Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some really hateful comments on here. I sincerely wish everyone well.

It may be trolling but I do agree that it's probably a good idea not to assume they won't cram 1,000 BVA attorneys into every crevice of office space if told to RTO.

What’s wrong with cramming 1,000 attorneys into every crevice of office space? I remember the good ole days when BVA crammed dozens of attorneys into call center like cubes on the second floor. Initially, most of the attorneys on the second floor hated the workplace. However, they eventually grew to love the camaraderie. Several romances also blossomed among the attorneys.

The BVA has given up two floors our of four floors total. There is not enough space for all of the attorneys in the area that is left. They are probably not going to execute a new lease either. Rumor is they are leaving 425 Eye when the lease runs out in 2026.

Elon and Vivek will like a word.

okay?

[Anonymous]

Happy New Year! Please don’t work too much unpaid overtime today. There is more to life than drafting decisions.

[Anonymous]

Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

Depends on whether you learn to do the job - plenty of people do and find it imminently manageable. Plenty of people do not and move on or spend a lot of time whining on here.

Give it a try - network, ask for productivity tips and tricks, and protect your reputation (ask enough questions but not too many; be easy to get along with; don’t be a jerk).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Depends on whether you learn to do the job - plenty of people do and find it imminently manageable. Plenty of people do not and move on or spend a lot of time whining on here.

Give it a try - network, ask for productivity tips and tricks, and protect your reputation (ask enough questions but not too many; be easy to get along with; don’t be a jerk).

Thanks for the response - any chance you or someone else can explain the quotas? Or cite me a doc that explains it? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It’s about 6 cases per pay period. If you’re trying for outstanding, it’s 7.1 per pay period. There is also an issue option where you’re looking at the total number of issues per pay period, but that might go away in the future. If you have a good judge, or a judge that grants easily, it makes the quota much easier. I find it to be a good lifestyle job, but YMMV.

[Anonymous]

There may be a hiring freeze soon, and a freeze may impact job offers. First year hires also have to serve a probationary period where they can fired easily. I wouldn’t quit any current jobs with protections in the expectation that an offer will result in stable employment.

Telework and remote work are also likely going away if you plan to work remote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

As someone previously posted, your mileage will vary based on the judge that you're assigned to. Some judges grant more than 90 percent of disability appeals. If you get assigned to one of these judges, your drafts will typically range from two to three pages on average (grants can be very short because VA cannot appeal favorable decisions to federal court). You'll likely exceed the quota because of how short the decisions are. On the other hand, if you're assigned to a judge who denies 80 percent or more of disability appeals, your life will likely be completely different because you'll have to justify each denial and make sure that the draft is legally sufficient. Denials are typically much longer than grants and take more time to write. So, you may have to work more than 40 hours a week to meet the quota. You won't receive compensation for unpaid overtime.

Furthermore, like in college and law school, you'll receive a grade for each draft that you submit. Your judge will assign each draft a quality score ranging from 1 to 5 (with 5 being the highest). Some judges are easy graders and hand out 4s and 5s like candy. Other judges grade more harshly and won't hesitate to give a 1 or 2. If you luck out, you''ll be assigned to an easy grader who grants more than 90 percent of disability appeals. If not, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

Are you already a fed? You shouldn't give up a secure job for a place like BVA where you can get fired over a quota. You could end up on a PIP from taking PTO or being assigned a judge who doesn't like you. Imagine working to hit quota but then having to argue some cases graded a 2 should be 3s. Get a biglaw job if you want to work with an axe about to drop on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

Are you already a fed? You shouldn't give up a secure job for a place like BVA where you can get fired over a quota. You could end up on a PIP from taking PTO or being assigned a judge who doesn't like you. Imagine working to hit quota but then having to argue some cases graded a 2 should be 3s. Get a biglaw job if you want to work with an axe about to drop on you.

Those are good points. At BVA, attorneys can be fired for failing to meet the quota. Attorneys who receive too many 1s and 2s can also be fired. You have to meet these standards each and every year. You can be an outstanding performer for 20 years. However, if, for some reason, you fail to meet the quota on year 21, you’ll be placed on a PIP and targeted for removal.

New attorneys are expected to demonstrate competency by the fifth month of their employment. Management typically fires attorneys by the 10th month of their employment.

[Anonymous]

Federal hiring freeze starts today. No more hiring or GS-14. Could last a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello and Happy New Years. I have received and offer from the BVA and am contemplating accepting it. I am a retired Air Force JAG who likes the idea of working from home and has an interest in veterans law as a disabled vet. I have read this forum from beginning to end and am stuck with a few questions. Specifically the quotas - are they manageable? Or is it an absolute grind 8 hours a day to keep up? How does PTO reckon with quotas? Is there a decent training program that sets up new attorney hires for success? Thanks for the input.

Are you already a fed? You shouldn't give up a secure job for a place like BVA where you can get fired over a quota. You could end up on a PIP from taking PTO or being assigned a judge who doesn't like you. Imagine working to hit quota but then having to argue some cases graded a 2 should be 3s. Get a biglaw job if you want to work with an axe about to drop on you.

This. If you have a secure fed job already then stay there.

Just because you are air force jag do not assume that you will have an easy time doing the job. I personally know a few that hard a very hard time and left in short order.

it is all dependent on your VLJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There may be a hiring freeze soon, and a freeze may impact job offers. First year hires also have to serve a probationary period where they can fired easily. I wouldn’t quit any current jobs with protections in the expectation that an offer will result in stable employment.

Telework and remote work are also likely going away if you plan to work remote.

VA is exempt from the hiring freeze, and remote work is not going away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There may be a hiring freeze soon, and a freeze may impact job offers. First year hires also have to serve a probationary period where they can fired easily. I wouldn’t quit any current jobs with protections in the expectation that an offer will result in stable employment.

Telework and remote work are also likely going away if you plan to work remote.

VA is exempt from the hiring freeze, and remote work is not going away.

Telework and remote work are cancelled unless the incoming Secretary makes an exception for the Board. It is not clear whether he will or not.

VA is not explicitly exempt from the hiring freeze. The executive order just leaves room for exceptions.

Hopefully we get some emails from the higher-ups clarifying what they’re going to do soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There may be a hiring freeze soon, and a freeze may impact job offers. First year hires also have to serve a probationary period where they can fired easily. I wouldn’t quit any current jobs with protections in the expectation that an offer will result in stable employment.

Telework and remote work are also likely going away if you plan to work remote.

VA is exempt from the hiring freeze, and remote work is not going away.

Telework and remote work are cancelled unless the incoming Secretary makes an exception for the Board. It is not clear whether he will or not.

VA is not explicitly exempt from the hiring freeze. The executive order just leaves room for exceptions.

Hopefully we get some emails from the higher-ups clarifying what they’re going to do soon.

I think it’s pretty clear that VA is exempt from the hiring freeze.

I also think that once the new secretary looks into it, remote / telework at the Board will be exempt.