DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL 2
Career Family: DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
As an unclassified state title, Deputy Attorney General 2 is filled by appointment, and its published pay band is more of a guide than a fixed grade.
It is the top of the Deputy Attorney General ladder, a grade above Deputy Attorney General 3. The FY 2027 range lands between $126,854 and $187,691, and state payroll currently lists about 269 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Why this title is unclassified
This specification cites N.J.S.A. 11A:3-4(g), state unclassified service.
(g) Assistant and Deputy Attorneys General and legal assistants appointed by the Attorney General;
A title in the State unclassified service sits outside Title 11A unless a provision says otherwise. In practice that means no competitive examination to get the job, and none of the career service protections that come with it: no permanent status after a working test period, and no right of appeal to the Civil Service Commission from a removal. Appointment and removal rest with the appointing authority.
The rule that allocates a title to this service is N.J.A.C. 4A:3-1.3.
Who employs this title
Deputy Attorney General 2 appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Law & Public Safety.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 269 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Deputy Attorney General series
- Deputy Attorney General 4 — $100,498 – $143,418
- Deputy Attorney General 3 — $115,536 – $170,731
- Deputy Attorney General 2 — $126,854 – $187,691 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 99th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 269 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $134,320. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (269)
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 direction of a Deputy Attorney General I or other supervisory official in Department of Law and Public Safety plans, represents State departments or other entities prescribed by applicable statutes; participates in the planning, development and organization of the work programs involved in the detection and prosecution of criminal activities; interprets and enforces law, regulations; as the Attorney General's representative, participates in legal and related activities involving federal and local jurisdictions and other State entities; may supervise a work unit; does other related work as required.
Examples of work
- Provides legal advice and represents State departments and other entities on matters of a highly complex nature or of major significance to ensure protection of the bonafide interests of the State of New Jersey and of the publics served.
- Participates in the planning, coordination and prosecutes civil and/or criminal matters of a complex nature to produce results that are consistent with applicable law and with the Constitution of the United States.
- Defends civil matters of a highly complex nature and, prepares all required legal documents.
- Directs and/or coordinates the preparation of formal and informal opinions, pleadings, trial and appellate briefs, legislative and legal memoranda and, proposed modification to various administrative publications.
- Defends civil matters of a complex nature and prepares all legal documents.
- Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of formal and informal opinions, pleadings, trial and appellate briefs, legislative and legal memoranda, proposed legislation and revisions to various administrative publications.
- Participates in the planning and development of various program to accomplish the State's and the Department's immediate and long-term goals; and to satisfy requirements imposed by applicable law.
- Conducts or supervises the conduct of legal research and/or investigations.
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting and/or disciplining of employees.
- Coordinates and/or supervises the work activities of legal, clerical and investigative staff.
- Conducts liaison activities with staff of various agencies and jurisdictions on legal and investigative matters.
- Prepares or supervises the preparation of correspondence and reports to apprise officials and members of the various publics served of conditions, progress, and accomplishments in areas of concern.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of manual and/or electronic recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
- <b>REQUIREMENTS
- EXPERIENCE</b>
- Four (4) years of experience as a practicing attorney, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.
License
Admission to practice as an Attorney at Law in the State of New Jersey.
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 State and Federal administrative law and practices, and of federal court procedures.
- Knowledge of the procedures used to prepare and prosecute complex civil and criminal cases.
- Knowledge of the types of formal and informal legal documents.
- Knowledge of the methods used to gather and analyze information.
- Knowledge of investigative methods.
- Ability to plan, coordinate and prosecute civil and criminal matters of a highly complex nature.
- Ability to provide assignments and instruction to staff and evaluate their work performance.
- Ability to conduct research and prepare reports and correspondence.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those interested or involved in the work of the unit.
- Ability 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, and 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 undue hardship, such persons, may not be eligible.