Job Title: Law Clerk 2025 - 2026
Job Responsibilities:
Law clerks are integral to the **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***., working closely with judges and justices to facilitate the judicial process. Their responsibilities vary depending on the court division they serve, but generally include:
- Supreme Court Law Clerks: Work with justices on complex cases involving challenging legal issues. They perform legal research, prepare written memoranda on novel issues of law, and assist justices in preparing opinions.
- Appellate Division Law Clerks: Conduct research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. They prepare weekly memos and edit opinions authored by judges.
- Trial Court Law Clerks: Gain practical experience by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences with attorneys and judges, receiving training in mediation, and summarizing information for judges. They prepare bench memoranda for civil motions and assist with case management functions.
- Tax Court Law Clerks: Perform duties similar to those assigned to law clerks in the Appellate Division and trial courts but focus on judicial tax challenges. Their tasks include reviewing and processing motions, conducting legal research, drafting case management orders, and managing the motion calendar.
- Assignment Judge Law Clerks: Learn all aspects of court administration and assist with processing emergent motions. They 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 and casework involving disputes related to children, youth, spouses, and domestic partners. They conduct legal research, assist with remote proceedings, and draft legal opinions and orders.
- Civil Division Law Clerks: Gain experience in the judicial process by preparing bench memoranda, performing legal research, drafting legal orders, and managing the motion calendar in civil cases.
- Criminal Division Law Clerks: Conduct legal research, assist in drafting jury instructions and legal opinions, draft legal orders, and manage the motion calendar in criminal cases.
- General Equity (Chancery) Law Clerks: Conduct legal research, review case files, draft orders, and assist in processing emergent temporary restraining order applications for non-monetary relief cases.
Education and Experience Information:
Candidates must be recent graduates from a law school approved by the American Bar Association, having graduated within the last four years. They must possess excellent writing and analytical skills. It is beneficial 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.
Salary Information:
The salary for law clerks varies based on the court division they serve:
- 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
Additional Information:
- Law clerks may be eligible to serve an additional one-year clerkship in the Appellate Division or Supreme Court if they have previously served in a trial court or Tax Court clerkship.
- The **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. offers a hybrid work schedule, allowing for up to four days per month of remote work outside judiciary buildings, contingent upon installing a multifactor authentication app and having high-speed home internet access.
- 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 operating a vehicle is necessary for performing essential duties.
- . citizenship is not required, but candidates must be authorized to work in the .
- Selected candidates must agree to a thorough background check, including fingerprinting.
- Approximately 480 clerkships are available each year, with most openings in the Superior Court Law Division in civil and criminal court, and Superior Court Chancery Division in family court.
- The **MEMBERS ONLY**SIGN UP NOW***. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity and encourages individuals from historically underrepresented groups, women, individuals with disabilities, and other protected class members to apply.
