What Do Administrative Law Judges Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Administrative Law Judges conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements. They also prepare written opinions and decisions.

Other tasks include:

• Monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties.
• Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
• Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
• Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
• Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
• Recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or compromise settlements according to laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions.

We asked Administrative Law Judges how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Administrative Law Judges prepare written opinions and decisions. They rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.

A typical day for an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator and Hearing Officer will also include:

• Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
• Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
• Review and evaluate data on documents, such as claim applications, birth or death certificates, or physician or employer records.
• Recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or compromise settlements according to laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions.
• Confer with individuals or organizations involved in cases to obtain relevant information.

We asked some Administrative Law Judges a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	64% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	54% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	77% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	41% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	81% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Administrative Law Judges also monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties. They may also rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Administrative Law Judges Conduct studies of appeals procedures in field agencies to ensure adherence to legal requirements and to facilitate determination of cases. They might also Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.

In addition, they Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in preparation for formal hearings.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Confer with individuals or organizations involved in cases to obtain relevant information.

To some Administrative Law Judges, it is also their responsibility to Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator and Hearing Officer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/legal/judges-and-hearing-officers.htm

http://www.ncsc.org/

http://www.uscourts.gov/Home.aspx

http://www.judges.org/