Attorney III - Hearing Officer

State of Nebraska; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fixed work hours

13 paid holidays

Vacation and sick leave 24 days

156% State-matched retirement

Employer-paid health, dental, vision

Life insurance $20,000

No travel

No weekends

No billable hours

Meaningful work

Job summary

The State of Nebraska in Lincoln seeks an Attorney III Hearing Officer to conduct administrative hearings and issue final decisions in contested agency cases.

Three years of attorney experience and admission to the Nebraska Bar are required. The role emphasizes courtroom skills, legal analysis, and the ability to draft precise orders with integrity and impartiality. This position offers stable hours, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to influence public service decisions.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience as an attorney and providing legal services such as preparing and trying cases, advising clients, and interpreting laws or administrative policies.
• Admitted to the Nebraska Bar as required by the role and statutory rules.

Responsibilities

• Conduct administrative hearings as a Hearing Officer, applying courtroom skills to health-related appeals and related cases.
• Preside over hearings, rule on admissibility of evidence, and issue final agency decisions or recommended orders.
• Draft final decisions and recommended orders in contested cases.

Skills

Excellent communication

Courtroom management

Legal analysis

Legal research

Legal writing

Job description

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency: Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location: Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate: $38.632

Job Posting: JR2026-00028939 Attorney III - Hearing Officer (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description: Do you feel at ease in a courtroom setting with your litigation experience? Are you looking for a consistent steady work schedule without the need for billable hours?

Job Duties

• Conduct administrative hearings as a Hearing Officer, using communication and courtroom skills for Administrative Procedure Act public assistance appeals, health professional license discipline hearings, and central registry cases.
• Preside over administrative hearings; rule on the admissibility of evidence and motions; and make final agency decisions or recommended orders by applying the law to reach proper conclusions in contested agency cases.
• Draft final decisions and recommended orders in contested cases.

How we reward our employees

• Stable Employment with fixed work hours
• 13 paid holidays (including Arbor Day)
• Vacation and sick leave equating to 24 days your first year, accruing immediately
• Military leave, civil service leave, funeral leave, and more
• 156% State-matched retirement
• 79% employer paid health, dental, vision insurance plans
• Employer-paid $20,000 life insurance policy
• No travel
• No working on weekends
• Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a difference
• No billable hour requirements!

Location: Nebraska State Office Building - Lincoln

Hiring rate of position: Negotiable; commensurate with experience, if approved.

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of experience as an attorney practicing law and providing legal services such as preparing and trying cases, advising clients, and/or interpreting laws or administrative policies.

Legal Requirements

In accordance with Section 7-101, Nebraska Revised, Reissued Statutes of 1943, incumbents in this class must be admitted to the Nebraska Bar.

Preferred Qualifications

A successful candidate will possess skills as follows: excellent communication; ease in controlling a courtroom setting; good legal analysis, research, and writing skills; skill in evaluating evidence when applying the law to reach proper legal conclusions.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of: State and/or federal statutory and case law and constitutional provisions pertinent to agency programs; the techniques of preparing or drafting legal document and forms; judicial procedures and rules of evidence; the principles and practices of legal research; the procedures of trial and administrative hearings; the principles and practices of criminal and civil law administration.

Skill in: preparing summaries, legal analyses, findings and conclusions, briefs and other legal documents, negotiating and communicating with others sufficient to persuade their acceptance of contentious goals or viewpoints; analyzing and interpreting various factors, perspectives, and options and applying critical thinking to resolve issues.

Ability to: prepare and communicate in person and by telephone, emails, summaries, and correspondence, the facts and arguments of a case to persuade others to accept the viewpoint presented; interact with legal associates, other governmental employees, the public, and representatives of parties involved in a case; formulate legal opinions and recommendations based on legal research and investigations; conduct legal research and investigations; identify critical elements of legal questions or issues and select appropriate course of action; prepare drafts of legal documents and forms; interpret and apply statutes, case law, decisions of judicial and administrative hearings, and administrative rules and policies.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation. Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.