LEGAL SPECIALIST 2
Career Family: LEGAL SPECIALIST
Legal Specialist 2 is an unclassified state title, filled by appointment and outside the tenure protections that cover the competitive ranks.
It sits mid-series for Legal Specialist, one step up from Legal Specialist 1 and one below Legal Specialist 3. The requirements come down to a doctoral degree and 2 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2026 schedule runs $92,711 to $136,605.
How to apply
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No examThis title is not filled by examination
Non-competitive, unclassified, and Senior Executive Service titles are appointed directly by the hiring agency rather than through a civil service exam. Apply directly to the agency below.
Pay ladder: Legal Specialist series
- Legal Specialist 1 — $80,756 – $118,678
- Legal Specialist 2 — $92,711 – $136,605 (this title)
- Legal Specialist 3 — $106,547 – $157,363
Promoting to Legal Specialist 3 raises the top of the band by about $20,758. Its top salary lands around the 76th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2026 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
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.
Definition
Under general supervision of a Legal Specialist of higher grade or other supervisory official in a state department, institution, or autonomous agency, supervises and performs confidential legislative, legal, and policy-influencing research related to department programs, in conformance with guidelines established by the State Attorney General; acts as liaison between a state department and the Office of the Attorney General in receiving, formulating, and transmitting requests for legal advice on behalf of a state agency; supervises the preparation of reports and recommendations on the impact of proposed or existing legislation; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Coordinates requests for legal advice from the Attorney General's Office. Provides guidance as to the nature and substance of the various statutes and regulations covering the responsibilities of the employing state entity. Reviews guidance recommended by lower-ranking staff. Supervises and participates (in a non-attorney capacity) in negotiations on behalf of the employing entity. Supervises Legal Specialists of lower grades, paralegals, and other employees assigned to the legal unit. As a supervisor of a legal unit (non-attorney) with prior written consent of the Office of the Attorney General, represents a state entity in a matter before the Office of Administrative Law. Supervises the drafting of proposed regulations, legislation, and amendments in accordance with the policy objectives of the employing entity, subject to restrictions applicable to non-attorneys. This includes written interim and final agency orders, subject to the review of the Office of the Attorney General. Supervises litigation and other support as requested by the Office of the Attorney General, in the Department of Law and Public Safety. Supervises the distribution of relevant legal decisions, requests for public records, and other legal communications and information. Supervises the development of legal or policy questions to raise with the Office of the Attorney General. Supervises document inspection and administrative hearing requests. Prepares officials to give testimony for the department regarding regulatory changes or the enactment of new regulatory policies. Supervises the preparation of clear, accurate, and informative reports on department legislative and regulatory matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. As required, supervises, analyzes, and performs research on state and/or federal legislation pertaining to department programs, functions, and procedures, and the preparation of reports. Supervises and performs research on court decisions and court cases which affect the work of the department. Supervises the preparation of material for use in hearings, reviews, or other executive determinations. Supervises the review of department rules, regulations, and procedures for correctness and prepares digests. Assists in liaison work with the Legislature, the Governor's Office, the Attorney General's Office, and with other state and local government officials and employees in pertinent matters. Establishes priorities consistent with Executive Order No. 6 (1990). Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Resolves conflicts and disputes in a supervisory capacity. Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties. 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 Juris Doctor (J.D.) or a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) degree. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience involving legal or legislative research, drafting of rules, regulations, legislation, amendments, and/or the interpretation of statutes. -OR- Five (5) years of experience involving legal or legislative research, drafting of rules, regulations, legislation, amendments, and/or the interpretation of statutes.
License
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 modern research sources, techniques, and methods and their effective utilization in research studies. Knowledge of statistical methods and procedures and their use in the presentation of factual data if relevant to the position. Knowledge of supervisory techniques. Ability to organize and carry through research studies and projects concerned with legislative developments and submit reports suitable for the use of the department administrative staff. Ability to comprehend and analyze laws, regulations, and procedures. Ability to locate court decisions, precedents, opinions, legal citations, and other legal material. Ability to prepare drafts of proposed legislation, rules, regulations, and opinions. Ability to determine the compliance of existing department rules, regulations, and procedures with legislation. Ability to prepare materials for hearings, reviews, and executive determinations. Ability to establish and maintain liaison with department officers, employees, the representatives of state and local government units, and with the Office of the Attorney General. Ability to collect, tabulate, arrange, and interpret data and to present information in an understandable manner. Ability to work with department staff, the Office of the Attorney General, and with state officials and members of the legislature to clarify points which may be in dispute by reference to original source materials, including serving as an escalation contact for lower-ranking Legal Specialists. Ability to draft technical correspondence. Ability to supervise legal, paralegal, clerical, and other staff in the performance of duties within a legal unit. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports of department matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to maintain essential records and files. 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. Appointees currently matriculating in an accredited law school as an L.L.B or J.D. candidate may substitute such enrollment for three (3) years of the required experience on a year-for-year basis.