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Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements.
Other titles employers use
Adjudications Specialist · Adjudicator · Administrative Hearings Officer · Administrative Judge · Administrative Law Judge · Appeals Examiner · Appeals Referee · Claims Adjudicator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Determine existence and amount of liability according to current laws, administrative and judicial precedents, and available evidence.
- Monitor and direct the activities of trials and hearings to ensure that they are conducted fairly and that courts administer justice while safeguarding the legal rights of all involved parties.
- Prepare written opinions and decisions.
- Authorize payment of valid claims and determine method of payment.
- Conduct hearings to review and decide claims regarding issues, such as social program eligibility, environmental protection, or enforcement of health and safety regulations.
- Research and analyze laws, regulations, policies, and precedent decisions to prepare for hearings and to determine conclusions.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and analytical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Medicine and Dentistry
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.7 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 1.6 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.2 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.0 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 56%
- A four-year degree 20%
- A certificate or some college 11%
- A two-year degree 11%
- A master's degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,520
- Job openings each year
- 30
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,520 | 30 | 20.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 800 | 30 | 3.9% |
| Oregon | 620 | 30 | 5.1% |
| Virginia | 610 | 30 | 5.2% |
| Florida | 460 | 20 | 7.0% |
| Georgia | 370 | 10 | — |
| Ohio | 370 | 20 | — |
| Kentucky | 350 | 10 | — |
| Washington | 350 | 20 | 6.1% |
| Tennessee | 340 | 20 | 9.7% |
| Maryland | 330 | 10 | 6.5% |
| Michigan | 270 | 10 | — |
| New Jersey | 270 | 10 | — |
| Connecticut | 250 | 10 | 8.7% |
| Colorado | 230 | 10 | 15.0% |
| Arizona | 210 | 10 | 5.0% |
| North Carolina | 210 | 10 | — |
| New Mexico | 180 | 10 | — |
| Missouri | 170 | 10 | — |
| New Hampshire | 160 | 10 | — |
| Utah | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Louisiana | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Nevada | 150 | 10 | — |
| Maine | 130 | 10 | — |
| Minnesota | 120 | 10 | — |
| South Carolina | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Oklahoma | 110 | 0 | — |
| Mississippi | 90 | 0 | — |
| Montana | 90 | 0 | 12.5% |
| West Virginia | 90 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 80 | 0 | — |
| Iowa | 70 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 50 | 0 | — |
| Puerto Rico | 40 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
| Wisconsin | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Indiana | 30 | 0 | — |
| Nebraska | 30 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 30 | 0 | — |
| Rhode Island | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.