Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
- 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 and insight into the judicial process 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 for civil motions, perform legal research, draft legal orders, and manage motion calendars.
- Family Division law clerks conduct legal research, assist with remote proceedings, communicate with litigants and attorneys, draft legal opinions and orders, and handle emergent applications.
- Criminal Division law clerks conduct legal research, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, manage motion calendars, and perform case management functions.
- Chancery Division law clerks conduct legal research, prepare bench memoranda, draft orders, proofread judge's orders and opinions, 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 Judiciary's 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.
- It is helpful to have completed a course in mediation prior to the start of the clerkship.
- All trial court law clerks who will serve as mediators must complete the 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:
- The court term for Supreme Court and Supreme Court Appellate Division is from August 25, 2025, through August 28, 2026, including a one-week overlap.
- The court term for Superior Court Assignment Judge, Chancery Division, Law Division, and Tax Court is from August 18, 2025, through August 28, 2026, including a two-week overlap.
- Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees.
- A valid driver's license in New Jersey is required if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties.
- US citizenship is not required, but the selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US.
- A thorough background check, including fingerprinting, is required for selected individuals.
- Residency Law: Newly hired individuals by the Judiciary must establish and maintain principal residence in New Jersey within one year, with exemptions available for hardship or employer critical need.
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available, with most openings in the Superior Court Law Division in civil and criminal court, and Superior Court Chancery Division in family court.
- The **Members Only** is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring an open door to justice.
