Line Administrative Law Judge

NOTE: This position is eligible for part-time telework, as some in-person hearings may be necessary. While working remotely, the alternate worksite must be located in Washington state.

NOTE: This position will report to one of the following duty stations: Olympia, Tacoma or Spokane

NOTE: We are also seeking one or two bilingual (Spanish-speaking) ALJs. If you read and speak fluently in Spanish, please note that in the Supplemental Question section of the application.

NOTE: The salary for these positions will be $103,008 (range 70, step H). ALJs receive a 2-step increase (approximately 5%) in their salaries on their anniversary date annually until they reach the top of the salary range.

The Opportunity:
The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is seeking to fill multiple temporary Line Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) positions on the Child and Family Care Division and Public Assistance and Health Division. These positions may report to the Olympia, Tacoma or Spokane OAH facility and are eligible for part-time telework, as there are some in-person hearings. If teleworking, the alternate worksite must be in Washington state.

The position of Line Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is critical.  ALJs contribute to OAH’s mission by presiding over hearings that are fair in appearance and substance and writing and issuing well-reasoned decisions within the agency’s timeliness and quality standards. This position is the public face of the agency to hearing participants, and provides due process in an efficient, effective, ethical manner. This position works with other ALJs, legal support staff, administrative staff, and management to foster an environment that supports the mission, vision, values, and goals of OAH.

This position presides over hearings for the following caseloads:

Division of Child Support (DCS)
The Division of Child Support (DCS) is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). An ALJ holds a hearing to establish child support or modify an existing administrative child support order.  These are typically telephonic hearings with minimal travel required. A Claims Officer/Attorney represents DCS. The non-custodial or custodial parent files a request for hearing that DCS forwards to OAH. OAH issues a final order that is due within 21 days of the close of record for all case types but OAH issues an initial order in an Address Disclosure case.

Division of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children and supporting families. ALJs hold hearings on licensing and issues affecting children (i.e. foster care, daycare, childcare assistance, child protective services, etc). The ALJ will issue an initial order except in vendor overpayments and juvenile cases where the order is final.  DCYF is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and appellants are often represented by counsel. Typically orders are due within 60 days from the close of record except adoption support orders and vendor overpayment orders are due 16 days from the close of record, background check and childcare assistance cases are due within 55 days from the close of record and in a juvenile parole revocation the ALJ must rule orally on the record and issue a written decision within 48 hours. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.


Health Care Authority (HCA)
The HCA is a state agency with overall responsibility for providing medical coverage and services. The HCA determines eligibility for health care coverage, long-term care, and in-home care services, which are funded, in part, through Medicaid. An ALJ holds hearings to determine an appellant’s financial and functional eligibility for coverage and services, participation rates for long-term care, and the amount of in-home care hours. The Department is represented by an administrative hearing specialist through the Department of Social and Health Services or other contracting agency, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or in-person and may be 30 minutes to three hours long. Some travel may be involved. HCA orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 18 days of the close of record.

Licensing (LIC)
Licensing is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ALJs hold a prehearing conference and hearing regarding vulnerable individuals in adult family homes and/or residential homes with issues relating to abuse and neglect by the individual provider or the facility. The alleged individual and/or facility files the request for appeal with OAH. The Department is represented by a Legal Benefits Attorney/Adviser and the Appellants are often represented by counsel.  An initial order is issued within 60 days of the close of record except for the resident and client protection program where the initial order is due within 120 days of the request for hearing. A final order is issued in an assisted living facility license case within 60 days of the close of record. These hearings are typically telephonic but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required

Public Assistance (PA)
The Public Assistance (PA) caseload is administered by the Economic Services Administration (ESA) of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Nearly one out of every four Washington residents turns to the DSHS ESA for assistance with cash, food, child support, disability determination, transition to employment, and other services known as “benefits” programs. ALJs hold hearings to make determinations including but not limited to: general eligibility, overpayments, and the correctness of departmental actions such as reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. In PA cases, the department is represented by administrative hearings specialists. Hearings are scheduled for a duration of 30 minutes or more depending on the case type, involvement of interpreter services, and the complexity of the subject matter. There are a wide variety of PA programs; thus, PA decisions can be either initial or final orders (depending on the applicable regulations). ALJs are required to issue PA decisions as soon as possible but no later than 16, 21, or 60 days of the close of record, unless an earlier decision is required by regulation.

About the Agency:
The 1981 Legislature created the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to offer Washingtonians an independent, fair, and neutral forum to hold administrative hearings on disputed matters referred by state and local government agencies. Operating out of field offices in Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane Valley there are currently 230 employees, including 120 administrative law judges who preside over administrative hearings involving unemployment insurance benefits, child support, food assistance, medical benefits, business and professional licensing, and more.

