ASSISTANT DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER 3
Career Family: ASSISTANT DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDER
In the unclassified service, Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 is appointed rather than examined for, and its pay is often negotiated case by case.
It is the top of the Assistant Deputy Public Defender ladder, a grade above Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2. To be eligible you bring a doctoral degree, 3 years of relevant experience, and a professional license. The FY 2027 range lands between $115,536 and $170,731, and state payroll currently lists about 165 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 Defender 3 appears on the State payroll at one department, Office of Public Defender.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Office of Public Defender | 165 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Assistant Deputy Public Defender series
- Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 — $79,844 – $117,228
- Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2 — $100,498 – $148,187
- Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 — $115,536 – $170,731 (this title)
Its top salary lands around the 97th 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 165 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $154,291. The agencies employing the most are:
- Office of the Public Defender (165)
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 general supervision of a Deputy Public Defender, functions as a lead worker, providing guidance to Assistant Deputy Public Defenders of lower levels and taking the lead on work-related matters; serves in a professional capacity as the civil or criminal attorney to indigent persons who are formally charged with an offense of an indictable nature or juvenile offense, or children who are abused/neglected, or commitments to mental institutions, or resolves disputes, or persons on intense supervision parole, or in need of guardianship, or who are alleged to have abused/neglected children, or are facing termination of their parental rights, or who are sexually violent predators, or who are subject to Megan's Law; exercises independent judgment regarding decision making and is responsible for handling the most complex and high-profile cases; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Independently conducts research and analysis on complex questions of law, procedures, and evidence.
- Conducts complex investigations and interviews clients and witnesses; consults with involved governmental agencies.
- Prepares legal pleadings, motions, briefs, and related documents.
- Represents clients in court at the pre-trial stage, trial stage, post-conviction proceedings, and appellate proceedings.
- May be responsible for all appeals originating from one or more trial regions, or for the weekly trial list before one or more judges.
- Provides recommendations to a supervisory official or management for improving efficiency within the Office of the Public Defender.
- Provides guidance to Assistant Deputy Public Defenders of lower levels and takes the lead on work-related matters.
- Reviews the work done by Assistant Deputy Public Defenders of lower levels.
- Provides training and instruction to Assistant Deputy Public Defenders of lower levels.
- Studies, plans, and advises on the most complex legal issues relating to representing indigent persons concerning their admission, retention, or release from confinement in a hospital, institution, or facility; or concerning a class action on behalf of such persons.
- Investigates the financial status of clients as the circumstances warrant.
- Conducts complex litigation in representing persons admitted to a mental hospital as individuals or as a class.
- Prepares correspondence regarding representation of clients.
- Compiles information for and prepares complex statistical reports, regional reports, and case reports.
- Will be required to learn how 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 law school with a Juris Doctor degree.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience as a practicing attorney of law.
License
Appointees must be licensed as an Attorney-at-Law in the State of New Jersey.
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 the methods used to gather and analyze information.
- Knowledge of investigative and interviewing techniques.
- Knowledge of legal proceedings and trial practices.
- Knowledge of legal forms and documents.
- Ability to provide guidance, training, and instruction to Assistant Deputy Public Defenders of lower levels.
- Ability to interview clients to gather and analyze information.
- Ability to understand and analyze criminal law procedures and evidence.
- Ability to process and dispose of cases.
- Ability to prepare pleas, motions, and legal briefs pertaining to clients' cases.
- Ability to engage in the trial of clients' cases.
- Ability to conduct research and investigations.
- Ability to study, plan, and advise on the most complex legal issues relating to representing indigent persons concerning their admission, retention, or release from confinement in a hospital, institution, or facility; or concerning a class action on behalf of such persons.
- Ability to investigate the financial status of clients as the circumstances warrant.
- Ability to conduct complex litigation in representing persons admitted to a mental hospital as individuals or as a class.
- Ability to prepare correspondence.
- Ability to analyze the technical and medical issues presented by clients' cases, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, insanity, handwriting analysis, etc.
- Ability to prepare accurate and comprehensive case records.
- Ability to prepare all administrative records required by the Office of the Public Defender regarding clients' cases.
- Ability to learn how 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 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.