Human Services Judge

Minnesota Department of Human Services; Saint Paul (MN); Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association seeks a Human Services Judge to conduct administrative fair hearings for state agencies. You will review evidence, apply law, and prepare an independent recommended order for final agency decisions.

The position requires a J.D. and Minnesota licensure, with the ability to handle a high-volume caseload and interact with diverse communities. Telework eligibility is available for Minnesota and bordering states with approval.

Qualifications

• Four years of advanced professional legal experience appearing in or conducting civil, criminal, or administrative hearings.
• Ability to identify legal issues within complex factual circumstances.
• Strong written and oral communication skills to interact with parties and draft clear orders.
• Excellent legal research and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work respectfully with diverse populations, including non-English speakers.
• Flexibility to respond to changing situations quickly.
• Judicial temperament to manage hearings in adversarial settings.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with computer use, case management systems, and recording devices.
• J.D. degree and active Minnesota licensure or eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Manage a high-volume caseload while ensuring timely and fair resolution.
• Conduct evidentiary hearings to develop a complete record.
• Make findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the record and applicable laws.
• Comply with statutes, rules, regulations, and agency policies in carrying out duties.

Skills

Legal analysis

Oral communication

Written communication

Judicial temperament

Independent work

Time management

Diversity sensitivity

Tech proficiency

Multistate licensing readiness

Public sector experience

Education

Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

Minnesota bar admission or eligibility

Tools

Case management system

Recording devices

Job description

***This position is eligible for telework for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.***

***This posting may be used to fill multiple vacancies**

As a Human Services Judge, you will conduct administrative fair hearings for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, MNsure Board, and the Minnesota Departments of Health, Education, and Children, Youth, and Families. After conducting an evidentiary hearing, you will review the evidence and pertinent federal and state law and prepare an independent recommended order to decide the appeal. The recommended order is reviewed by the respective agency’s Commissioner’s designee who issues the final decision.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

• Manage a high-volume caseload while ensuring that appeals assigned to you are resolved timely, efficiently, and in a manner that protects the rights of the parties.
• Conduct evidentiary hearings to develop a complete record.
• Make findings of fact and conclusions of law based on an analysis of the complete record and the laws that apply to the disputed issues.
• Comply with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies in order to effectively carry out the requirements of this position and the Agency’s mission, values, and goals.

Minimum Qualifications

**To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.**

Four (4) years of advanced professional legal experience appearing in or conducting civil, criminal, or administrative hearings. Experience must demonstrate the following:

• Ability to identify legal issues within a complex set of factual circumstances;
• Strong written and oral communication skills sufficient to communicate with parties and write clear, concise recommended orders that are easily understood by all parties;
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills;
• Ability to work respectfully with persons of diverse backgrounds, including those with different cultural backgrounds; people in crisis; people in poverty; people with physical disabilities; people with mental illness; and non-English speakers;
• Ability to be flexible and quickly respond to changing situations;
• Ability to exhibit judicial temperament to conduct hearings in adversarial situations;.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, prioritize work load, allocate time in an efficient manner, and meet deadlines;
• Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to competently use computer, case management system, and recording devices;
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.);
• Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota and be in active status, an inactive resident, retired, on disabled status, or on retired senior status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience conducting evidentiary hearings as an administrative law judge, workers' compensation judge, unemployment insurance judge or equivalent experience in public sector hearings environment.
• Experience making credibility determinations.
• Professional experience representing public assistance recipients or government agencies in legal proceedings.
• Professional experience representing clients in administrative hearings.
• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.