Closing Date: 20th October, 2025

Description:

Job Duties:
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) serves a vital role in the Virginia Employment Commission's appeals process by conducting impartial hearings and rendering timely, legally sound decisions on disputed unemployment insurance benefit and employer tax liability cases. This position ensures compliance with U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) performance standards related to timeliness, decision quality, and due process. The ALJ helps maintain the integrity of the UI program by resolving complex legal issues, interpreting state and federal laws, and issuing decisions that withstand judicial scrutiny. The position is essential to preventing case backlogs, minimizing reversal rates, and avoiding potential federal sanctions that could impact claimants and employers statewide.

Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge of related rules and regulations governing eligibility and qualification for UI benefits, related issues, and tax law; legal research and writing methods.
Skilled in writing decisions and/or orders, conducting administrative hearings following due process requirements and procedures, and managing caseload.
Strong analytical, decision-making, and oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently, conduct fair and impartial hearings, display appropriate judicial temperament, and communicate effectively with employees, customers and their representatives, agents or attorneys, the agency's counsel, the general public, members of the business community and other federal, state or local government employees.
Must complete Statement of Economic Interests documentation and training.

Additional Considerations:

Knowledge of administrative or employment law and statutory and regulatory provisions governing unemployment compensation and relevant court cases (e.g. Virginia Unemployment Compensation Act).
Experience conducting administrative hearings and issuing decisions related to UI benefits.
License to practice law, especially if in Virginia.
Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in the Virginia State Bar or eligibility for admission.
Prior experience in unemployment insurance law or public sector adjudication.

Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The Virginia Employment Commission is committed to upholding our values in our employment opportunities across the Commonwealth to people from all backgrounds, including all races, ethnicities, genders, and abilities.
The VEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program, and a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

The selected candidate must successfully pass a comprehensive background check including an FBI fingerprint background investigation.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and résumés will not be accepted.

Applications are not accepted after the recruitment closing date.

Please carefully review the details of this recruitment including the location of the position and the posted salary before applying. VEC does not provide relocation assistance, and no salary will be offered outside of the posted salary range / flat rate.

Consideration for an interview is based solely on the information within the application (and/or resume). You must ensure your application/resume includes the scope of your experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to the position you are applying for. Information not stated will not be assumed.

This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration.

For the status of your application and this position, please refer to your RMS / Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via email or telephone.

Auxiliary Aids and Services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Applicants needing accommodations should contact the Human Resource office for additional information.

The VEC does not provide sponsorship; therefore, applicants must be a citizen or national of the U.S., a Lawful Permanent Resident, or an alien authorized to work in the US.

Notice: VEC will record information from each new employee's Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

This position requires the completion of a Statement of Economic Interest (SOEI) form and mandatory training on the Conflict of Interest Act (COIA). The SOEI form must be submitted online no later than the end of the first day in the new position, and subsequently thereafter each year during the annual filing period (January 1 to February 1). You should receive an email notification from the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council regarding this process along with instructions on how to access the system. The COIA training must be completed within 2 months of assuming the new position, and every 2 years thereafter.

Contact Information
Name: VEC Shared Services Human Resources / Recruitment

Phone: For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account. We do not provide application status updates via phone.

Email: Careers@vec.virginia.gov for recruitment related questions. Emailed applications, resumes, or cover letters will not be accepted. For the most up-to-date status of your application, please refer to your Jobs.Virginia.Gov account.

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employe