Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Experience conducting administrative hearings or adjudicating administrative cases. Administrative Law Judges are expected to decide difficult or complex issues, particularly those that impact people's lives. Prior adjudication experience in other tribunals - Federal, state, local, military or other court systems - is ideal; however, adjudication experience may be drawn from non-courtroom settings. For candidates who have limited adjudication experience, significant litigation experience before EOIR or extensive litigation experience in settings comparable to an administrative adjudicatory body may be considered.
4. Experience handling complex legal issues. Immigration and employment law often involve handling complex legal issues. This role requires being able to work through complicated fact patterns and issues, novel areas of the law, as well as learning, adapting to, and incorporating changes in the law.
5. Knowledge of immigration laws, employment law, and administrative law and procedures. In this role, depth and/or volume of knowledge of immigration law, employment law, and administrative law and procedure is important. Candidates should have meaningful experience applying complex immigration, employment, and/or administrative law, which can include representing individuals or the Federal government in matters involving complex or diverse immigration or employment laws; adjudicating immigration or employment matters; legislative or administrative advocacy on immigration or employment policy issues; academic or clinical experience; and other similar work that involves routine analysis and application of immigration employment, and/or administrative law.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/22/2026, the closing date of this announcement, which includes:

1. Your Resume documenting seven (7) years experience since being admitted to the bar.

You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following information for each job entry listed in your employment history:
-Official position title,
-Employer name and contact information,
-Start and end dates (including month and year),
-Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
-A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

1. A complete online Assessment Questionnaire.
2. Document(s)addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed above.
3. A Writing Sample demonstrating your ability to author legal documents (10 pages, maximum; an excerpt of a longer document is acceptable).
4. Current or former Federal employees must provide copies of their most recent and their latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
5. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable:
   • Veterans' Preference Documentation: Although the veterans' preference point system does not apply to this position, we accept preference claims and adjudicate such claims per the documentation provided. Note: If claiming 5-point veterans' preference, include a DD-214 or statement of service. If claiming 10-point veterans' preference, include an SF-15 and documentation required by that form, VA or military letter dated 1991 or later, and DD-214.
   • Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.

Tips for your resume:

• Ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone number, email address, and employment information.
• Each position listed on your resume must include: From/To dates of employment (MM/YYYY-MM/YYYY or MM/YYYY to Present); agency/employer name; position title; Federal grade level(s) held, if applicable; hours, if less than full time; and duties performed.
• In addition, any experience on less than a full time basis must specify the percentage and length of time spent in performance of such duties.

Tips for addressing QRFs:

• Applicants should use narrative form to address each of the five (5) QRFs. They must be written in a separate document indicating the by-number of the specific QRF being addressed.
• Successful applicants will address all of the QRFs. If you do not have the specific experience addressed in a QRF, we encourage you to write about a similar skill, ability, knowledge, or experience.
• Applicants should be thorough in addressing each QRF. This includes:
  • Approximate number of cases or matters handled in a given period of time.
  • Applicant's specific role (e.g., adjudicator, first chair, co-counsel, responsible for the written brief only, etc.).
  • Length of time involved in a given role (e.g., lead counsel in 20 immigration proceedings in 10 years).
  • Specific examples of the types of cases (asylum application, pleas, settlement, bench trial, jury trial, etc.).
  • The number of court and/or administrative appearances made in those cases.
  • The case dispositions (ruling on the merits, plea or similar resolution, settlement, trial, jury trial, etc.).

Failure to submit the documents listed above with your application package will result in your application package being removed from consideration.

Next steps

Additional locations