Administrative Law Judge

About the role

Administrative Law JudgeOffice of Administrative Hearings

Multiple Divisions

Appointment Types: Temporary, anticipated to last up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on budget and operational needs.

Duty Stations: Olympia, Spokane Valley, or Tacoma, Washington.

Work Arrangement: Depending on the assigned caseload, positions may be eligible for hybrid or full-time telework. Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Work Zone Speed Camera (WZSC) positions are designated as full-time telework. All alternate worksites must be located within Washington state.

Starting Salaries

• Entry Administrative Law Judge: $108,228 annually (Range 68, Step 4)
• Line Administrative Law Judge: $116,544 annually (Range 71, Step 4)

The Opportunity

OAH is currently looking to fill multiple temporary Entry and Line Administrative Law Judge positions for multiple caseloads within multiple divisions. These positions may be eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, depending on caseload-specific operational needs. Some caseloads require periodic in-person hearings, while Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Work Zone Speed Camera (WZSC) caseloads are full-time telework.

Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are critical to the successful fulfillment of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) mission. Line ALJs contribute by independently managing an assigned caseload; conducting thorough pre-hearing preparation; presiding over hearings that are fair in both substance and appearance; and issuing well-reasoned, timely decisions that meet established agency timeliness standards.

This is a represented position under the Washington Federation of State Employees - Administrative Law Judges (WFSE ALJ) (2025-27)

Discover What It’s Like to Work at OAH

Get a closer look at OAH, the work we do, and what it’s like to serve as an Administrative Law Judge through the following resources:

Day in the Life of a Work Zone Speed Camera ALJ

Day in the Life of an Unemployment Insurance ALJ

Day in the Life of a Social & Health Services ALJ

OAH Overview

OAH 2024-2025 Report

Application Review and Interview Process

Applications will be reviewed weekly, and qualified candidates may be invited to interview based on their preferred caseload and the agency's recruitment needs.

Applications received after October 31, 2026, will continue to be reviewed and may be considered for a subsequent round of interviews anticipated in December.

Candidates selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted directly with additional information regarding interview scheduling. You are encouraged to submit your application materials as soon as possible.

These positions will preside over hearings for one or more of the following caseloads:

