Job Title: Attorney General’s Honors Program Participant
Job Responsibilities:
Participants in the Attorney General’s Honors Program are expected to undertake a variety of legal responsibilities across different divisions within the Office of the Attorney General. These responsibilities include:
- Rotating through one or more subject matter areas such as Antitrust, Civil Rights, Cyber Crimes, Environmental Justice, and others.
- Working within specific divisions like the Division of Law, Division of Criminal Justice, Division on Civil Rights, Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability.
- Assisting in formulating policy and legal strategy.
- Investigating cases and drafting legal pleadings.
- Negotiating with opposing counsel and arguing in court or before administrative bodies.
- Participating in workshops and trainings to develop legal skills.
- Engaging in rotations for different assignments in their second year, including working with the Attorney General’s Executive Leadership Team on priority projects and policy development.
Education and Experience Information:
Eligibility for the Honors Program is open to a diverse pool of highly qualified applicants, including:
- Third-year law students.
- Students in the final year of other graduate law programs (., LLM program).
- Judicial clerks who will complete their clerkship by September 2025, having begun immediately following graduation from law school or a fellowship program.
- Individuals who will complete a fellowship by September 2025, which began immediately following graduation from law school or clerkship.
Attorneys not meeting these criteria but interested in working for the Attorney General’s Office can apply through the regular employment process.
Applicants must submit:
- A writing sample with their own legal analysis, not exceeding 5,000 words.
- A statement of interest, not exceeding 1,000 words, explaining their interest in public service and the Honors Program.
- A current resume.
- A scanned copy of their law school transcript.
- At least two professional references, including one law professor or legal academic.
Applicants are also expected to rank their preferences for subject matter areas and indicate their interest in litigation, investigations, regulatory policy, and preference for civil or criminal law.
Salary Information:
The starting salary for Honors Program participants varies based on bar admission status:
- If admitted to the New Jersey bar at the start date, participants begin as Deputy Attorneys General with an annual salary of $93,.
- If not yet admitted to the bar, participants are hired as Law Clerks with an annual salary of $59,494. Upon admission to the bar, they are promoted to Deputy Attorney General with the aforementioned salary.
All participants are entitled to employment benefits, including health and dental insurance. Honors Program attorneys assigned to the Division of Law are entitled to union membership privileges.
Additional Information:
- Application Deadline: October 13, 2024.
- Offers Extended: January – February 2025.
- Start Date: September 2025.
- Participants must commit to two years of service, undergo a background check, become a member of the New Jersey Bar within six months, and establish New Jersey residency within 12 months unless exempted.
- The program is committed to inclusive hiring and diversity. State law prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
- The program offers a hybrid work schedule with three days of in-office work and two days of telework, subject to review and change.
Applicants interested in the program should apply online and can seek assistance if needed. Selected candidates will undergo interviews and, if successful, will receive conditional offers subject to background checks and bar admission. The program does not cover bar exam fees or offer reimbursement for travel expenses related to interviews.
