PARALEGAL TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT
There is no civil service exam for Paralegal Technician Assistant. As a non-competitive state title, it is filled on the strength of meeting the listed qualifications.
It asks for an associate's degree. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $46,727 to $67,528, and state payroll currently lists about 29 people in the title, most of them at Children and Families.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Paralegal Technician Assistant appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Children and Families.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Children and Families | 28 |
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 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 29 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $51,176. The agencies employing the most are:
- Children and Families (28)
- Law and Public Safety (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 the close supervision of a supervisory official, assists in researching laws, rules, and regulations, investigating facts, and preparing documents for use in briefs, pleadings, appeals, and other legal actions; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Assists in researching legal areas of concern to members of the legal staff relating to issues involving the work of the agency.
- With guidance, conducts research into legal areas of concern regarding his/her own work and preparation.
- Drafts less complex memoranda, communicating the discussion of legal topics and the review and consideration of issues related to the work of the legal section, including memorialization of legal research.
- Assists in the preparation of formal correspondence to agencies, courts, legislators, and others with whom the employing agency must correspond, involving legal points of interest and matters in issue.
- Assists in the preparation of formal correspondence in response to citizen inquiries and other similar matters.
- Assists in the preparation of formal pleadings in the nature of complaints, answers, motions, interrogatories, and other appropriate documents for utilization in proceedings before courts and agencies.
- Assists in reviewing cited legal decisions to determine their precedential value.
- Proofreads less complex legal documents.
- Assists in organizing and maintaining information related to the function of the legal section to ensure ready accessibility to such information, and retrieves such information upon request.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies or, an Associate Degree and a Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Studies.
License
Appointees 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 research techniques.
- Knowledge of legal publications and periodicals, and the procedures for extracting information contained therein.
- Ability to interpret and apply New Jersey 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.
- Ability to prepare technically sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- 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 if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
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.
Possession of a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree may be substituted for the above education.
Rule 1:20-20(a) prohibits attorneys who have been disbarred, resigned with prejudice, transferred to disability-inactive status, or under suspension from the practice of law in this or any other jurisdiction from being employed as paralegals/legal assistants in the State of New Jersey.