Bilingual Line Administrative Law Judge (Spanish, Temporary)

Bilingual Line Administrative Law Judge (Spanish, Temporary)Office of Administrative HearingsUnemployment Insurance DivisionNOTE: This position is eligible for full-time telework after onboarding at an OAH facility on the first day of employment. If working remotely, the alternate worksite must be located in Washington state.NOTE: The initial salary for this position will be $103,008 annually (Range 70, Step H), plus an additional 5% dual language pay upon successful completion of a Spanish language proficiency assessment. Additionally, 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.NOTE: This position is eligible for PERS and PEBB benefits.The Opportunity:OAH is currently looking to fill a temporary Bilingual (Spanish) Line Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) position in our Unemployment Insurance Division. The initial appointment is anticipated to be 12 months.Line ALJs contribute to the OAH mission by managing a caseload, completing pre-hearing work, conducting hearings that are fair in substance and appearance, and issuing well-reasoned decisions within the agency's timeliness standards. This Bilingual Line ALJ position will hold hearings directly in both English and Spanish.This position will work on the Unemployment Insurance (UI) caseload. OAH's Spanish UI hearings are a unique program that merges due process with language access services. Hearings are held in the appellant's first language (Spanish) and provide a more inclusive experience.The UI caseload includes hearings on all initial appeals from UI related decisions made by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Appeals may be filed by either a claimant or former employer and are filed through the ESD. ESD transmits those appeals to OAH on a daily basis. The professional staff then schedule hearings, mail Notices of Hearing to the parties, and generally manage the case pre-and-post hearing. ALJs hear the cases (almost exclusively via teleconference) and then write and issue appropriate orders. In the normal course of business ALJs have five business days to produce an order, however in order to meet Department of Labor (DOL) standards, ALJs may be required to produce orders more quickly in cases where a DOL deadline will arrive in less than five business days. Completed orders are then distributed to the relevant parties by the professional staff.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 independenceDiversity, equity, inclusion and respectPerformance excellenceIntegrityOAH 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 & 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.Our ALJs mainly preside over telephonic hearings, but may also conduct in-person hearings for both pro se and represented parties. ALJs work in a fast-paced, timeline-driven environment where they are at the forefront of accomplishing the OAH mission. ALJs enjoy seeing the direct result of their work and the justice provided in each decision made. An ALJ's primary role is to conduct hearings that are fair--in both substance and appearance--and issue well-reasoned, timely decisions. This role demands the ability to build a record, manage time effectively, and produce clear, logical, well-written decisions. As a representative of the State of Washington, each ALJ is held to the highest standard of professionalism, performance excellence, and ethics.Duties include, but are not limited to: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 supervisor 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.Demonstrate respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices with parties, stakeholders, and co-workers.Required education and experience include all of the following:A Juris Doctor degreeA minimum of five (5) years of legal experience as a licensed attorney**Active or Judicial membership with the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)Ability to read and speak fluently in Spanish**Applicants with at least three, but less than five, years of relevant legal experience may be considered for an Entry ALJ position. 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 Competencies for ALJs:Analytical Skills: Identifies key facts in a range of data. Notices when data appears wrong or incomplete or needs 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. Learns and retains knowledge of administrative law and procedures.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, and freedom from bias. Decides 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 balances 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 appropriately 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 maintain good working relationships among internal and external customers. Tactfully presents information in an objective and neutral manner. Remains calm, patient, and self-controlled 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. Choose 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.Required Competency for Bilingual ALJ:Spanish Language Skills: Ability to read and speak fluently in Spanish. Ability to interact in Spanish with appellants and representatives.Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Experience with subject matter of caseload(s) assigned.Adjudication experience Litigation experienceMediation experienceALJs who have been successful in and enjoyed these types of positions/environments in their work history tend to be better prepared for the rewarding challenge of being an ALJ at OAH.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 all of the following required information in your online application materials:A letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications for this position; andA detailed chronological resume; and3 professional references with current contact informationA current legal writing sample that demonstrates your professional work; andA complete online application profile (including education, work history, and references).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 ******. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
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