Social and Health Services Division

• Division of Child Support (DCS) - DCS is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). An ALJ holds a hearing to establish child support or modify an existing administrative child support order. These are typically telephonic hearings with minimal travel required. A Claims Officer/Attorney represents DCS. The non-custodial or custodial parent files a request for hearing that DCS forwards to OAH. OAH issues an initial order in Adress Disclosure cases, and a final order in all other DCS matters. All orders are due within 21 days of the close of record.
• Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) - DCYF is a cabinet-level agency focused on the well-being of children and supporting families. ALJs hold hearings on licensing and issues affecting children (i.e. foster care, daycare, childcare assistance, child protective services, etc). The ALJ will issue an initial order except in vendor overpayments and juvenile cases where the order is final. DCYF is represented by an Assistant Attorney General and appellants are often represented by counsel. Typically, orders are due within 60 days from the close of record; however, adoption support orders and vendor overpayment orders are due 16 days from the close of record; background check and childcare assistance orders are due within 55 days from the close of record; and in a juvenile parole revocation cases, the ALJ must rule orally on the record and issue a written decision within 48 hours. These hearings are typically held by phone or video but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
• Health Care Authority (HCA) - HCA is a state agency with overall responsibility for providing medical coverage and services. HCA or its designee determines eligibility for health care coverage, eligibility for medical services, long-term care, and in-home care services, which are funded, in part, through Medicaid. An ALJ holds hearings to determine an appellant’s eligibility for health care coverage, medical services, financial and functional eligibility for long-term care, in-home care services, participation rates for long-term care, and the amount of in-home care hours. HCA is represented by an HCA Legal Services Advisor or an administrative hearing specialist through the Department of Social and Health Services or other contracting agency, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic, by video conference call, or in-person and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Some travel may be involved. HCA orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 21, 30, or 60 days of the close of record or OAH’s receipt of the request for hearing, depending on the program.
• Licensing (LIC) - Licensing is a program within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). ALJs hold a prehearing conference and hearing regarding vulnerable individuals in adult family homes and/or residential homes with issues relating to abuse and neglect by the individual provider or the facility. The alleged individual and/or facility files the request for appeal with OAH. The Department is represented by a Legal Benefits Attorney/Adviser and Appellants are often represented by counsel. In most programs, an initial order is issued within 60 days of the close of record; however, resident and client protection program initial orders are due within 120 days of the request for hearing. A final order is issued in an assisted living facility license case within 60 days of the close of record. These hearings are typically telephonic or by video, but parties may request an in-person hearing so some travel is required.
• Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) - The MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) caseload is a subset of the HCA caseload and consists of appeals from denials of Washington Apple Health benefits. These denials are primarily due to the appellant exceeding the maximum income level for eligibility. Appeals regarding Apple Health Expansion and Reentry programs are also heard on the MAGI caseload. HCA is represented by an Administrative Hearing Specialist. The ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including an evidentiary hearing date. Evidentiary hearings take place via Teams, and are generally one to two hours in duration, depending on complexity. The ALJ then issues an initial order within 60 days of OAH’s receipt of the hearing request.
• Public Assistance (PA) - The PA caseload is administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Nearly one out of every four Washington residents turns to the DSHS for assistance with cash, food, disability determination, transition to employment, and other services known as “benefits” programs. ALJs hold hearings to make determinations including, but not limited to: general eligibility, overpayments, and the correctness of departmental actions such as reduction, suspension, or termination of benefits. In PA cases, the department is represented by administrative hearings specialists. Hearings are scheduled for 60 minutes or more depending on the case type, involvement of interpreter services, and the complexity of the subject matter. There are a wide variety of PA programs; thus, PA decisions can be either initial or final orders (depending on the applicable regulations). ALJs are required to issue PA decisions as soon as possible but no later than 16, 30, or 60 days of the close of record, unless an earlier decision is required by regulation.
• WA Cares - The WA Cares Fund is a public long-term care insurance program. It provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will available to eligible individuals when they need them. DSHS is responsible for registering long-term care providers and assessing whether individuals (called “beneficiaries”) are functionally eligible for long-term care services and supports. These cases are not considered “public assistance” cases. DSHS is represented by an administrative hearings coordinator, while appellants are self-represented or represented by a family member most often. Hearings may be telephonic or by video conference call and are typically 60 minutes to three hours long. Orders are initial decisions and are expected to be issued within 30 days of the close of record.

