ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

State of Arkansas•Little Rock, AR

1d•$114,390 - $169,298

About The Position

This position is assigned to the Commissioners' Advisory Staff, and serves as both an Administrative Law Judge, assigned dockets for adjudication, as well as a legal advisor to the Commissioners. This role includes considerable reading, writing, and researching, as well as verbal briefings to Commissioners.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of Arkansas administrative law, agency regulations, and constitutional principles.
Proficiency in statutory interpretation, legal research, and drafting judicial opinions.
Strong understanding of evidence rules, hearing procedures, and appellate processes.
Experience in government law, regulatory enforcement, or administrative litigation.
Excellent legal writing skills for rulings, decisions, and procedural guidance; clear oral communication for hearings and stakeholder discussions.
Ability to mediate disputes, facilitate settlements, and de-escalate confrontations in high-stakes cases.
Ability to prioritize caseloads, manage multiple hearings, and meet deadlines for decisions.
Must possess a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school, plus five years of experience in conducting administrative law hearings.
Must be licensed as an Attorney in the State of Arkansas.

Nice To Haves

utility industry experience
accounting, finance, or economics experience or education
administrative law or regulatory law experience
judicial clerk experience
appellate brief-writing experience

Responsibilities

Preside over administrative hearings and adjudications involving state laws, agency regulations, and public disputes.
Ensure fair and impartial proceedings by maintaining order, managing testimony, and ruling on evidentiary matters.
Review case files, pleadings, and legal briefs, ensuring that parties have an equal opportunity to present evidence and arguments.
Evaluate legal issues, apply statutes, regulations, and judicial precedents, and issue rulings in accordance with Arkansas law.
Conduct comprehensive legal research to support rulings and determinations.
Prepare written decisions, orders, and recommendations that are clear, legally sound, and well-reasoned.
Provide guidance and recommendations on procedural rule changes to state agencies.
Ensure adherence to state ethics laws, public transparency requirements, and judicial conduct standards.
Explain legal procedures, rules of evidence, and hearing protocols to non-attorney participants.
Conduct mediations, settlement conferences, or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings, when applicable.