ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE (ALJ) - 73201

Executive Service

Who we are and what we do:

Mission: The mission of the Office of the Secretary of State is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and accountability in a customer-centered environment.

The Administrative Procedures Division (APD) within the Office of the Secretary of State aims to serve our clients, customers, and associates, government agencies, citizens of Tennessee, and judicial partners by providing impartial, efficient, and sound contested case hearings and mediation. APD offers an important platform for the enforcement of administrative laws and for citizens to contest administrative rulings from the government.

Supervisors: Director of Administrative Procedures and Chief Administrative Law Judge

Summary: Preside over mediations and contested case hearings pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act for a variety of government agencies. The types of hearings include, but are not limited to, professional licensure, civil forfeiture, medical benefits, special education, property tax, etc.

Key Responsibilities:

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of statutory and constitutional law, as well as rules of procedure and the range of substantive law matters that may come before the Administrative Procedures Division
• Perform administrative duties necessary to schedule, manage, and conduct hearings, including scheduling prehearing conferences and hearings to ensure the timely resolution of each case
• Prepare for hearings by reading case documents
• Rule on substantive and procedural motions, including requests for continuance
• Conduct both virtual and in-person contested case hearings, with some in-person hearings requiring regular travel
• Conduct legal research for use in deciding contested cases
• Issue well-written orders, within the given time constraints applicable to each case type, that set forth facts, applicable law, and reasons for the decision reached
• If located outside of Nashville, quarterly travel to Nashville for division-wide meetings, and as needed
• Perform all functions of the job in an independent and responsible manner

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Licensed, in good standing, to practice law in Tennessee
• A minimum of five years of successful full-time paid employment in legal work involving a substantial amount of civil or criminal practice, prosecution, or litigation of administrative cases, or hearing officer experience with a governmental agency
• Specific experience with residential or commercial property tax, real estate law, property valuation, or property assessments is preferred.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Significant knowledge of the rules of evidence and civil procedure
• Strong legal research skills
• Proven knowledge in a wide range of substantive legal matters
• Demonstrated ability to apply current legal expertise and knowledge of the Administrative Procedures Act and its implementing regulations to a broad scope of issues and in different hearing situations
• Able to manage a high volume of cases and expeditiously analyze evidence and issue decisions to meet rigorous deadlines
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Able to exhibit a respectful and courteous manner while demonstrating the diplomacy and judicial temperament necessary to handle adversarial hearings
• Able to travel across the state when needed

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.