State of Maryland

A Hearing Officer I FAMLI is the intermediate level of work conducting administrative hearings and preparing decisions in the FAMLI Appeals Division, Maryland Department of Labor. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a designated administrator.
Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Hearing Officer I FAMLI and Hearing Officer II FAMLI are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by supervisors over these employees. The Hearing Officer I FAMLI performs duties under moderate supervision, while the Hearing Officer II FAMLI performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Conducts administrative hearings and pre-hearing conferences;

Performs research in preparation for the administrative hearings to include reviewing case materials, relevant statutes, and evidence;

Issues pre-hearing orders, subpoenas, administers oaths, examines witnesses, and receives documentary evidence;

Instructs the parties of their rights;

Reviews all pertinent facts surrounding the hearing;

Follows prescribed legal procedures and ensures that due process is maintained throughout hearings;

Evaluates testimony and applies statutes, case law, and program regulations accurately;

Prepares written proposed decisions;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of rules and procedures governing trial, court, and administrative hearings;

Knowledge of the procedures, methods, and scope of the judicial review process;

Knowledge of various research and investigative techniques used in the development, preparation, formulation, and presentation of data;

Ability to prepare and conduct hearings;

Ability to analyze and evaluate evidence and render decisions in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, and rules;

Ability to render legal decisions.

Education: A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent degree from an accredited law school.

Experience: Six months of legal experience involving civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in judge advocate classification or judge advocate specialty codes in the general attorney field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must have membership in the Bar of any state or federal jurisdiction at the time of hire and must become a member of the Maryland Bar within 12 months of hire.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions. Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G-Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes. As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining, and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series. NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series. In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in an NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification; and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.