OAH conducts hearings for more than 30 agencies and 160 programs. Our referring agencies include the Employment Security Department (ESD), Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Health Care Authority (HCA), Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and others.

For more information about OAH, please visit our website at oah.wa.gov.

OAH Mission: To hear and independently resolve disputes between the public and state agencies with an impartial, quick, and easy to access process.

 OAH Vision: All people of Washington can meaningfully participate in their hearing and understand the result.

OAH Values:
•Fairness and independence
•Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect
•Performance excellence
•Integrity
 
OAH Goals:
•Performance Excellence: We deliver high quality, timely work.
•Convenience & Accessibility: We make it easy for people to do business with us.
•Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect: We promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
•Good Stewards: We are efficient, effective, and accountable.

OAH Offers:
•Work that is important and makes a difference.
•In-house training and professional development opportunities.
•Healthy work/life balance, including remote work options.
•Comprehensive benefits package.


•Manage an assigned workload commensurate with level of experience, complexity of cases, and overall agency workload as determined by your supervisor.
•Maintain a thorough understanding of statutes, regulations, case law, and agency procedures relevant to assigned caseload(s) and keep current on new developments.
•Preside over and rule on pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing matters.
•Work with supervisors as necessary to meet assigned caseload timeliness standards and other deadlines, being mindful of time pressures and stressful circumstances related to the job. 
•Use agency equipment and technology systems to perform and manage work and communicate with others. 
•Make a clear and complete hearing record.
•Make legally sufficient Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on all contested issues. 
•Write accurate legal documents that clearly set out the analysis used in reaching decisions, use proper grammar, clear language, and “plain talk” when possible.
•Demonstrate judicial demeanor and maintain control of legal proceedings involving multiple parties. 
•Keep supervisor(s) timely informed of work progress, significant developments, case status, and other issues. 
•Follow specific work directives of supervisor(s), as appropriate for the position.
•Maintain reliable and regular attendance and be readily available to coworkers and others, as appropriate for the position.
•Protect privileged and confidential information.
•Comply with all office policies, administrative and court rules, state ethics laws, and the OAH Code of Ethics for ALJs. 
•Accurately track and account for case-specific work and non-billable hours.
•Appropriately demonstrates respect, diversity, equity and inclusion practices with parties, stakeholders and co-workers.


Required education and experience include ALL of the following:
•Juris Doctor degree or equivalent (if obtained out of the United States).
•Active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.
**Five (5) years of legal experience post law school OR one (1) year of full-time experience as an ALJ

**Applicants with at least three, but less than five, years of relevant legal experience may be considered for an Entry ALJ position ($98,040 - $108,252 annual base salary). Entry ALJs are expected to perform the same duties as a Line ALJ and will have the opportunity to be promoted to a Line ALJ position after successfully performing the duties of an ALJ with OAH for one year.




REQUIRED OAH CORE COMPETENCIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:

Accountability and Dependability: Accepts personal responsibility for quality work and actions. Meets productivity standards and timeliness standards.  Produces accurate and timely work with minimal supervision. Uses professional judgment to balance quality of work with ability to meet timeliness standards. Informs supervisor or appropriate others of problems, identifies issues and offers solutions. Gives and accepts constructive feedback. Focuses on the situation, issue, or behavior rather than the person. Punctual and regular work attendance with minimal unplanned/unauthorized absences. 

Adaptability and Flexibility: Adapts to changing business needs, conditions, priorities and work responsibilities. Uses customer feedback and evaluations as a measure of quality, and makes adjustments to reach goals. Uses problem solving and analytical skills to improve processes.  

Attention to Detail: Diligently attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing tasks. Performs tasks with care; is thorough. Makes few errors. Checks work to ensure accuracy and completeness. Compares observations or finished work to what is expected to find inconsistencies. Remains aware and takes care of details that are easy to overlook or dismiss as insignificant.

Communication Effectiveness: Effectively receives and conveys ideas and information both verbally and in writing, and exhibits active listening skills.  Participates in meetings in an active, cooperative, and courteous manner. Uses “plain talk” both orally and in writing. Responds timely to email, phone messages, mail, and faxes. Composes clear, straightforward, and technically correct documents. Chooses the most effective and meaningful written form to express information. States information as simply as possible and organizes information logically. Proofreads and edits according to accepted rules of English language. Writes effectively for the intended audience.

Ethics and Integrity: Earn others’ trust and respect by demonstrating consistent honesty, forthrightness and professionalism in all interactions. Protects privileged and confidential information. Uses work time, equipment, and resources efficiently and effectively. Follows policies, rules and procedures. Avoids situations and actions considered inappropriate or which present a conflict of interest. Tells the truth and is honest in all dealings. Follows through on commitments.

