Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator and Hearing Officer Career Profile

Picture this: A courtroom where important decisions about Social Security benefits, workers’ compensation claims, or environmental regulations are being made. Instead of criminal or civil cases, these proceedings focus on administrative law and government regulations.

Think about someone who has been denied disability benefits and needs to appeal the decision. An Administrative Law Judge, Adjudicator, or Hearing Officer would preside over this hearing, carefully weighing evidence and testimony to make a fair and impartial decision that could significantly impact someone’s life.

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.

Total Employment: 14,670 (2023)

Common Names for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers

• Adjudications Specialist
• Adjudicator
• Administrative Hearings Officer
• Administrative Judge
• Administrative Law Judge
• Appeals Examiner
• Appeals Referee 
• Claims Adjudicator
• Hearings Officer
• Workers’ Compensation Hearings Officer

What Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and Hearing Officers Do

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers serve as impartial arbiters in administrative proceedings, ensuring fair application of regulations and laws.

Core responsibilities:

• Agency Regulation Enforcement: Interprets and applies specific agency regulations and administrative procedures to ensure consistent implementation of agency policies and regulatory compliance.
• Administrative Hearings Management: Conducts formal administrative proceedings that involve Social Security disability claims, Labor relations disputes, Licensing matters, Regulatory violations and Benefits determinations.
• Specialized Case Resolution: Adjudicates disputes between agencies and private parties, or between private parties under agency jurisdiction, focusing on the technical and specialized aspects of the agency’s domain.
• Administrative Record Development: Creates and maintains comprehensive case records that document all evidence, testimony, and procedural steps, ensuring completeness for potential agency or judicial review.
• Agency-Compliant Decision Making: Issues decisions that align with agency policies and precedents while maintaining appropriate independence in individual case determinations.
• Regulatory Interpretation: Applies complex federal regulations and administrative law principles specific to their agency’s jurisdiction, ensuring consistent interpretation of agency rules.
• Due Process Protection: Ensures administrative proceedings meet due process requirements while following more flexible evidentiary and procedural rules than traditional courts.
• Initial Decision Authority: Makes initial decisions subject to agency review, providing detailed analysis and recommendations that can be adopted, modified, or reversed by the agency head.