I work with a guy who moved from an SSA decision writer position, to a general attorney position with the SSA, and then left SSA and came to my agency, which is decently regarded. Some people (I recognize not all) can move on from that job to better things.

pay is decent

The substance of the work isn't rocket science, but the pay is good and there is ample opportunity to earn OT and comp time. This job is perfect for the busy mom, although it can also be mind numbing. Earlier posters are right--you can't dump so hard on this job. There are tons of jobs that people are doing that are in some sorts beneath them. There is opportunity to earn tons of extra money and if you play the card right, advancement, to other attorney positions with SSA, management and ALJ.

Why would you put no stock in what you read there? A lot of those people either work or have worked the SSA attorney adviser job. That alone should tell you something about the job.

I don't think anyone is saying that the job is a great job. It isn't. But I think it's inappropriate to refer to it as "shitlaw" or to say that no one can ever move on from that position to anything else. Are the skills highly transferrable? No. Do some people manage to eventually leverage it into something else ? Yes.

Why would you put no stock in what you read there? A lot of those people either work or have worked the SSA attorney adviser job. That alone should tell you something about the job.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.jdunderground.com/all/thread.php?threadId=102756

The people who post on this forum almost universally went to scam law schools and graduated jobless and 6 figures in debt. Here they are talking about the SSA decision writer position

I thought that site got shut down. I would put zero stock in what you read there.


Wow. Beating the SSA dead horse.

http://www.jdunderground.com/all/thread.php?threadId=102756

The people who post on this forum almost universally went to scam law schools and graduated jobless and 6 figures in debt. Here they are talking about the SSA decision writer position

if the GS 9 is with VA as decision writer it will move up rather quickly. After 1 year goes to 11, the next year 12, then after 1 or 2 years (can't remember which) it goes to GS13, then 2 years up to a 14 (although I think there is a slightly more formal review now for that to happen. it used to be automatic). Unlike ssa it does not max out at 12 but has promotion up to gs 14.

That being said, it does get repetitive and can limit options for other govt jobs (most go to ssa, immigration or other parts of va) however I know of several who jumped to other parts of va (general counsel or inspector general office) and then gained more typical brief writing/appellate arguing experience that can be more easily transferred to other positions in or out of govt

No vendetta against SSA. I'm merely pointing out that one particular job is a dead end, and it is. I would advise someone to take any other lawyer gig with SSA in a heartbeat.

Anonymous wrote:

I find it hard to believe that you know multiple people who worked that particular job (not attorney SSA jobs in general - different horse) and jumped to better jobs in the future. I'm sure this has happened, but I certainly wouldn't bank on it.

Ok, you are free to believe what you want. Doesn't make a difference to me either way.

I am not sure why the previous poster has a vendetta with SSA. It's not like SSA is hiring sh*t attorneys. Many current and former SSA attorneys came from great schools with fine grades. Definitely believable that these attorneys would go beyond GS-12 decision writer positions with other agencies (even DOJ). Obviously, you cannot "bank" on any fantasy career path unfolding.