Administrative Law Judge

Overview

This position is located in the Division of Judges of a federal labor relations board.

The primary function of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is to hear and initially decide unfair labor practice cases and other cases involving the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), as amended (29 USC Sec. 151). Hearings are conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the applicable case law, rules, and regulations.

Responsibilities

As an Administrative Law Judge, GS-0935-3, typical work assignments include:

• Presiding over hearings and issuing decisions in cases that are often complex, sensitive, and involve hotly contested and controversial issues. Hearings are adversarial, with parties usually represented by counsel.
• Conducting pre-trial conferences to simplify case issues, handling petitions to revoke subpoenas, and ruling on other motions before and during hearings.
• Managing hearings involving contested issues, regulating the course of hearings, governing the conduct of attorneys and witnesses, and controlling witness questioning.
• Receiving and ruling on the admissibility of evidence; examining witnesses as necessary; determining when the record is complete; and requiring additional evidence to establish an adequate record.
• Analyzing and evaluating evidence, determining witness credibility, resolving disputed facts and conflicts in testimony; considering all arguments and briefs; and rendering written decisions that define issues, resolve conflicts, and make findings of fact and conclusions of law applying relevant legal principles under the NLRA and board decisions.
• Writing and issuing decisions in a timely manner without the assistance of a full-time law clerk, achieving a reasonable number of dispositions including settlements and decisions.
• Traveling extensively throughout the United States and its territories. Travel may be considerable, with periods of travel lasting a week or more, especially early in tenure.

Location

Positions require travel throughout the United States and its territories.