Appellate Conferee

Most days can involve reviewing case files, holding settlement conferences often by phone or video, and drafting closing agreements or referrals back to the originating office. You're often the last off-ramp before a case goes to formal litigation — the role rewards the negotiator who knows the statute, the math, and the litigation hazards on both sides.

The hardest parts often involve the technical depth required and the appearance-of-fairness expectations. Conferees often work cases where parties feel strongly the underlying agency decision was wrong; the role requires listening, finding the supportable concession, and writing closing analyses that withstand internal review. Career progression varies by agency and seniority track.

People who tend to thrive here are negotiation-fluent, technically grounded in the relevant code, and able to be patient with parties who arrive frustrated. If you want courtroom advocacy or aggressive enforcement work, the settlement-conferee posture can feel collaborative-to-a-fault. If you find satisfaction in resolving disputes through measured technical conversation, the role can be intellectually rewarding.