Note: Does not cover descriptions or samples for the 7 new competencies. Does not cover exam questions or exam preparation strategies. (This information is not available to any ALJ Candidate yet.)

In March 2013, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) opened a new Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Examination through a job announcement on USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov). The ALJ Writing Guide is mandatory reading for any attorney who would like to apply for Administrative Law Judge positions with the US Government. As of this writing, no applicant has seen or completed the new examination. Although this Guide covers only the original 6 of what are now 13 competencies tested for in the new exam, the process for developing narrative content for use in the resume and online experience assessment remains exactly the same.

At this time, the precise contents of the online component of the exam are known only to OPM. However, applicants may want to refer to this page for information about situational judgment tests: (click here). You may also want to review this example which relates to the way hiring officials test logical reasoning: (click here).

The examination process for ALJs is among the most complex in all of OPM. Strict adherence to OPM’s requirements is essential; moreover, there are certain conventions applicable to all non-Excepted Service applications that candidates are expected to adhere to, regardless of federal status. These conventions are not spelled out in OPM’s announcements, but form a central theme of the ALJ Writing Guide.

Chapter 1: Overview — A Quick Guide to the ALJ Application
Chapter 2: Your Top Ten Accomplishments
Chapter 3: The Federal ALJ Resume
Chapter 4: Qualifying Experience — Occupational Assessment Narratives
Chapter 5: The Accomplishment Record
Chapter 6: What Comes Next
Conclusion: Ten Tips for a Successful ALJ Application
FAQs
Useful ALJ Websites and Articles
Appendix – Memorandum of Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, Feb. 7, 2013
Appendix B – Modified Electronic Version of the 2009 ALJ Announcement, including Application Record Instructions

Components of the ALJ Application

This book is designed to help you write all parts of the ALJ application:

Federal ALJ Resume – Average length: 4 to 6 pages

Occupational Assessment—one to 1 ½ pages each, up to 3,800 characters each

Litigation Experience
Administrative Law Experience

Accomplishment Record—2,640 characters each devoted to establishing the following Competencies:

Decision Making
Interpersonal Skills
Oral Communication
Writing
Judicial Analysis
Judicial Management

About The Authors

Nicole Schultheis is an AV-rated attorney, former appellate judicial clerk and trial lawyer with state and federal courtroom experience, Nicole is also an experienced HR and executive writer, journalist, and scientific and technical writer with federal agency experience
Kathryn Troutman is the leading expert in federal resume writing, and a best-selling author with seven current publications on federal career development.

Who Should Buy This Book

Government attorneys
ODAR Attorneys
Private Sector Attorneys
JAG
Human Resources Managers

eBook Info

Electronic: 79 pages
Format: PDF
Published: Feb 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0-9846671-0-9
Retail Price $49.95

From a Client:

“Closed, baby, closed. I wonder how many apps they got? My guess is way more than 900 and, almost by definition, all had to be nearly one button push away from Submit. I have to admit that but for the email alert from your office, I would have been SOL. Once again, thank you. I would never have known about the position, let alone know it became available and let alone be able to file a good response in one day.”

ALJ Writing Guide

Writing an Administrative Law Judge Application

Authors: Nicole Schultheis and Kathryn Troutman

JUST RELEASED! Available as eBook: instant PDF download. Individual book price: $49.95

Updated for the 2013 first round – Litigation and Administrative Narratives and original 6 competency descriptions and samples

Table of Contents