Regulatory & Education Division

• Regulatory (REG)- Regulatory caseload consists of appeals or claims arising out of administrative action involving over 25 state agencies, as well as numerous local government agencies. These agencies include the Departments of Labor and Industries, Licensing, Transportation, and Financial Institutions as well as the Liquor and Cannabis Board, Gambling Commission, Washington State Patrol, and Washington State University. This caseload includes appeals arising out of determinations issued by the Employment Security Department relative to the Paid Family & Medical Leave Act. An ALJ first holds a prehearing conference to set a case schedule, including witness and exhibit disclosures, motion practice, and a hearing date. Depending on complexity, cases will resolve on summary judgment, or through an evidentiary hearing. OAH issues either an initial order, a final order, or no order at all, depending on the agency and type of case involved. Dispositive orders, if issued, are generally due 60 days after the close of record following a full adjudicative proceeding, 10 days after the close of record following a brief adjudicative proceeding, and 30 days after the close of dispositive motion briefing and/or argument.
• Work Zone Speed Camera (WZSC)- The WZSC caseload is a subset of the Regulatory caseload, and consists of appeals from Notices of Infraction (NOI) issued by the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The NOIs are issued as a result of drivers traveling in excess of the posted speed limit in active highway work zones. The appeals are handled in two different manners, dependent upon the nature of the appeal. Petitioners’ requests for payment plans, a reduction in the penalty due to mitigating circumstances, and declarations of nonresponsibility are handled by brief adjudicative proceedings (BAP). BAPs are document review only process, with the option for the ALJ to solicit oral testimony. Petitioners’ challenges to the merits of the infraction, such as, but not limited to, there were no workers or signage present or the device calibration was incorrect are handled by formal adjudicative proceedings (FAP) in a telephone group docket setting. WSP and the Petitioners present their case before the ALJ at the hearing. ALJs are required to issue their orders within 15 days of the close of record.
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)- The OSPI caseload includes a number of case types, including special education, student transfer, teacher certification, and food program. The bulk of the work is the special education cases. These cases have significant prehearing work, including discovery and dispositive motions. Hearings may be by video or in person and typically last from two days to more than two weeks. In person hearings take place throughout the state and may require overnight travel. Parties are often represented by attorneys and may call expert witnesses. The hearings are similar to civil trials. Cases often involve multiple issues requiring an ALJ to make many findings of fact, and address numerous legal issues. ALJs may conduct settlement conferences. For student transfer cases, in contrast, there are typically only one prehearing conference, the hearings are by phone, and they rarely last more than two hours. Teacher certification and food program cases may be by video or in person and typically last a few days. All OSPI orders are final.

Unemployment Insurance Division

• Unemployment Insurance (UI)- The UI caseload includes hearings on all initial appeals from UI related decisions made by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Appeals may be filed by either a claimant or former employer and are filed through the ESD. ESD transmits those appeals to OAH on a daily basis. The professional staff then schedule hearings, mail Notices of Hearing to the parties, and generally manage the case pre-and-post hearing. ALJs hear the cases (almost exclusively via teleconference) and then write and issue appropriate orders. In the normal course of business ALJs have five business days to produce an order, however in order to meet Department of Labor (DOL) standards, ALJs may be required to produce orders more quickly in cases where a DOL deadline will arrive in less than five business days. Completed orders are then distributed to the relevant parties by the professional staff.

OAH Values

• Fairness and independence
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect
• Performance excellence
• Integrity

OAH Goals

• Performance Excellence: We deliver high quality, timely work.
• Convenience & Accessibility: We make it easy for people to do business with us.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect: We promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
• Good Stewards: We are efficient, effective, and accountable.

OAH Offers

• Work that is important and makes a difference.
• In-house training and professional development opportunities.
• Healthy work/life balance, including remote work options.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

Duties include, but are not limited to

• Managing an assigned workload commensurate with level of experience, complexity of cases, and overall agency workload as determined by your supervisor.
• Maintaining a thorough understanding of statutes, regulations, case law, and agency procedures relevant to assigned caseload(s) and keep current on new developments.
• Presiding over and ruling on pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing matters in a fair and impartial manner.
• Working with supervisor as necessary to meet assigned caseload timeliness standards and other deadlines, being mindful of time pressures and stressful circumstances related to the job.
• Using agency equipment and technology systems to perform and manage work and communicate with others.
• Making a clear and complete hearing record.
• Making legally sufficient Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on all contested issues.
• Writing accurate legal documents that clearly set out the analysis used in reaching decisions, using proper grammar, clear language, and “plain talk” when possible.
• Demonstrating judicial demeanor and maintaining control of legal proceedings involving multiple parties.
• Keeping supervisor timely informed of work progress, significant developments, case status, and other issues.
• Following specific work directives of supervisor, as appropriate for the position.
• Maintaining reliable and regular attendance and being readily available to coworkers and others, as appropriate for the position.
• Protecting privileged and confidential information.
• Complying with all office policies, administrative and court rules, state ethics laws, and the OAH Code of Ethics for ALJs.
• Accurately tracking and accounting for case-specific work and non-billable hours.
• Appropriately demonstrating respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices with parties, stakeholders, and co-workers.

Required education and/or experience

• An active or judicial membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association*