**Job Title:**
Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
**Job Responsibilities:**
Law clerks in the **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. perform a variety of duties that provide them with hands-on experience in a court environment. These responsibilities vary based on the specific court division they serve in, but generally include:
- **Supreme Court Law Clerks:** Work closely with justices on complex cases, conducting legal research, preparing memoranda on novel legal issues, and assisting in drafting opinions.
- **Appellate Division Law Clerks:** Conduct research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. They also prepare weekly memos, edit opinions, handle emergent applications, and assist judges with research projects.
- **Trial Court Law Clerks:** Gain practical experience by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences, receiving mediation training, and summarizing information for judges. They work in various divisions such as civil, criminal, and family.
- **Tax Court Law Clerks:** Focus on judicial tax challenges, reviewing motions, conducting legal research, drafting case management orders, and managing the motion calendar.
- **Assignment Judge Law Clerks:** Learn all aspects of court administration, assist with processing emergent motions, conduct research, prepare legal memos, and manage the judge’s docket.
- **Family Division Law Clerks:** Engage in legal research, assist with remote proceedings, communicate with litigants and attorneys, and draft legal opinions and orders.
- **Civil Division Law Clerks:** Prepare bench memoranda, perform legal research, draft legal orders, and manage the motion calendar. They gain exposure to a range of legal issues and different advocacy methods.
- **Criminal Division Law Clerks:** Conduct legal research, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, manage the motion calendar, and perform case management functions.
- **General Equity (Chancery) Law Clerks:** Conduct legal research, review case files, prepare bench memoranda, draft orders, and assist in emergent temporary restraining order applications.
**Education and Experience Information:**
- 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.
- Mediation skills are a plus, and completing a course in mediation before the start of the clerkship is helpful.
- Selected candidates must provide an official, final law school transcript.
**Salary Information:**
The salaries for the 2025-2026 court term are to be determined based on funding availability. The salaries listed are for the 2024-2025 court term and 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
**Additional Information:**
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available, with positions in the Supreme Court, Superior Court Appellate Division, Superior Court Assignment Judges, Superior Court Chancery Division, and Tax Court.
- The judiciary offers a hybrid work schedule, allowing for up to four days per month of remote work.
- Law clerks may hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees.
- A driver's license valid in New Jersey is required only if necessary to perform essential duties.
- US citizenship is not required, but candidates must be authorized to work in the US.
- Selected individuals must agree to a thorough background check, including fingerprinting.
- Law clerks are not subject to the New Jersey residency law during their court term but must establish residency if moving into another state position immediately following their clerkship.
- Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, women, individuals with disabilities, and other protected class members are encouraged to apply.
The **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is recognized for its innovative work and offers law clerks valuable insight into the judicial process and an opportunity to enhance their career prospects.
