Administrative Law Judge Jobs
Administrative Law Judge jobs are open across federal agencies, state government, and regulatory bodies, from hearing officer to senior and chief judge levels, with specializations in social security, workers' compensation, and environmental or labor regulation. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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UCS-23
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENT
STATE OF NEW YORK
UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
PLEASE POST
ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 23640
POSITION TITLE: PRINCIPAL LAW CLERK TO JUDGE JG: 31
LOCATION: SUPREME COURT, NEW YORK COUNTY - CIVIL TERM
BASE SALARY: $130,061 + $4,920 LOCATION PAY
CLASSIFICATION: EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS: Admission to the New York State Bar and two (2) years of service in the Associate Law Clerk to Judge title;
or five (5) years of relevant legal experience, including up to 18 months of pre-admission experience.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Principal Law Clerks to Judge are responsible for researching and analyzing uniquely
intricate, complex and sensitive legal issues and questions for individual judges. They also provide other personal and confidential
assistance to an individual judge or judges. Principal Law Clerks to Judge are personally appointed by the judge or judges for whom
they work and serve at their pleasure.
ASSIGNMENT: This position is assigned to Hon. Leslie A. Stroth, New York State Supreme Court Justice in New York County, Civil
Term. Duties include, but are not limited to: researching and analyzing legal questions and issues and preparing memoranda with
recommendations; drafting opinions, decisions, orders, jury charges, correspondence and other written material; conferring with
lawyers on complex proceedings and reviewing legal documents filed in connection with such legal proceedings; reviewing and
verifying citations; conferring with and advising the judge on legal issues; and conducting conferences with attorneys and other
parties to legal actions to clarify issues to be resolved or to settle cases.
Law Clerks to Judge must: possess knowledge of the laws and rules governing civil practice; proficiency in legal writing; the ability
to read, comprehend, and communicate complex legal and other technical data; the ability to analyze legal issues and identify
relevant case opinions and facts; the ability to establish work priorities; the ability to handle sensitive matters on a confidential basis;
and preferred experience in civil litigation.
GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by
persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not
necessarily require these duties. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that
may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1 .
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5
Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at
www.nycourts.gov/careers/UCS5.pdf),cover letter, a resume, and two (2) writing samples by email to sfc-part12-clerk@nycourts.gov
with Reference: Application for Principal Law Clerk.
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY DATA COLLECTION FORM.
POSTING DATE: November 6, 2026 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: November 30, 2026
The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
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Find Administrative Law Judge JobsAdministrative Law Judge Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in administrative law judge jobs.
- Active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- Minimum of several years of litigation or administrative adjudication experience
- Demonstrated experience presiding over or conducting formal evidentiary hearings
- Knowledge of administrative procedure and applicable federal or state regulatory frameworks
- Strong legal writing skills with experience drafting formal decisions and orders
- Familiarity with case management systems and electronic docketing platforms
Tips for Your Administrative Law Judge Job Search
Tailor your resume for hearings experience
Administrative law judges are evaluated on their adjudicatory record. Quantify the number and types of cases you've presided over or argued, name the regulatory programs involved, and highlight any appellate reversal rates or case-completion metrics if they're favorable.
Distinguish your bar status and jurisdiction
Many federal and state ALJ postings require active bar membership in a specific jurisdiction. List your bar admissions clearly near the top of your resume so hiring panels don't have to hunt for them, and flag any multi-state admissions if they're relevant to the posting.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists administrative law judge openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Read the entire vacancy announcement carefully
Federal and state ALJ postings often include mandatory eligibility criteria buried in the body, like minimum years of litigation or adjudication experience. Missing one criterion disqualifies your application automatically, so confirm every requirement before you spend time on a submission package.
Prepare a written decision sample in advance
Many ALJ hiring panels request a redacted or hypothetical written decision as part of the application. Draft one before you start applying so you're not scrambling. It should demonstrate clear findings of fact, legal analysis, and a well-structured order.
Anticipate competency-based interview questions
ALJ interviews often use structured behavioral formats tied to specific competencies: impartiality, legal reasoning, and case management under volume pressure. Prepare two or three concrete examples for each competency drawn from real cases, and practice delivering them in STAR format.
Administrative Law Judge Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an administrative law judge?
You need to earn a law degree, pass the bar exam, and gain substantive experience in litigation or formal adjudication before applying. Most federal and state ALJ positions require a minimum number of years practicing law, often with a focus on the program area you'd oversee. Federal ALJ candidates must also pass the OPM competitive examination process, while state hiring processes vary by agency and jurisdiction.
How do you get hired as an administrative law judge with little experience?
Entry points typically involve hearing officer or administrative hearing examiner roles, which require less experience than a full ALJ appointment and build the adjudicatory record you'll need later. Working as a staff attorney for a regulatory agency, representing clients in administrative proceedings, or clerking for an appeals tribunal all develop the procedural and substantive knowledge that ALJ panels look for when screening applicants.
What does the administrative law judge interview process look like?
Most ALJ hiring processes begin with a written application review, often including a legal writing sample or redacted decision. Candidates who advance typically face a structured panel interview with questions focused on legal reasoning, impartiality, and case management. Some federal and state agencies also conduct a demonstration exercise where you rule on a hypothetical motion or summarize a record, assessing how you'd perform on the bench.
Where can I find and apply to administrative law judge jobs?
You can find and apply to administrative law judge jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from federal agencies, state governments, and regulatory bodies across the United States. Search for roles that fit your experience level and program specialization, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
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