Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
The role of a law clerk in the **Members Only** involves a variety of responsibilities depending on the specific court assignment. The job duties include:
- Supreme Court law clerks work with justices on complex cases involving challenging legal issues. They conduct legal research, prepare written memoranda on novel issues of law, and assist in preparing judicial opinions.
- Appellate Division law clerks conduct detailed research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. They are responsible for preparing weekly memos, editing opinions, handling emergent applications, and assisting judges with additional assignments.
- Trial court law clerks gain practical experience by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences with attorneys and judges, and receiving training in mediation. Their duties include summarizing information for judges and mediating small claims cases.
- Tax Court law clerks perform duties similar to those in the Appellate Division and trial courts but do not mediate cases. They work on judicial tax challenges, conduct legal research, manage the motion calendar, and communicate with attorneys and litigants.
- Assignment judge law clerks assist with court administration and emergent motions, conduct research, prepare legal memos, manage the judge’s docket, and communicate with counsel and courthouse staff.
- Family Division law clerks handle a wide range of legal issues related to family law, conduct legal research, assist with remote proceedings, draft opinions and orders, and manage adjournment requests.
- Civil Division law clerks prepare bench memoranda, perform legal research, draft legal orders, manage the motion calendar, and assist with case management functions. They gain exposure to various legal issues including civil rights, employment discrimination, and complex business litigation.
- Criminal Division law clerks conduct legal research, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, manage the motion calendar, and perform case management functions. They also communicate with attorneys and internal staff.
- General Equity (Chancery) law clerks conduct legal research, review case files, prepare bench memoranda, draft orders, and interact with counsel and litigants regarding case management.
Education and Experience Information:
Candidates must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association. The program is intended for recent law school graduates, defined as those who graduated 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. Selected candidates will be required to provide an official final law school transcript, which includes the date of graduation at the time of hire.
Salary Information:
Salaries for the 2024-2025 Court Term are as follows, with the 2025-2026 salaries to be determined based on funding availability:
- 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:
Applicants may apply directly to justices or judges through the Judiciary's web-based portal starting June 10, 2024. Applications will not be accepted before that date. The Judiciary offers a hybrid work schedule, with up to four days per month of remote work possible. Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees. A thorough background check, including fingerprinting, is required for selected candidates. Law clerks are not subject to the New Jersey residency requirement during their court term. Approximately 480 clerkships are available each year, with most openings in the Superior Court Law Division in civil and criminal court and the 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. Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, women, individuals with disabilities, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.
