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Court Term: August 26, 2024 through August 29, 2025
Salary Information Salaries listed are based on a 53-week court term. These are salary levels for the 2023-2024 Court Term. The salaries for the 2024-2025 Court Term are to be determined based on funding availability.
Start your legal career in a court system recognized as one of the best in the nation and enhance your future career prospects. Professional Law Clerk positions are available in the New Jersey Judiciary for individuals with strong communication and analytical skills. Supreme Court Law Clerks work with justices on complex cases involving difficult issues of law. Appellate Division Law Clerks conduct research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. Law clerks for assignment judges learn all aspects of court administration and assist with processing emergent motions. Trial court Law Clerks gain practical experience while gaining valuable insight into the judicial process. Under the direction of one or more judges over the course of the year, trial court Law Clerks observe judicial proceedings, attend conferences with attorneys and judges, receive training in mediation and mediate small claims cases and summarize information for judges. Tax Court Law Clerks perform duties similar to those assigned to Law Clerks in the Appellate Division and trial courts, but do not mediate cases. As of June 12, 2023, applicants may apply directly to justices or judges through the Judiciary's web-based portal. Applications will not be accepted before that date. Applicants will be contacted directly by the justices or judges for interviews on or after June 20, 2023.
To apply for a clerkship, please click here https://www.njcourts.gov/public/find-jobs/law-clerk (available June 12, 2023).
Qualifications
Law clerks must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association by the time of their Law Clerk appointment. The Judiciary's Law Clerkship program is intended for recent law school graduates, which is defined as graduating within the last four years. Selected candidates will be required to provide an official, final law school transcript, not a photocopy, which includes the date of graduation from their law school at the time of hire. Excellent writing and analytical skills are essential.
It is helpful to have completed a course in mediation prior to the start of the clerkship. Under Court Rule, all trial court Law Clerks who will serve as mediators must first complete the Judiciary sponsored 12-hour mediation training or its equivalent. Applicants selected for clerkships can request a waiver from attending the Judiciary's training program at the start of the court term by providing documentation that confirms that they successfully completed an approved alternative dispute resolution course.
Supplemental Information
Note: Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees. The Code is available online at https://www.njcourts.gov/public/find-jobs/code-of-conduct.
Authorization to Work: US citizenship is not required. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.
Special Note: Individuals selected for clerkships must agree to a thorough background check, which will include fingerprinting. All data received will be kept in the strictest confidence except to inform the individual of the findings and what action will be taken as a result of this information.
Residency Law: Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), also known as the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Law clerks are not subject to the residency law during their 53-week term. Additionally, Law Clerks who serve a second clerkship in a higher court are exempt from the residency requirement. Clerks who anticipate moving into another state position immediately following their clerkship(s) must be mindful that, upon conclusion of their clerkship term, they will need to be New Jersey residents.
Approximately 480 clerkships are available. Of those, a limited number of clerkships exist for the Supreme Court, Superior Court Appellate Division, Superior Court Assignment Judges, Superior Court Chancery Division in general equity court, and in the Tax Court. Applicants interested in those positions should apply early during the hiring process. Most openings exist in the Superior Court Law Division in civil and criminal court, and Superior Court Chancery Division in family court. For additional information see the Judiciary's website at https://www.njcourts.gov/public/find-jobs/law-clerk#toc-apply-for-a-clerkship. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.
The NJ Judiciary requires all applicants to complete the application process fully and as instructed. All applicants must complete the work experience and education sections and attach any required documents. Applications must describe all relevant work experience in detail, beginning with your current or most recent job, including military service (indicate rank), internships and job-related volunteer work, if applicable. Use a separate section to describe each position. Applicants who indicate "see resume" or enter their initials to acknowledge that they have skipped the Work History and Education sections will not be considered, unless they do not possess any education history or work experience. Only applicants that follow the application instructions and submit completed applications will be considered.
The New Jersey Judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the Superior Court including the Appellate Division and the Trial Court of the 15 vicinages in New Jersey, the Tax Court and the Municipal Court System. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides technical assistance, operational support, training, research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of information systems for the Courts of New Jersey.
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