Administrative Law Judge 1 (PCN 081040) - State of Alaska

Created in 2004, the Office of Administrative Hearings is Alaska’s independent hearing panel for most types of executive branch agency administrative hearings.  
 
OAH’s 10 Administrative Law Judges preside over a wide variety of administrative adjudications across more than 100 different case types. In that role, the Administrative Law Judge:

• presides over the prehearing process, including discovery and motions practice;
• conducts formal mediation upon request;
• conducts evidentiary hearings that range in length from one hour to multiple weeks, depending on the type of case; 
• prepares proposed or, in some cases, final decisions based on the applicable law and the evidence presented; and
• in cases where a proposed decision is prepared, advises and assists the final decisionmaker in the deliberative process.   

OAH hears cases from most executive branch agencies, dozens of state boards and commissions, and some municipalities and school districts.  (Sample decisions can be found under “Decisions” at http://doa.alaska.gov/oah/).  Whether adjudicating public benefits disputes for self-represented litigants or multimillion-dollar business disputes, OAH’s administrative law judges strive to deliver timely, efficient, and high-quality adjudication.  

OAH’s administrative law judges perform challenging, engaging work, often under considerable time constraints.  In-house training and mentorship, and ongoing peer review, are provided to help newer judges build the skills needed to succeed as an adjudicator.   New OAH judges also undergo training at the National Judicial College.  

OAH’s Anchorage office and main hearing room are located on the 19th Floor of the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage. We are a small, collegial agency and place considerable value on internal collaboration.  While a great deal of an ALJ’s time is spent conducting hearings and writing decisions, the office atmosphere is friendly and collaborative.  
 
The ideal candidate will have meaningful litigation experience, proven ability to analyze complex legal and factual issues under time constraints, excellent legal writing skills, and well-developed time management skills. The successful candidate will also enjoy legal writing, as well as collaboration with colleagues.  Familiarity with administrative adjudication is a plus, but is not necessarily required for a candidate with other relevant skills and experience.  Judicial clerkship experience is also a plus.

Note:
This position will be filled in Anchorage. Salary is commensurate with the geographical location of the position.