Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers - 23-1021.00

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.

Sample of reported job titles: Adjudicator, Administrative Hearing Officer, Administrative Judge, Administrative Law Judge, Appeals Examiner, Appeals Referee, Claims Adjudicator, Hearing Officer, Judge, Workers' Compensation Hearings Officer

Tasks

• Prepare written opinions and decisions.
• 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.
• Rule on exceptions, motions, and admissibility of evidence.
• Confer with individuals or organizations involved in cases to obtain relevant information.
• Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in preparation for formal hearings.
• Explain to claimants how they can appeal rulings that go against them.
• Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
• Conduct studies of appeals procedures in field agencies to ensure adherence to legal requirements and to facilitate determination of cases.

Technology Skills

• Data base user interface and query software - Online databases
• Document management software - Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Electronic mail software - Email software
• Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis; Thomson Reuters WestLaw
• Instant messaging software
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Legal management software - Courtroom scheduling software
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Video conferencing software - Videoconferencing software
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Desktop computers
• Digital video disk players or recorders - Digital video players
• Digital voice recorders - Digital audio recorders
• Gavels or sounding blocks - Gavels
• Laser fax machine - Laser facsimile machines
• Laser printers - Computer laser printers
• Microphones - Courtroom microphones
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers
• Personal computers
• Special purpose telephones - Multiline telephone systems
• Tablet computers
• Teleconference equipment - Teleconferencing equipment
• Videoconferencing systems - Videoconferencing equipment

Knowledge

• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Skills

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Interests

• Interest code: EIS
  • Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Context

• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 98% responded “Every day.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 88% responded “Very important results.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 88% responded “Extremely important.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 89% responded “Every day.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 81% responded “Every day.”
• Electronic Mail - 84% responded “Every day.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 73% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Contact With Others - 71% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 60% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Time Pressure - 68% responded “Every day.”
• Telephone - 64% responded “Every day.”
• Deal With External Customers - 77% responded “Extremely important.”
• Letters and Memos - 72% responded “Every day.”
• Frequency of Conflict Situations - 49% responded “Every day.”
• Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - 41% responded “Every day.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 56% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 58% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 54% responded “Extremely important.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 42% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 51% responded “Extremely important.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 44% responded “Extremely important.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 34% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Physical Proximity - 42% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
• Consequence of Error - 32% responded “Extremely serious.”
• Level of Competition - 33% responded “Moderately competitive.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 34% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 25% responded “Continually or almost continually.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
32%	Doctoral degree
20%	Bachelor's degree
11%	Professional degree

Work Styles

• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Work Values

• Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $45.57 hourly, $94,790 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 15,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Slower than average (2% to 4%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 700