Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
1. Supreme Court Law Clerks: Work with justices on complex cases involving difficult legal issues. Responsibilities include performing legal research, preparing written memoranda on novel legal issues, and assisting justices in the preparation of opinions.
2. Appellate Division Law Clerks: Conduct research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. Responsibilities also include preparing weekly memos for the judges, editing opinions, handling emergent applications, and preparing summer research memos.
3. Superior Court Assignment Judge Law Clerks: Learn all aspects of court administration, assist with processing emergent motions, conduct legal research, prepare legal memos, manage the judge’s docket, and communicate with counsel and courthouse staff.
4. Trial Court Law Clerks: Gain practical experience by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences with attorneys and judges, receiving training in mediation, and mediating small claims cases. Draft legal orders, manage motion calendars, and assist with drafting legal opinions.
5. Tax Court Law Clerks: Perform duties similar to those in the Appellate Division and trial courts, including reviewing and processing motions, conducting legal research, drafting case management orders, managing the motion calendar, and assisting with remote proceedings.
6. Family Division Law Clerks: Conduct legal research for the judge’s opinions and motions, assist with remote proceedings, communicate with litigants and attorneys, assist in drafting legal opinions and orders, and handle emergent applications.
7. Civil Division Law Clerks: Prepare bench memoranda for civil motions, perform legal research, interpret legal questions, draft legal orders, manage motion calendars, and communicate with attorneys and the public.
8. Criminal Division Law Clerks: Conduct legal research for opinions and motions, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, manage motion calendars, perform case management functions, and communicate with attorneys and internal staff.
9. General Equity (Chancery) Law Clerks: Conduct legal research, review case files, prepare bench memoranda, draft orders, proofread judge’s orders and opinions, and assist in processing emergent temporary restraining order applications.
Education and Experience Information:
- Applicants must have graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association by the time of their law clerk appointment.
- The program is intended for recent law school graduates, defined as graduating within the last four years.
- Excellent writing and analytical skills are essential.
- Completion of a course in mediation is helpful, and trial court law clerks who will serve as mediators must complete a 12-hour mediation training or its equivalent.
Salary Information:
Salaries for the 2024-2025 Court Term are as follows:
- 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
Salaries for the 2025-2026 Court Term are to be determined based on funding availability.
Additional Information:
- Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as per the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees.
- A driver’s license valid in New Jersey is required if operating a vehicle is necessary for the position.
- US citizenship is not required, but candidates must be authorized to work in the US.
- Selected candidates must agree to a thorough background check, including fingerprinting.
- Law clerks are not subject to the New Jersey residency law during their court term.
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available, with positions in the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Superior Court, and Tax Court.
- The Judiciary offers a hybrid work schedule, potentially allowing up to four remote workdays per month.
- Applications for clerkships open on June 10, 2024, with interviews beginning on or after June 17, 2024.
- The **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to ensuring an open door to justice.
