Administrative Law Judge - Equal Rights

Use your legal expertise to adjudicate and mediate equal opportunity and civil rights cases. Apply now to be an Administrative Law Judge with our Division of Equal Rights! We offer a wealth of learning opportunities, interesting work, and work/life balance.

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) offers interesting and meaningful work with an employee-friendly and inclusive work environment, work-life balance, a casual office environment, flexibility, and many opportunities to grow your skills. Apply now to find out why there's so much to love about working for Wisconsin.

This position may be headquartered in Madison or Milwaukee, depending on business needs and employee preferences. The person hired into this position may request to work remotely up to 4 days per week.

This recruitment may be used to fill future similar vacancies (permanent, project or Limited Term).

The Administrative Law Judge will adjudicate and mediate cases arising under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the Wisconsin Open Housing Law, the Wisconsin Public Accommodations Law, the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act, and other statutes enforced by the Equal Rights Division.

To learn more, please review the full position description.

Starting pay is between $95,180 and $105,352 per year, depending on qualifications, plus an exemplary benefits package:

• Generous paid time off, including at least 3 1/2 weeks of vacation/personal time, nine paid holidays, and ample sick time that rolls over each year with no cap.
• Excellent and affordable health insurance options (starting at $42/month for single and $104/month for family coverage).
• Other great insurance options (dental, vision, life, and more).
• A top-notch retirement program and optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
• A Well Wisconsin program, offering wellness tools and rewards to employees and spouses.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their household members tools, resources, and professional consultation services.

Public service is rewarding! This position may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see an estimate of the total value of our competitive benefits package!

The classification title for this position is Attorney (schedule 09, range 75). A 12-month probationary period will be required. This position is represented by the Wisconsin State Attorneys Association and is considered exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan in effect at the time of appointment. Starting pay may vary for current state employees.

Travel: this position requires the ability to travel to hearings and meetings; occasional overnight stays will be required.

Remote work: This position offers a hybrid remote work schedule. Employees with approved remote and hybrid-remote work arrangements are generally expected to work within the state of Wisconsin. High-speed internet access is required to meet the needs of remote work. Remote work options are subject to change.

Criminal histories: We also consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Finalists for this position may be required to allow DWD to conduct a background check or other checks to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled. For positions with access to sensitive federal tax information, FBI fingerprinting may also be required.

Eligibility to work in United States: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e. a US citizen or national or a lawful permanent resident) at the time of appointment. DWD does not sponsor visas and is not an eligible OPT employer for those with F1 visas. This is not a contract position. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant completing the I-9 upon hire.

Qualifications marked with an asterisk (*) below will be evaluated in the first step of the selection process. Additional qualifications may be evaluated in subsequent steps.

You need to have the following:

• Active license (in good standing) to practice law in the State of Wisconsin.
• • Experience as a law clerk, clinical program participant, student attorney, or professional attorney related all of the following:
• • Participating in trials, administrative hearings, or litigation.
  • Applying knowledge of state or federal Rules of Discovery (civil or criminal).
  • Developing a variety of written legal documents.
• Organizing and prioritizing work in dynamic work environment.
• Communicating with others to achieve business objectives.

Any of the following experience would be nice to have:

• • Providing legal representation, counsel, or legal analysis relating to Wisconsin civil rights or equal opportunity laws (e.g., fair employment, open housing, public accommodations, family/medical leave, etc.).
  • Serving as an Administrative Law Judge (or similar adjudication role).
  • Serving as a mediator or arbitrator in any area of law.

Note: If you are viewing this posting on an external site, please visit Wisc.Jobs (search 17196) to complete your application.

To apply, click "Apply for Job" to start the application process. That will prompt you to access your existing account or create a new account. You will be asked to attach a resume and a letter of qualifications as part of the application process. It is important that these materials clearly illustrate how your qualifications relate to the qualifications of this job. Please review this additional guidance on developing your resume and letter of qualifications (including a template) as you prepare to apply.

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance.

• Technical issues: if you encounter issues submitting your on-line application (e.g. signing in or uploading a resume), please email the Wisc.Jobs Help Desk at wiscjobs@wisconsin.gov or call (608) 267-1012 (Monday - Friday, 7:45am – 4:30pm).
• Position questions: if you have questions about the position or this recruitment (e.g. projected start date, skills needed, etc.), please email Lisa at LKBJobs@dwd.wisconsin.gov.

Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to update your materials.

What happens next? A panel will review your application materials to determine your eligibility for further consideration in the selection process. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process, which is typically a virtual interview.

DWD values a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA , and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. Current state employees are not eligible for non-competitive appointment. To apply under this provision, submit your online application to this job posting and email a copy of your DD-214 and VA disability letter with disability rating (dated within past 12 months) to LKBJobs@dwd.wi.gov.

Application materials must be submitted by 11:59 PM (central standard time) on Monday, March 10th, 2025.

Note: there is a planned system maintenance on Sunday, March 2nd. We anticipate that the system will be unavailable from 6:00 AM – 2:45 PM; you will not be able to apply during this outage.