's at the Appeals Council, some OGC attorneys, ODAR HOD's who are attorneys. In other words, ODAR Senior Attorneys who have worked in that capacity for many, many years are ineligible to apply.
Given the very limited number of insiders who are even eligible to apply for the Administrative Appeals Judge positions, it is by no means a small step to interpret this job announcement may very well have been conveniently tailored for a HOD (attorney) employee, in particular, who either is, or is suspected to become under fire, in the near future for misconduct and illegal Prohibited Personnel Practices. This is certainly consistent with the demonstrated pattern by the Powers That Be in Falls Church to protect the Manager’s implicated in scandal by promoting them, giving them huge bonuses, and in some cases, long periods of paid Administrative Leave. This is why those trying to cover up scandal want Colvin to remain in power until Obama’s Presidency ends, even if Eanes is confirmed. She has vowed to use her power to “protect” these favorites, who interestingly, are also African-American. An ODAR HOD who just happens to be an Attorney is hardly better qualified to be an Administrative Appeals Judge over experienced ODAR Senior Attorneys of several years.
Take your $100k and shut up. if not try to find a way to make that cash and retirement in a non-federal position.
Heard an ALJ in a Chicago suburb was fired. He was a young judge. Not sure what happened there.
@11:36
I heard a similar story--was he a HOCALJ and had he been in North Carolina before becoming an ALJ??
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