Remote Hearing Officer — Impartial Administrative Law Judge

NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) seeks Hearing Officers to preside as Administrative Law Judges over impartial hearings for applicants and recipients of social services programs.

This role requires strong legal acumen, a commitment to fairness, and the ability to manage calendars, hear disputes, and draft decisions. Telecommuting up to 50% may be available; positions may require travel.

Qualifications

• Hearing Officer 1: 12 months as Assistant Hearing Officer or NYS Bar admission with 24 months of legal trial experience.
• Assistant Attorney 1: Law school graduation and/or eligibility for NYS Bar Admission.
• Assistant Attorney 2: Admission to NYS Bar.
• Assistant Hearing Officer: 12 months as Assistant Attorney 2 or NYS Bar admission with 12 months of trial experience.

Responsibilities

• Reviews requests for hearings to determine probable issues and apply regulations.
• Directs attendance of witnesses and production of documents.
• Manages hearing calendars to ensure timely decisions.
• Conducts hearings to review appeals and determine eligibility or related issues.
• Instructs parties of rights and maintains fairness and due process.
• Administers oaths and examines witnesses for facts.
• Rules on objections and admissibility of evidence and exhibits.
• Organizes records and enters admissible evidence into the record.
• Maintains a record of the hearing proceeding.
• Applies laws and policies to the facts and evidence.
• Analyses data and researches laws and precedents to prepare for hearings.

Skills

Oral advocacy

Written communication

Legal research

Impartial decision making

Education

Law school graduation or NYS Bar eligibility

NYS Bar admission

Job description

The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) seeks Hearing Officers to preside as Administrative Law Judges over impartial hearings for applicants and recipients of social services programs.

This role requires strong legal acumen, a commitment to fairness, and the ability to manage calendars, hear disputes, and draft decisions. Telecommuting up to 50% may be available; positions may require travel.