About OATH
The City of New York’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) is the nation’s largest administrative tribunal, holding approximately 400,000 trials and hearings a year. As the City’s central, independent administrative law court, OATH adjudicates a wide range of matters filed by nearly every city agency, board and commission. OATH also houses the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution which provides mediation and restorative justice support to City government agencies and the general public, and the Administrative Judicial Institute, a resource center that provides training, continuing education, research and support services for administrative law judges and hearing officers.
The OATH Trials Division adjudicates a wide range of issues that can be referred by any City agency, board or commission. Its caseload includes employee discipline hearings for civil servants, Conflicts of Interest Board cases, proceedings related to the retention of seized vehicles by the police, City-issued license revocation cases, real estate, zoning and loft law violations, City contract disputes, cases involving violations of paid sick day and fair workweek laws and the City Human Rights Law.
Job Description
OATH is seeking a talented and experienced legal professional to serve as an Administrative Law Judge within OATH’s Trials Division. OATH Administrative Law Judges handle all aspects of cases filed by city agencies, from the initial conference to the written decision. Administrative Law Judges are supported by a shared team of administrative professionals and law clerks. The core work includes:
– Presiding at pre-trial settlement conferences;
– Conducting formal trials pursuant to OATH’s rules of procedure (including opening statements, witness testimony, documentary evidence, closing arguments, etc.);
– Adjudicating motions and other legal requests from the parties;
– Researching and applying the relevant federal, state, and local law to cases;
– Preparing written decisions that include a summary and analysis of evidentiary and legal issues; and
– Participating in special projects at OATH
OATH Administrative Law Judges are subject to the NYS and NYC Codes of Judicial Conduct, and must maintain the highest standards of ethics, both professionally and personally. OATH Administrative Law Judges work under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Law Judge and a Supervising Administrative Law Judge. OATH Administrative Law Judges are appointed to a term of five years by the Chief Administrative Law Judge.
HYBRID OFFICE / REMOTE WORK SCHEDULE AVAILABLE AFTER INITIAL TRAINING PERIOD.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE – 30181
Minimum Qualifications
1. A license to practice law in the State of New York and not less than five (5) years of recent full-time relevant legal experience gained subsequent to Bar admission; or
2. A satisfactory equivalent.
Preferred Skills
– Ten (10) years experience as a litigator and/or neutral adjudicator (hearing officer, judge, referee, mediator, etc.). – Exceptional analytical ability, ability to prepare well-reasoned decisions within strict time frames. – Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse caseload in a timely manner, from case initiation to closure – Outstanding writing skills. – Qualities of judicial demeanor, including poise, discretion, patience, collegiality, and sound judgment. – Experience handling complex trials. – Drafting, revising, and finalizing high quality judicial decisions that include detailed factual narratives and thorough legal analysis, and issuing these decisions promptly. – Proficiency in Word, Microsoft Outlook, and computerized legal research, and adept at learning new computer systems to manage cases and research caselaw. – Experience working with shared administrative and support resources.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
