Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
- Supreme Court law clerks work with justices on complex cases involving difficult legal issues.
- 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 by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences with attorneys and judges, receiving training in mediation, mediating small claims cases, and summarizing 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.
- Law clerks in the Civil Division prepare bench memoranda, review pre-trial memoranda, perform legal research, draft legal orders, and assist with case management functions.
- Family Division law clerks conduct legal research, assist with remote proceedings, communicate with litigants and attorneys, assist in drafting legal opinions and orders, and handle emergent applications.
- Criminal Division law clerks conduct legal research, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, manage the motion calendar, perform case management functions, and assist with remote proceedings.
- General Equity (Chancery) law clerks conduct legal research, review case files, draft orders, proofread judge's orders and opinions, interact with counsel and litigants, and assist in processing emergent temporary restraining order applications.
Education and Experience Information:
- Law clerks must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association by the time of their law clerk appointment.
- The law clerkship program is intended for recent law school graduates, defined as graduating within the last four years.
- Excellent writing and analytical skills are essential.
- A course in mediation is helpful, and trial court law clerks serving as mediators must complete a Judiciary-sponsored 12-hour mediation training or its equivalent.
Salary Information:
- Supreme Court: $76,400
- Supreme Court Appellate Division: $69,750
- Superior Court Assignment Judge: $63,950
- Superior Court Chancery Division (General Equity): $63,950
- Superior Court Law Division (Civil and Criminal): $58,900
- Superior Court Chancery Division (Family): $58,900
- Tax Court: $58,900
Additional Information:
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available, with a limited number 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. Most openings exist in the Superior Court Law Division in civil and criminal court, and Superior Court Chancery Division in family court.
- Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees.
- Appointees may be required to possess a valid driver's license in New Jersey if necessary for the position.
- US citizenship is not required, but candidates must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.
- A thorough background check, including fingerprinting, is required for selected individuals.
- Law clerks are not subject to the residency law during their court term, but those moving into another state position immediately following their clerkship(s) must be New Jersey residents.
- The NJ Judiciary is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, women, individuals with disabilities, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.
- The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, allowing up to four days per month of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings, requiring high-speed home internet access and a multifactor authentication app on a , through the Judiciary's web-based portal.
- Applicants must complete the work experience and education sections and attach any required documents. Applications that do not follow instructions will not be considered.
- Selected candidates must provide an official, final law school transcript at the time of hire.
- Applicants will be contacted directly by the justices or judges for interviews starting June 17, 2024.
The **Members Only** offers a structured 53-week clerkship program that provides hands-on experience in a court environment with a national reputation for its innovative work. Law clerks gain valuable insight into the daily activities of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, trial litigators, and court staff while serving the public and acquiring in-depth knowledge of the legal process.
