Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
Law clerks in the **Members Only** will gain hands-on experience in a court environment that is nationally recognized for its progressive and innovative work. The responsibilities of a law clerk vary depending on the court division they are assigned to.
1. Supreme Court Law Clerks:
- Work with justices on complex cases involving difficult issues of law.
- Perform legal research, prepare written memoranda on novel issues, and assist 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.
- Prepare weekly memos, edit opinions, and handle emergent applications.
3. Superior Court Assignment Judges:
- Learn all aspects of court administration and assist with processing emergent motions.
4. Trial Court Law Clerks:
- Observe judicial proceedings, attend conferences, receive mediation training, and mediate small claims cases.
- Summarize information for judges.
5. Tax Court Law Clerks:
- Perform duties similar to Appellate Division and trial courts but do not mediate cases.
- Review and process motions, conduct legal research, draft case management orders, and manage the motion calendar.
6. Family Division Law Clerks:
- Conduct legal research, assist with remote proceedings, communicate with litigants, and draft legal opinions.
7. Civil Division Law Clerks:
- Prepare bench memoranda for civil motions, perform legal research, draft legal orders, and manage the motion calendar.
8. Criminal Division Law Clerks:
- Conduct legal research for opinions and motions, draft jury instructions, manage the motion calendar, and assist with remote proceedings.
9. General Equity (Chancery) Law Clerks:
- Conduct legal research, review case files, draft orders, and assist in processing emergent temporary restraining order applications.
Education and Experience Information:
- Candidates 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 serving as mediators must complete a Judiciary-sponsored 12-hour mediation training or its equivalent.
Salary Information:
The salaries for the 2025-2026 Court Term are to be determined based on funding availability. The 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 and Family): $63,950
- Superior Court Law Division (Civil and Criminal): $58,900
- Tax Court: $58,900
Supplemental 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 only if vehicle operation is necessary for the position.
- . citizenship is not required, but candidates must be authorized to work in the .
- A thorough background check, including fingerprinting, is required for selected individuals.
- Law clerks are exempt from the New Jersey residency requirement during their court term.
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available annually, with a limited number for higher courts.
Application Process:
- Applicants can apply directly to justices or judges through the Judiciary's web-based portal starting June 10, 2024.
- Applications must include a detailed work experience and education history.
- The Judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, Superior Court including the Appellate Division and Trial Court, Tax Court, and Municipal Court System.
Employer:
Organization
Website:
