Administrative Law Judge

Job Description

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE | California Department of Social Services

The Tone:
This is a permanent, full-time role at the California Department of Social Services, located in Los Angeles County with a hybrid telework option. The California Department of Social Services is a 2,182-person organization dedicated to serving, protecting, and supporting Californians in need, fostering wellbeing, and disrupting systemic inequities. This role is crucial for upholding the integrity of the state hearing process, providing timely and impartial due process, and ensuring legally correct decisions that impact the lives of individuals accessing vital social services.

The TL;DR
• Role: Experienced Professional
• Type: Permanent, Full Time
• Location: Hybrid, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $10,588.00 – $15,263.00 monthly
• Team: Reports to a Supervising Administrative Law Judge (SALJ)
• Mission: To provide timely, independent, and impartial due process hearings and produce legally correct decisions that uphold the integrity of the state hearing process.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Hearing Oversight: Preside over hearings within CDSS and DHCS Program areas, including complex or sensitive cases involving CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, IHSS, and Resource Family Approval.
• Legal Application: Interpret and apply various federal and state statutes, regulations, and department policies to the cases presented.
• Case Management: Rule on objections, address subpoena and postponement requests, set continued hearings, and manage other case-related issues to ensure efficient case flow.
• Decision Writing: Submit timely and legally correct final and proposed decisions in accordance with State Hearings Division standards for quality and rate.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Develop expertise in program areas like CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal to consult with other Administrative Law Judges and serve as a resource for legal sources and prior decisions.
• Pre-Hearing & Review Duties: May review proposed decisions from other ALJs or serve as a duty judge to rule on pre-hearing matters such as expedited hearings, bifurcations, and reopening requests.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Classified as an ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, requiring a strong foundation in administrative law and the ability to interpret and apply federal and state statutes, regulations, and department policies.
• Experience: Demonstrated ability to preside over complex and sensitive hearings, manage case proceedings, and render legally sound decisions in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity.
• Skills: Legal interpretation and application, hearing management, effective decision writing, and expertise in social services program areas such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal.
• Bonus: Experience serving as a reviewer for proposed decisions, performing duty judge responsibilities for pre-hearing matters, or participating in special projects related to best practices.