Job Title: Attorney General’s Honors Program Participant
Job Responsibilities:
Participants in the Attorney General’s Honors Program will engage in a variety of legal tasks, including but not limited to:
- Investigating and prosecuting cases related to fatal police encounters, under the supervision and guidance of experienced prosecutors. This involves presenting matters to the State Grand Jury for consideration.
- Rotating through various subject matter areas which may include Antitrust, Civil Rights, Conviction Review, Cyber Crimes, Environmental Justice and Enforcement, Fatal Police Encounters, Firearms Civil Enforcement and Accountability, Human Trafficking, Public Corruption, Reproductive Health Rights, Sexual and Domestic Violence Policy, Prevention, and Enforcement, Social Media Accountability and Data Privacy/Cybersecurity, Solicitor General Fellow, Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, Violence Suppression and Organized Crime, and Workers’ Rights and Labor Enforcement.
- Working within one or more divisions of the Office, such as the Division of Law, Division of Criminal Justice, Division on Civil Rights, Division of Consumer Affairs, or the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability.
- Assisting in the formulation of policy and legal strategy, investigating cases, drafting legal pleadings, negotiating with opposing counsel, and arguing in court or before administrative bodies.
- Participating in workshops and training sessions to develop legal skills and gain a comprehensive understanding of the work performed by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
- Engaging in a potential “rotation” to different assignments in their second year, including opportunities to work directly with the Attorney General’s Executive Leadership Team on priority programs and policy development.
Education and Experience Information:
Eligibility criteria for the Honors Program include:
- Candidates must be third-year law students, students in the final year of other graduate law programs (., LLM program), judicial clerks who will complete their clerkship by September 2025, or individuals who will complete a fellowship by September 2025.
- Candidates who do not meet these criteria but are interested in working for the Attorney General’s Office are encouraged to apply through the regular employment application process.
Applicants must submit the following as part of their application:
- A writing sample of no more than 5,000 words demonstrating legal analysis.
- A statement of interest, up to 1,000 words, detailing their interest in the Honors Program and how their experiences inform their interest in public service.
- A current resume.
- A scanned copy of their law school transcript.
- At least two professional references, including one from a law professor or legal academic.
Selection is based on several factors, including academic achievement and scholarship, legal writing, research, advocacy skills, demonstrated interest in public service, and leadership in school and community activities.
Salary Information:
The starting salary for participants in the Honors Program is contingent upon admission to the New Jersey bar:
- Admitted to the New Jersey bar at the start date: Participants begin as Deputy Attorneys General with an annual salary of $93,.
- Not yet admitted to the bar: Participants will be hired as Law Clerks with an annual salary of $59,494. Upon admission to the bar, they will be promoted to Deputy Attorney General with an annual salary of $93,.
All participants, whether Deputy Attorneys General or Law Assistants, will receive employment benefits, including health and dental insurance. Participants assigned to the Division of Law are entitled to the full privileges of union membership.
Additional Information:
- The application deadline for the 2025 Honors Program is 11:59 . on October 13, 2024.
- Offers will be extended between January and February 2025, with employment starting in September 2025.
- Participants must commit to two years of service, undergo a background check, become a member of the New Jersey Bar within six months, and establish New Jersey residency within 12 months unless an exemption is obtained.
- The program encourages diversity and is committed to inclusive hiring practices, with no discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, or mental or physical disability.
For more information on the application process, interested candidates are directed to submit their applications online and can contact the program via the provided email for assistance or inquiries.