Relationship and Team Building: Builds constructive working relationships that reflect acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard. Earns the trust, respect and confidence of co-workers and customers through consistent respectful, professional, transparent interactions. Promotes cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals. Maintains an open, approachable manner, and treats others fairly and respectfully. Preserves others’ self-confidence and dignity, and shows regard for their opinions and perspectives. Sees the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other individual differences in people. Seeks to resolve disagreements constructively and avoids engaging in gossip and rumors.

Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth (DEI): Understand own personal identity and cultural background. Realize all lived experience are not the same. Explore and identify own biases. Understand how own values and biases impact communication, working relationships, and communities served. Examine own perspectives as they relate to own personal and professional growth goals.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES FOR ALJS:

Active Listening Skills: Effectively listens, asks questions, and confirms understanding when receiving information. Listens and responds with empathy.

Administrative Law & Procedures Knowledge and/or Experience: Knows the rules and procedures related to assigned caseloads.
 
Analytical Skills: Identifies key facts in a range of data. Notices when data appear wrong or incomplete, or need verification. Distinguishes information that is not pertinent to a decision or solution.

Decision Making and Judgment: Makes timely, logical decisions. Evaluates relevant information and data to make decisions and solve problems. Prioritizes work assignments and projects to meet OAH standards. Pursues economy and efficiency in the use of resources. Exercises good judgment in determining issues that should be elevated to management.

Knowledge Retention: Learns and retains new or changing information and processes regarding caseloads, office procedures, and policies. Takes initiative to use personalized methods based on own learning style to learn and retain information that has been presented. Learns, retains and applies Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), and other rules to OAH procedures and processes. Ability to learn and retain knowledge of administrative law and procedures.

Legal Research Methods: Be familiar with and use electronic and hard copy legal reference materials to research case law.

Legal Terminology & Citations: Recognizes the specialized vocabulary of the legal profession. Applies, uses, and comprehends legal technical terms in reading and writing or producing legal documents. Understands the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), WAC, RCW, and other OAH procedures and requirements. –Accurately and timely applies APA rules and procedures for processing applicable to the court, board, or commission in which documents are to be filed. Checks all citations for proper format with appropriate legal reference material from law library or other online resources.

Judicial Temperament: Is objective and neutral, balances competing interests and effectively manages an administrative hearing and the parties involved, consistent with applicable law, commitment to equal justice under law, freedom from bias. Decide issues according to law, courtesy and civility, open-mindedness, and compassion.

Proofreading: Reads with comprehension drafted, original, or other written materials and documents that may include citations, rules and regulations, and makes corrections to effectively resolve problems or inaccuracies in punctuation, spelling, and grammar or omitted language. Accurately discerns intended context of main ideas or essential message of document content.

Stress Tolerance: Works in a fast-paced environment and balance competing priorities. Effectively manages stressful or adverse situations by making good decisions, working calmly, and leading others in effective communication strategies. Demonstrates tact and diplomacy throughout interactions. Deals with highly stressful situations and emotional parties. 

Tact and Diplomacy: Responds to difficult, stressful, or sensitive interpersonal situations in ways that reduce or minimize potential conflict and maintains good working relationships among internal and external customers. Tactfully presents information in an objective and neutral manner. Remains calm, patient, and with self-control when responding to resistance or conflict. Learns and demonstrates respect for other perspectives. Keeps conversations positive, focusing on options, benefits, and sources of assistance.

Technology Skills: Uses computer and case management system to effectively process assigned cases. Makes a complete hearing record with recording software and devices. Independently produces electronic legal documents. Uses email, telephone, and conference call systems to communicate with others.

Workload management: Accurately, effectively and independently handles workload assigned. Engages in timely and effective problem solving.

Writing Skills: Composes clear, straightforward, and technically correct documents. Chooses the most effective and meaningful written form to express information. States information as simply as possible and organizes information logically. Proofreads and edits information to improve its clarity, organization, content, etc., according to accepted rules of the English language. Writes at different reading and educational levels by altering words, length of sentences, and depth of explanation.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
•Adjudication experience 
•Litigation experience
•Mediation experience 
•Experience with subject matter of caseload(s) assigned


How to apply:
To begin the online application process, click the green "Apply" button on this announcement on careers.wa.gov or governmentjobs.com. To be considered for this position, you must include the following information in your online application and complete the supplemental questionnaire. Application materials must clearly show how you meet the qualifications for the position in order to be considered.
 
Application must include:

An attached letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications for this position; and,
•An attached detailed chronological resume; and 
•A completed online application profile that includes education and employment history; and
•Three professional references, including at least one supervisor, with current contact information.

OAH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email us at OAHHR@oah.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Salary : $86,712 - $113,712