Closing Date: 22nd January, 2026
Description:
Summary:***Please see announcement questionnaire for specific court locations****.
Conversion to permanent position is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a probationary period and appointment by the Attorney General.
Additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.
Duties:
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) acts as presiding officer with respect to proceedings, presiding over, hearings, writing opinions and making decisions, and performing ancillary duties. As presiding officer, the ALJ determines who is entitled to participate and to what extent; admits evidence into the record, or rejects proffered documents and oral testimony; and considers proposed findings of fact and conclusions and briefs submitted by the parties. The ALJ issues initial decisions and orders in adjudicatory proceedings, which become final decisions of the Department of Justice unless appealed. Final orders are issued by the ALJ following settlement by the parties, after a hearing, pursuant to dispositive motions, or upon waiver of a hearing. Specific proceedings assigned to the incumbent may include both rulemaking and adjudicatory matters.
The ALJ position functions, and is classified, as a judge under the Administrative Procedure Act. When hearings are conducted, a complete formal record of the hearing is regularly prepared, and formal written opinions are issued. In addition, with the approval of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and with the consent of the supervisor, the ALJ may be called to another agency for the purpose of conducting formal administrative hearings before such other agency.
In addition to performing the duties described above, the ALJ is also qualified to conduct, and may be assigned to conduct the following proceedings as an immigration judge: removal, discretionary relief, rescission of adjustment status, claims of persecution, stays of removal, and bond and detention. In accordance with section 101(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), the incumbent is an attorney appointed by the Attorney General as an administrative judge who is qualified to conduct specified classes of proceedings, including removal proceedings under section 240 of the Act, and to preside at formal, quasi-judicial hearings to determine the issues arising in exclusion, deportation, and related proceedings. As such, the ALJ must have expert knowledge in immigration and employment law, including the relevant statutes and regulations, precedential decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, and decisions of Circuit Courts.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
Qualifications:
In order to qualify for the OCAHO ALJ position, applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications listed below.
Education: Applicants must possess a LL.B., J.D., or LL.M. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)
Note: Qualifying experience is calculated from the date of your first admission to the bar. In addition, successful applicants will have a strong combination of experience demonstrating that they will perform at the level of competence, impartiality, and professionalism expected of an Administrative Law Judge. For more information about relevant experience and knowledge, please see the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section.
Additional Information:
Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Selectee(s) must be able to maintain a public trust clearance. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (see section entitled "Required Documents" for further details).
Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. Citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the United States, must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the United States; 2) worked for the United States overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
The ALJ position functions, and is classified, as a judge under the Administrative Procedure Act. When hearings are conducted, a complete formal record of the hearing is regularly prepared, and formal written opinions are issued. In addition, with the approval of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and with the consent of the supervisor, the ALJ may be called to another agency for the purpose of conducting formal administrative hearings before such other agency.
In addition to performing the duties described above, the ALJ is also qualified to conduct, and may be assigned to conduct the following proceedings as an immigration judge: removal, discretionary relief, rescission of adjustment status, claims of persecution, stays of removal, and bond and detention. In accordance with section 101(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), the incumbent is an attorney appointed by the Attorney General as an administrative judge who is qualified to conduct specified classes of proceedings, including removal proceedings under section 240 of the Act, and to preside at formal, quasi-judicial hearings to determine the issues arising in exclusion, deportation, and related proceedings. As such, the ALJ must have expert knowledge in immigration and employment law, including the relevant statutes and regulations, precedential decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, and decisions of Circuit Courts.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation.
- Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
- Moving and Relocation Expense are not authorized.
- Relevant experience (see qualifications below.)
- Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
- If selected, you must file a financial disclosure statement in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
- You must receive your Federal salary by Direct Deposit (to a financial institution of their choosing).
- Conversion to permanent position is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a probationary period and appointment by the Attorney General.
Qualifications:
In order to qualify for the OCAHO ALJ position, applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications listed below.
Education: Applicants must possess a LL.B., J.D., or LL.M. degree. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your degree and the name of the College or University from which it was conferred/awarded.)
- And
- Licensure: Applicants must be an active member of the bar, duly licensed and authorized to practice law as an attorney under the laws of any state, territory of the U.S., or the District of Columbia. (Provide the month and year in which you obtained your first license and the State from which it was issued.)
- And
- Experience: Applicants must have seven (7) years of post-bar admission experience as a licensed attorney preparing for, participating in, and/or appealing formal hearings or trials involving litigation and/or administrative law at the Federal, State or local level. Qualifying litigation experience involves cases in which a complaint was filed with a court, or a charging document (e.g., indictment or information) was issued by a court, a grand jury, or appropriate military authority. Qualifying administrative law experience involves cases in which a formal procedure was initiated by a governmental administrative body.
Additional Information:
Employment is contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Selectee(s) must be able to maintain a public trust clearance. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (see section entitled "Required Documents" for further details).
Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. Citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the United States, must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the United States; 2) worked for the United States overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Additional Information:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. (https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits)
Review our benefits (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications stated above will be further evaluated to determine those who are best qualified. This determination will be based, in part, on the following Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs), which need to be addressed as part of the application package.
Ability to demonstrate the appropriate temperament to serve as a judge. Administrative Law Judges need to possess traits such as compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias, and commitment to equal justice under the law. Additionally, individuals in this role are expected to exercise discretion, and articulate how that discretion is being exercised, in complex, sensitive, high-pressure and/or emotional situations. A strong candidate demonstrates excellent analytical, decision-making, and writing abilities.
Review our benefits (https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/)
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications stated above will be further evaluated to determine those who are best qualified. This determination will be based, in part, on the following Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs), which need to be addressed as part of the application package.
Ability to demonstrate the appropriate temperament to serve as a judge. Administrative Law Judges need to possess traits such as compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias, and commitment to equal justice under the law. Additionally, individuals in this role are expected to exercise discretion, and articulate how that discretion is being exercised, in complex, sensitive, high-pressure and/or emotional situations. A strong candidate demonstrates excellent analytical, decision-making, and writing abilities.
- Litigation or adjudication experience, preferably in a high volume judicial or administrative context. Administrative Law Judges often must balance a variety of skills that can include managing a high volume of cases, drafting decisions, and reviewing an administrative record. It is vital that a candidate is able to manage a high-volume docket under tight deadlines without compromising quality.
- Experience conducting administrative hearings or a
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