Job Posting: Workers' Compensation Judge

Department of Industrial Relations

JC-472874
-
Workers' Compensation Judge
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

$10,280.00 - $14,818.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 5/1/2025

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the deputy commissioners of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Reconsideration Unit (WCAB), a seven member quasi-judicial body, the Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ) acts as a WCJ for the WCAB, including conducting hearings, informal status and/or mediation conferences as assigned; writing and researching legal decisions; providing guidance to the commissioners and deputies and substantive training to attorneys at the WCAB on workers' compensation law and relevant areas outside of workers' compensation law, as well as trial procedures at the district offices; and participating in team / leading team in rule-making.

The WCJ is expected to have a high level of experience, specialization and expertise in the areas of workers’ compensation law and regulations pertaining to workers’ compensation proceedings, as well as experience in conducting training.

Duties include, but are not limited to:
  • Evaluate the record to determine the issues presented by the pleadings and the evidence.
  • Engage parties in status conferences and/or mediation hearings to attempt informal resolution of cases and to draft decisions approving settlement documents
  • Provide internal guidance and training in substantive workers' compensation law and mechanics and procedures at the district offices.
  • Draft well-written and legally correct decisions in cases pending before the WCAB
  • Hold disciplinary hearings for non-attorney representatives pursuant to Labor Code section 4907
  • Engage in rulemaking
  • Draft periodic mediation updates and decisions on behalf of the commissioners.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies in accordance with 2 CCR §249.3


To be considered for this Administrative Law Judge job opportunity, applicants must be either reachable on an employment list, have transfer eligibility or have reinstatement eligibility. To take the exam and gain employment list eligibility, please click here to access the exam bulletin: 
https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1507

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

This position may be available at any of the following locations:
455 Golden Gate Ave. Ste. 9328, San Francisco, CA 94012
6150 Van Nuys Boulevard Ste. 206, Van Nuys, CA 91401
2031 Howe Ave. Ste. 100, Sacramento, CA 95825
This is a full-time permanent position at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Reconsideration Unit. Employees in this position work at desks and are required to work extensively on computers as necessary for the drafting of legal opinions and other documents, and for research, email communication, file review, training and other purposes. The WCJ is expected to perform their own word processing, and secretarial support is generally limited. Teleworking per DIR policy is available.

The hours are usual business hours, Monday through Friday. The WCJ is expected to work all hours as necessary to accomplish their assignments, and although they will generally average a 40-hour week, longer work hours may occasionally be required.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-472874
Position #(s):
400-330-6016-002
400-330-6016-003
400-330-6016-001
Working Title:
Workers' Compensation Judge
Classification:
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
$10,280.00 - $14,123.00 A
$10,782.00 - $14,818.00 B
# of Positions:
3
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) was established in 1927. Its mission is to improve working conditions for California's wage earners and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. DIR administers and enforces laws governing wages, workplace safety and health, apprenticeship training programs, and medical care and other benefits for injured workers.

Electronic Submission of Applications preferred. Application Packages maybe submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at https://jobs.ca.gov/ Applications must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. on or before the above final filing date.

Please only submit ONE application. Electronic applications submitted through your CalCareer Account are highly recommended and will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing.

If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail a completed and signed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 and application package to the mailing address provided in the “Application Instructions” section below and ensure the following:

  • Clearly indicate the Job Code #, Position Number and the Title of this position in the “Examination or Job Title(s) For Which You Are Applying” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
  • Clearly indicate the basis of your eligibility (cert, transfer, reinstatement, etc.) in the “Explanations” section located on the first page of your State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678.
  • Remove and do not submit the “Equal Employment Opportunity” questionnaire (page 5) with your completed State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. This page is for examination use only.
  • Do not include your full Social Security Number on your documents and/or do not provide any LEAP information.
Department Website: https://www.dir.ca.gov/

