ATTORNEY ASSISTANT
In New Jersey, Attorney Assistant is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a bachelor's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma. The FY 2027 range lands between $63,663 and $92,953, and state payroll currently lists about 121 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 3 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 3 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Attorney Assistant appears on the State payroll at 3 departments, most of them at Department of Law & Public Safety.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 91 |
| Office of Public Defender | 29 |
| Rate Counsel | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 121 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $78,490. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (91)
- Office of the Public Defender (29)
- Division of Rate Counsel (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under general supervision of the Chief Executive Officer or other supervisory official in a state department, performs legal research and prepares documents, reports, summaries and recommends to be used by legal staff in judicial documents, legal papers, and attorney memoranda; does related work.
Examples of work
- Pursues discovery matters and related document production.
- Conducts legal research.
- Manages evidence and prepares exhibits for trial where directed.
- Prepares legal memoranda and other legal documents.
- Prepares correspondence on legal matters, cases, and judicial proceedings.
- Locates and coordinates with expert witnesses for specific case needs.
- Interviews witnesses and other parties to provide information for and under the direction of the legal staff.
- Synopsizes transcripts of proceedings and other documents for use by the legal staff.
- Drafts jury instructions when directed.
- Locates and interviews fact witnesses regarding specific case information.
- Attends proceedings before courts and agencies to assist legal staff as directed.
- Assists in the liaison activities with government agencies and the legal staff.
- Manages case files by organizing and maintaining such files, and establishes and implements systems of retrieval of file information.
- Acts as custodian of files where necessary.
- Organizes and maintains research information in order to ensure ready accessibility to such information and retrieves such information upon request.
- Assists in the instruction and guidance of clerical support personnel when directly related to the legal functions being performed.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree.
Experience
Two (2) years of paralegal or legal/legislative research experience.
License
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of fundamental legal principles and concepts.
- Knowledge of legal publications and periodicals and the procedures for extracting information contained therein.
- Ability to interpret, research, and apply state and federal statutes and regulations.
- Ability to communicate ideas in written form in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.
- Ability to understand the complexities and uses of pertinent and evidentiary laws, rules, and regulations.
- Ability to prepare correspondence as required in the course of official duties.
- Ability to conduct witness interviews.
- Ability to prepare technically sound, accurate, and informative statistical reports and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Ability to initiate and maintain communication with other government agencies.
- Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODES: 21/P20 - MCK 8/28/99
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional experience as indicated above on a year for year basis.
A Bachelor's degree in Law may be substituted for both the education and experience requirements listed above.
Applicants who do not possess a Bachelor's degree may substitute an Associate's degree as a Legal Assistant or in Paralegal Studies or, successful completion of a two (2) year approved course in Paralegal Training at a recognized educational institution for two (2) years of college education.