Law Clerk (Hudson Vicinage)

New Jersey Courts • Jersey City, NJ

40d • Onsite

About The Position

Professional law clerk positions are available in the New Jersey Judiciary for individuals with strong communication and analytical skills. Supreme Court law clerks work with justices on complex cases involving difficult issues of law. Appellate Division law clerks conduct research, analyze legal data, prepare legal memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions. Law clerks for assignment judges learn all aspects of court administration and assist with processing emergent motions. Trial court law clerks gain practical experience while gaining valuable insight into the judicial process. Under the direction of one or more judges over the course of the year, trial court law clerks observe judicial proceedings, attend conferences with attorneys and judges, receive training in mediation and mediate small claims cases and summarize information for judges. Tax Court law clerks perform duties similar to those assigned to law clerks in the Appellate Division and trial courts, but do not mediate cases. This posting is only open to candidates who have received an offer of employment for the 2027-2028 Court Term in Superior Court for the Hudson Vicinage. The Judiciary's law clerkship program is intended for recent law school graduates, which is defined as graduating within the last four years.

Requirements

• Graduated from a law school approved by the American Bar Association by the time of their law clerk appointment.
• Graduated within the last four years (recent law school graduate).
• Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Must provide an official, final law school transcript, not a photocopy, which includes the date of graduation from their law school at the time of hire.
• Must agree to a thorough background check, which will include fingerprinting.
• Must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Completed a course in mediation prior to the start of the clerkship.
• Applicants interested in Supreme Court, Superior Court Appellate Division, Superior Court Assignment Judges, Superior Court Chancery Division in general equity court, and in the Tax Court should apply early during the hiring process.

Responsibilities

• Work on complex cases involving challenging legal issues alongside justices.
• Conduct in-depth legal research, analyze data, prepare memoranda, process emergent motion applications, and proofread published opinions.
• Gain practical experience by observing judicial proceedings, attending conferences, mediating small claims cases, and summarizing information for judges.
• Learn court administration and assist with emergent motions.
• Perform duties similar to those in the Appellate Division and trial courts, minus mediation responsibilities.

Benefits

• Competitive Salaries for the 2026-2027 Court Term
• May hold outside employment with prior approval as provided in the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level