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications:
In order to apply for this position, you must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) answering the questions below in addition to the Standard State Application (STD 678) form. Applications received without a SOQ will be rejected. Resumes will be accepted but may not be submitted in lieu of the SOQ. Responses to the SOQ will be competitively scored. The SOQ must be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced and be 4 pages at a minimum and no more than 8 pages in length. Applicants who do not follow the formatting requirements and / or do not provide responses to all four specific questions below may be disqualified. Please respond in detail to the following questions in your SOQ. Include specific examples in each of your responses and explain how your professional experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the qualifications of this position.  Applicants will also be evaluated on how clearly and concisely their qualifications were presented throughout the SOQ (including grammar and punctuation).
  1. Describe your experience in substantive legal writing, including performing legal research,analyzing and appraising legal issues.
  2. Describe your experience working in a judicial or administrative system, including as an intern,clerk, attorney, or judicial officer.
  3. Describe your experience litigating workers’ compensation and / or civil cases, including both oral and written advocacy, and any appellate experience.
  4. Describe your experience working at a statutory, regulatory, or legislative body, including any drafting and / or analysis of statutes and regulations.

Additional Requirements:
The WCJ must adhere to the California Code of Judicial Ethics, meet the requirements of Labor Code section 123.5(b), and be a member of the State Bar of California. The minimum requirements are defined in the Class Specification for Administrative Law Judge.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 5/1/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Mailing Address Sacramento
Attn: Certifications Unit
2180 Harvard Street Suite 160
Sacramento, CA 95815

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Industrial Relations
Cert Drop Off Address Sacramento
2180 Harvard Street Suite 160
Sacramento, CA 95815
08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

    Please see Special Requirements section of the posting for instructions on the Statement of Qualifications.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

  • Knowledge of statutory and case law in workers’ compensation law.
  • Knowledge of procedures before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
  • Knowledge of proper communication skills both verbal and written.
  • Experience in the mediation and arbitration process.
  • Ability to reconcile differences amongst disputing parties.
  • Conduct training of substantive law and/or procedural rules.
  • Use of logic and reason to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Proficiency in Word and other Microsoft applications as well as electronic legal research.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

  • State of California health coverage and other benefits are comprehensive and compare favorably to the private sector.
  • The Appeals Board is a qualifying organization for eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for certain types of student loans. Employees who meet specific loan and payment requirements may receive loan forgiveness from the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Teleworking per DIR policy is available.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.dir.ca.gov/
Human Resources Contact:
Certification Unit
(800) 564-0771
cert@dir.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Diversity and Inclusion Office
(916) 559-6999
DIO@dir.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.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to persons with State Restriction of Appointments (SROA) or Surplus status. Applicants must attach a copy of their most recently dated letter that specifies their designation as either SROA or surplus candidate as proof.

Qualified candidates must have eligibility in State employment, be in a reachable rank on an employment list for this classification, be currently in this classification, or have transfer eligibility to this classification.

If you do not hear from us in 4-6 weeks, you may assume the position has been filled by another applicant. Please note that all additional vacancies that become available may be added to this advertisement.

Please note that the Exam and Certification Online System (ECOS) does not allow you to resubmit your application once you withdraw it. If you have any updates to your online application, please contact the Personnel, Recruitment, & Hiring Unit at (800) 564-0771.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey: DIR Applicant Survey

DIR Mission and Core Values

Our mission is to protect and improve the welfare and working conditions for California's wage earners and to advance opportunities for profitable employment in California. DIR is also committed to ensuring that all employers comply with labor laws in California to support a fair and thriving business environment.

Integrity - We fulfill the promise of our mission through fair, honest and ethical behavior.

Service - We are committed to responsibly serving the public and value their trust.

Respect - We treat others with dignity, courtesy and consideration.

Quality - We take pride in providing the public with accurate and timely services.

Transparency - We conduct ourselves with openness and accountability in all aspects of our work.

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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free 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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job