ASSISTANT DEPUTY PUBLIC ADVOCATE 3
Career Family: ASSISTANT DEPUTY PUBLIC ADVOCATE
Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 3 is an unclassified state title, filled by appointment and outside the tenure protections that cover the competitive ranks.
This is where the Assistant Deputy Public Advocate ladder starts, one grade under Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 2, whose band tops out about $30,959 higher. The requirements come down to 1 year of relevant experience and a professional license. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $79,844 to $117,228, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, most of them at Office of the Public Defender.
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 →Who employs this title
Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 3 appears on the State payroll at one department, Office of Public Defender.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Office of Public Defender | 2 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Assistant Deputy Public Advocate series
- Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 3 — $79,844 – $117,228 (this title)
- Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 2 — $100,498 – $148,187
- Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 1 — $115,536 – $170,731
Promoting to Assistant Deputy Public Advocate 2 raises the top of the band by about $30,959. Its top salary lands around the 63rd 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 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $95,204. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (2)
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 jurisdiction of a Division Director in the Department of the Public Advocate, assists in the performance of all professional duties necessary to the adequate representation and protection of the public interest in proceedings concerning the division; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- <b>General Duties:</b>
- Does research and analysis on questions of law, procedure and evidence.
- Performs investigation and interviewing of clients and witnesses, including consultation with all other governmental agencies involved.
- Administratively assists in the referral of matters coming within the division's jurisdiction and, when directed, assists with matters referred to counsel on a contract basis.
- Prepares Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Exceptions to the Initial Decision, and appeals from rulings by administrative agencies.
- Analyzes exhibits and testimony adduced by or on behalf of the accused and prepares cross-examination and rebuttal evidence.
- Is responsible for preparing the affirmative case of the trial staff and for requests to produce evidence.
- Assists in the development of detailed factual basis for probative evidence in the form of testimony, and matters to be elicited under cross-examination.
- Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate and informative legal statistical, progress and other reports containing findings, conclusions and/or recommendations.
- Prepares official correspondence.
- 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.
- <b>In the Division of Rate Counsel:</b>
- Studies, plans and advising on legal issues relating to operating expenses of Businesses, industries, utilities or State regulatory agencies.
- Collaborates with division accountants, economists, engineers and other specialists, advising them as to the legal soundness of their studies, analyses or recommendations.
- Does legal research to determine precedents handed down by various courts and commissions bearing on rate structure questions, service regulations and practices, and on the scope of the regulatory agency's jurisdiction over particular service.
- Assists with preparing complex litigation in State administrative agencies involving rates or toll charges and services performed by regulated businesses, industries and utilities.
- <b>In the Division of Public Interest Advocacy:</b>
- Studies, plans and advises on the less complex issues relating to representing the public interest in administrative and court proceedings.
- Conducts litigation involving the public interest.
- <b>In the Division of Mental Health Advocacy:</b>
- Studies, plans and advises on legal issues relating to representing indigent persons concerning their admission to, retention in, or release from confinement in a hospital, institution or facility; or concerning a class action on behalf of such persons.
- Assists in the investigation of the financial status of clients as the circumstances warrant.
- Assists in preparing for litigation in representing persons admitted to a mental hospital, as individuals or as a class.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college with a law degree
Experience
One (1) year of experience as a practicing attorney.
License
Appointee must be eligible to practice as an Attorney-At-Law in the State of New Jersey. Appointees must possess a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any State in the United States.
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
- <b>General:</b>
- Knowledge of relevant state and federal administrative law and practice and of federal court procedure and practice.
- Ability to investigate and interview clients and witnesses and to consult with key members of governmental agencies involved.
- Ability to prepare legal proceedings, motion, briefs and related documents.
- Ability to assist counsel on a contract basis.
- Ability to prepare Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Exceptions to the Initial Decision, and to appeals from rulings by administrative agencies.
- Ability to analyze exhibits and testimony adduced on or behalf of the accused and to prepare cross-examination and rebuttal evidence.
- Ability to prepare the affirmative case of the trial staff and to prepare request to produce evidence.
- Ability to develop detailed factual probative evidence in the form of exhibits, testimony and matters to be elicited under cross-examination.
- Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative legal, statistical, progress and other reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to prepare official correspondence.
- <b>In the Division of Rate Counsel:</b>
- Knowledge of the operations, responsibilities and policies of State regulatory agencies and of the business, industries and utilities subject to their regulation or control.
- Ability to study, plan and advise legal issues relating to operation expenses of business, industries, utilities or State regulatory agencies.
- Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with accountants, economists, engineers and other specialists, advising them as to the legal soundness of their studies, analyses or recommendations.
- Ability to prepare legal research to determine precedents handed down by various courts and commissions bearing on rate structure questions, service regulations and practices, and on the scope of the regulatory agency's jurisdiction over particular services.
- Ability to assist in preparing complex litigation in state and federal courts and state administrative agencies involving rates on tolls charges and services performed by regulated business, industries and utilities.
- <b>In the Division of Public Interest Advocacy:</b>
- Ability to study, plan and advise on the less complex legal issues relating to representing the public interest in administrative and court proceedings.
- Ability to conduct litigation involving the public interest.
- <b>In the Division of Mental Health Advocacy:</b>
- Ability to study, plan and advise on the less complex legal issues relating to representing indigent persons concerning their admission to, retention in, or release from confinement in a hospital, institution or facility, or concerning a class action on behalf of such persons.
- Ability to assist in the investigation of the financial status of clients as the circumstances warrant.
- Ability to assist in preparing litigation in representing persons admitted to a mental hospital, as individuals or as a class.
- 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 he considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long As they can perform 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.