Exam Bulletin - Supervising Administrative Law Judge

State of California

Exam Code: EX-2764

Examination Plans Included:

  • SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: $11,816.00 - $15,620.00 per Month

View the SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2764

For SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02764

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00106017 - SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

Active membership in the State Bar of California; unless legal authority permits performance of duties while in inactive status; and admissions to practice law in California or any state in the United States or District of Columbia for at least 5 years immediately preceding application for appointment.

and

One year of experience performing the duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Administrative Law Judge, Range B; or

Seven years in the practice of law*, which shall include at least three years of experience in the presentation of evidence and the examination of witnesses before a trial court or quasi-judicial administrative body, or, at least four years of experience in the presentation of evidence and the examination of witnesses before a trial court or quasi-judicial administrative body.

For positions performing workers’ compensation law judge duties, incumbents shall include at least seven years of experience in the practice of law, five years of experience in workers’ compensation law.

* Experience in the "practice of law" or "performing legal duties" is defined as: (1) only that legal experience acquired after admission to any State Bar, or (2) experience as a judicial clerk for a federal court, California's state courts, or any other state's courts, or (3) legal experience acquired while practicing under a provisional license to practice law issued by the State Bar of California's Provisional Licensure Program, to constitute experience in the practice of law. For an individual's judicial clerkship to qualify as experience in the practice of law or performing legal duties, the experience must have been gained after receipt of a Juris Doctor or equivalent degree.

Position Description

00106017 - SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

Under general direction, incumbents supervise judicial or quasi-judicial staff and other legal staff; conduct judicial or quasi-judicial hearings for specialized cases; are responsible for overseeing hearing operations and the administrative and operational requirements of their program; resolve policy issues, and plan and implement long-range strategies for the office; handle continuance requests and other procedural issues relating to cases assigned to the office; maintain communication with representatives of state and local agencies and legal counsels to receive input about performance and to elicit and implement changes designed to enhance processes; accumulate and track performance measures; and may hear and decide cases referred to the office including those which are most complex or sensitive.

Preferred or Desirable Qualifications

Experience in the practice of law relevant to the hiring agency. All Administrative Law Judges shall be bound by the California Code of Judicial Ethics.

All employees must have general qualifications as described by California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 172.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. State and federal rules, regulations, and laws 
  2. Areas of law applicable to the department and the types of adjudication assigned 
  3. Legal principles and their application, conduct of hearing proceedings and the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act 
  4. Leading court decisions in California and the United States Supreme Court 
  5. Rules of evidence governing such procedure and the laws relating to serving notices, taking depositions, and issuing subpoenas 
  6. Legal research 
  7. Court decisions interpreting the powers of administrative boards and agencies 
  8. Principles and theories of administrative law and the judicial review of administrative actions 
  9. Principles and objectives of effective public administration and an understanding of the uses of proper administrative procedures in furthering these objectives 
  10. Legal terms and forms in common use  
  11. Conduct of proceedings in California and federal trial and appellate courts and before administrative bodies
  12. Specialized knowledge of the legal principles underlying the agency’s jurisdiction
  13. Expert knowledge of the specialized area of law administered or enforced by the agency
  14. Principles and practices of personnel management and supervision 
  15. A supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment which is free of discrimination and harassment
Ability to:
  1. Interpret and apply provisions of state and federal rules, regulations, and laws 
  2. Perform legal research 
  3. Conduct fair and impartial hearings in a manner that will obtain all pertinent evidence and secure confidence and respect 
  4. Maintain a fair and impartial attitude of mind and manner, exercise judgement without bias or prejudice 
  5. Prepare summaries of facts and render decisions or make recommendations based on such facts 
  6. Analyze difficult and complex legal problems and apply legal principles and precedents to particular sets of facts 
  7. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing 
  8. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action 
  9. Establish and maintain cooperative and respectful relationships with those contacted in work
  10. Draft complex and difficult opinions, negotiate effectively, and work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and organizations and maintain the confidence and respect of others
  11. Plan, organize, and direct the work of legal professionals and support staff 
  12. Hear and decide the most complex and sensitive hearings referred to the department 
  13. Communicate effectively
  14. Promote equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion
  15. Maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the SUPERVISING ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Supervising Administrative Law Judge Training and Experience Exam Preview

Section 1: Task Statements

Instructions:
Rate your experience in relation to specific statements.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every statement by marking one option from the scale(s) provided. If you are responding to the training scale, please note that only formal training courses would be accepted (i.e., on-the-job training would NOT count).

  1. Preparing materials (e.g., administrative tasks) for orderly operation of the office.
  2. Updating information in electronic case management systems.
  3. Monitoring hearings to ensure an adequate record of the oral proceedings are made by court reporter or other means.
  4. Communicating during pre-hearing proceedings (e.g., case management, conferences, pre-hearing conferences) with affected individuals, and/or counsel to produce the exchange of information.
  5. Working with support staff to ensure clear, accurate, and complete administrative records are maintained.
  6. Working with individuals (e.g., court reporters, other parties, personnel) to ensure clear, accurate, and complete evidentiary records are made.
  7. Developing case management strategies for cases based on an analysis of the facts and applicable law.
  8. Assessing the need and quality of interpreter services to ensure due process.
  9. Making orders for the exchange and filing of documents, other pre-hearings, evidentiary hearing matters, and pre-hearing conferences.
  10. Managing difficult cases to resolve disputes in accordance with state and federal laws.
  11. Actively participating in law and motion hearings to resolve disputes and facilitate the hearing process in accordance with state and federal laws.
  12. Instructing parties or clients regarding the hearing process to assure due process in accordance with state and federal laws.
  13. Evaluating reports from expert witnesses in order to weigh evidence in accordance with state and federal laws.
  14. Determining laws that have bearing on the issues identified in a case to assure due process in accordance with professional standards.
  15. Reviewing settlement proposals to determine the parties’ positions and proposals.
  16. Actively participating in settlement conferences and mediations to assist parties in resolving disputes before hearings.
  17. Issuing well-reasoned and legally sound rulings at hearings.
  18. Issuing well-reasoned and legally sound orders based on thorough analysis of evidence and the law.
  19. Preparing and issuing decisions based upon the entire record of the proceedings in compliance with applicable law.
  20. Issuing subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and production of documents based on applicable law.
  21. Developing and maintaining accurate evidentiary record and list of exhibits to ensure an accurate and complete administrative record.
  22. Performing legal research to determine the applicable legal authority.
  23. Reviewing and analyzing evidentiary record in order to make findings of fact including credibility determinations.
  24. Developing timelines for case completion to ensure timely submission of assignments in accordance with statutes and regulations.
  25. Providing leadership to various legal staff to ensure efficiency and effectiveness at an organization.
  26. Communicating with leadership to discuss and receive direction on individual administrative issues (e.g., time off, information on office policies, performance evaluations, goal setting, performance and team building within the section).
  27. Communicating with support staff (e.g., legal secretaries, office assistants) regarding pending work or scheduling, taking into consideration their other pending projects.
  28. Communicating with calendar staff to calendar cases, confirm the status of pending cases, discuss scheduling, obtain case records, and request other assistance and information.
  29. Communicating with staff regarding assigned work, following up on their progress, providing assistance and direction, and reviewing final products to ensure proper completion as needed.
  30. Communicating with the public or governmental agencies regarding general legal and factual issues pertinent to adjudications.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)