ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER (State)
As an unclassified state title, Assistant Public Defender is filled by appointment, and its published pay band is more of a guide than a fixed grade.
The one gate is 5 years of relevant experience. Its salary schedule (frozen at an older rate) lists $111,503 to $156,118, though managerial and exempt titles like this are usually paid individually rather than on the step schedule, and state payroll currently lists 8 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 Public Defender appears on the State payroll at one department, Office of Public Defender.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Office of Public Defender | 8 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 8 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $195,000. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (8)
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.
Examples of work
- Gives general direction and specific direction, when required, to Deputies, Assistant Deputies and other attorneys functioning in regional trial offices or in the Appellate Section.
- Supervises the administrative operations of a regional trial office(s) or Appellate Section, the Municipal Court Program, the Juvenile Program, the Parole Revocation and Inmate Advocacy Section or any combination thereof at the direction of the Public Defender.
- Assists the Public Defender in developing policies and in executing, enforcing and interpreting such policies.
- When required, acts as the Public Defender.
- Participates in the personnel processes of appointing, removing, transferring, demoting and disciplining such employees as may be required for the proper conduct of the Office of the Public Defender.
- Assists the Public Defender in formulating rules and regulations for the efficient conduct of the work and general administration; takes the lead in surveillance and enforcement of such rules and regulations.
- Assists the Public Defender in instituting such legal proceedings or processes consistent with the rules governing the courts of New Jersey and the practice of law therein as may be necessary to properly enforce and give effect to the Public Defender's powers or duties.
- Assists in organizing, interpreting and coordinating the work of the Office of the Public Defender.
- Researches and analyzes questions of law, procedure and evidence.
- Investigates and interview clients, including consultation with all other governmental agencies involved.
- Prepares legal pleading, motions, briefs and related documents.
- Represents clients in court at the pre-trial stage, trial stage, post-conviction proceedings and Appellate proceedings.
- Administratively assists in the referral of matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Public Defender for handling within regional trial office and assists in the referral of matters of counsel designated by the Public Defender to serve on an individual case basis.
- Assists in the training and supervision of investigative and other personnel employed in regional offices.
- Supervises the investigation of the property and resources of clients for the purpose of determining their indigence.
- Prepares or directs the preparation of official correspondence.
- Gives speeches to interested groups as required concerning the operations and responsibilities of the Office of the Public Defender.
- Prepares or directs the preparation of clear, technically sound, accurate and informative statistical, legal, progress and other reports containing findings, conclusions and/or recommendations.
- Assists in the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports and files.
- 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 a law degree.
Experience
Five (5) year of high level legal and administrative experience in government or the private sector.
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 essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Ability to effectively supervise and instruct Deputies Assistant Deputies and other attorneys functioning in regional tidal offices or in the Appellate Section.
- Ability to effectively supervise the administrative operations of regional trial offices or the Appellate Section, the Municipal Court Program, the Juvenile Program, the Parole Revocation and Inmate Advocacy Section or any combination thereof.
- Ability to develop policies, rules and regulations and to execute, enforce and interpret them.
- Ability to interview clients and analyze the factual content pertaining to the charges brought against them.
- Ability to understand and analyze criminal law procedure and evidence.
- Ability to prepare pleas, motions and legal briefs pertaining to clients cases.
- Ability to actually engage in the trial of clients cases.
- Ability to supervise the investigation of clients; cases including their indigence status.
- Ability to present speeches to groups of varied educational, ethnic and interest background concerning the operations and responsibilities of the Office of the Public Defender.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate and informative reports containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.
- Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of essential records, reports and files.
- Ability to apply modern principles and practices of employee supervision in order to effectively produce results.
- Ability to analyze the technical and medical issues presented by clients' cases, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, insanity, handwriting analysis, etc.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording 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.
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.
Member of the Bar of the State of New Jersey