Job Title: Attorney General’s Honors Program Participant
Job Responsibilities:
Participants in the Attorney General’s Honors Program will have a diverse range of responsibilities across various divisions and subject matter areas within the organization. Key responsibilities include:
- Working within specific divisions such as the Division of Law, Division of Criminal Justice, Division on Civil Rights, Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability.
- Engaging in legal tasks such as formulating policy and legal strategy, investigating cases, drafting legal pleadings, negotiating with opposing counsel, and arguing in court or before administrative bodies.
- Collaborating with law enforcement officers, particularly in areas like Human Trafficking, to identify signs of trafficking, coordinate statewide efforts, and raise public awareness through outreach and educational materials.
- Participating in workshops and training sessions designed to develop legal skills and introduce participants to the comprehensive work of the organization.
- Having opportunities for rotations to different assignments, including working directly with the Attorney General’s Executive Leadership Team on priority programs and policy development.
- Engaging in subject matter areas such as Antitrust, Civil Rights, Cyber Crimes, Environmental Justice, Public Corruption, Reproductive Health Rights, Sexual and Domestic Violence Policy, Social Media Accountability, and more.
Education and Experience Information:
Eligibility for the Honors Program is open to:
- Third-year law students.
- Students in the final year of other graduate law programs (., LLM programs).
- Judicial clerks who will complete their clerkship by September 2025, having begun the clerkship immediately following graduation from law school or a fellowship program.
- Individuals completing a fellowship by September 2025, which began immediately following graduation from law school or clerkship.
Applicants are required to submit an online application that includes a writing sample, a statement of interest, a resume, a law school transcript, and two professional references. The program seeks candidates with a strong academic background, legal writing, research, and advocacy skills, a demonstrated interest in public service, and leadership in school or community activities.
Salary Information:
The starting salary for Honors Program participants depends on their admission status to the New Jersey bar:
- If admitted to the New Jersey bar at the time of employment, participants begin as Deputy Attorneys General with an annual salary of $93,.
- If not yet admitted to the bar, participants are hired as Law Clerks with an annual salary of $59,494. Upon admission to the bar, they are promoted to Deputy Attorney General with the same annual salary of $93,.
All participants are entitled to employment benefits, including health and dental insurance. Additionally, Honors Program attorneys assigned to the Division of Law are entitled to the full privileges of union membership.
The Attorney General’s Office is committed to inclusive hiring and diversity among its staff, with no discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and other protected traits.
Timeline and Application Process:
- Applications open: August 28, 2024
- Application deadline: October 13, 2024
- Interview notification: October 25, 2024
- Interview period: October 28 – December 20, 2024
- Offers extended: January 17, 2025
- Employment start date: September 2025
Applicants must complete an online application by the deadline, including the necessary documents and ranked preferences for practice areas. The selection process involves a review by a committee based on various factors, followed by interviews for selected candidates. Offers are contingent upon background checks, bar admission, and residency requirements under the New Jersey First Act.
