Assistant Deputy Ethics Counsel (Attorney 1)

New Jersey Courts•Ewing, NJ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE) acts as the investigative and prosecutorial arm of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, responsible for supervising and disciplining attorneys. The OAE's mission is to preserve public confidence in the Bar and protect the public from lawyers who fail to meet high professional standards. This position is within the newly created Readmission, Motions and Monitoring Unit, which handles petitions from disbarred and suspended attorneys seeking readmission or reinstatement, writes and argues appellate-style motions before the Disciplinary Review Board, and ensures compliance with disciplinary conditions. The New Jersey Judiciary is seeking a legal writer to brief and argue motions for final and reciprocal discipline, assist with post-disciplinary monitoring, and conduct investigations of compliance matters. The selected candidate may also conduct research and other writing projects as directed by executive management. The OAE seeks candidates with strong organizational, decision-making, interpersonal, and conflict management skills, as well as highly developed legal research and writing abilities.

Requirements

Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school
One year of experience in legal research and analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation.
Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active.

Nice To Haves

Appellate experience before the Appellate Division and Supreme Court strongly preferred.
One year of experience as a Judicial Law Clerk may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Responsibilities

Manage a diverse caseload of disciplinary matters including motions for final and reciprocal discipline, post-disciplinary monitoring, and R. 1:20-20 compliance matters.
Assist OAE executive management and the Chief of Readmission, Motions and Monitoring in developing and improving statewide disciplinary processes within the unit.
Investigate and prosecute attorneys who violate the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Appear in all appellate proceedings before the Disciplinary Review Board and Supreme Court related to matters where attorneys have been convicted of criminal conduct or have been disciplined in other jurisdictions.
Prepare memoranda on procedural or factually complex ethics matters for Director's review and consideration recommending action for disposition of charges of unethical conduct against attorneys.
Assist in the review and response to petitions for reinstatement and readmission.
Monitor compliance with disciplinary conditions as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Prosecute disciplinary matters virtually and in person before special ethics adjudicators and/or hearing panels.
Prepare investigation reports, complaints, file motions, write briefs, and conduct legal research in assigned disciplinary cases.
Appear before the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the Attorney Regulatory Board and the Disciplinary Review Board.
Address such other disciplinary matters as may be assigned by the Director, First Assistant Ethics Counsel or the Chief of Readmission Appeals and Motions.
Brief and argue motions for final (R. 1:20-13) and reciprocal discipline (R. 1:20-14) after comprehensive file review and legal research and within the time goals outlined in R. 1:20-8.
Assist in post-disciplinary monitoring, including reviewing submissions and filing motions to compel compliance with conditions if needed.
Assist with standard complexity investigations of R. 1:20-20 compliance matters, completing investigations, recommending complaints, and prosecuting matters at hearing where appropriate.
Conduct research and other writing projects as directed by executive management.