TECHNICAL ASSISTANT, LEGAL ACTIVITIES
Technical Assistant, Legal Activities is a competitive state title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.
What it takes is 5 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY2027 schedule runs $55,691 to $81,008, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, led by Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Law & Public Safety posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
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Agency posting
Department of Health posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $69,707. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (1)
- Health and Senior Services (1)
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.
Definition
Under the direction of the supervisory official in a state department or agency, who is responsible for management of the regulatory and contested case process, coordinates formal and/or contested case proceedings with the Office of Administrative Law, and coordinates department activities such as the publication of rules and regulations in the New Jersey Register as may be required; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Reviews all rules and regulations and/or new petitions submitted for correct statutory and administrative code citations, accurate presentation, proper format, and necessary statements and summaries as may be required by the Office of Administrative Law for rule submission. Secures necessary approvals and signatures from appropriate staff in serving of petitions on parties and/or may forward material to OAL for publication in the New Jersey Register. May be responsible for submitting to OAL all materials that will be published in the upcoming issue of the N.J. Register on or before the deadline date. Coordinates and supervises all Register submissions and/or new petitions with Word Processing Unit in department. Maintains up-to-date files on all rules and regulations, and/or formal petitions on both monthly and yearly basis. Maintains an on-going file of the expiration dates of all rules and regulations and/or OAL Initial Decision Motion dealine dates and other key target dates; notifies appropriate staff of upcoming expiration dates to ensure timely review for possible amendment, reproposal, deletion, and so forth. Coordinates meetings/training sessions with staff concerning procedures for rulemaking and/or accepting and processing of cases. Keeps staff informed of any change in these procedures. Acts in the capacity of liaison with Office of Administrative Law. Monitors progress of contested cases from initiation to completion. Develops and maintains system to control contested case actions and/or proper tracking by the Case Management System. Maintains file on each contested and/or docketed case such as Rate Setting, Certificate of Need, Licensure Violations, Laboratory Violations, Order to Show Cause, Disciplinary, Certificate Applications, Financings, Rulemakings, and so forth. Maintains up-to-date log on status of each contested case presented for hearing. Responsible for processing all initial decisions rendered to appropriate staff; receives all comments concerning decisions and forwards to staff in preparation of department's final decision. Monitors statutory forty-five (45)-day deadline date to ensure timely response to facility, OAL, and interested parties. Arranges for court stenographer for department and/or acquires copies of transcipts as required; distributes transcripts to appropriate staff. Prepares annual and/or periodic reports on contested and/or formal cases, types of appeals, number of decisions rendered, accepted/ amended, and so forth. Responsible for reviewing and analyzing Federal Register guidelines and regulations with respect to pertinent rules and regulations affecting state operation, funding, or activities. Coordinates flow of material between department or agency and Office of Attorney General regarding legal opinions. Maintains file of all opinions requested and response; notifies appropriate office. Maintains records of all subpoenaes received by the department; notifies individuals or office involved; secures necessary records; notifies office of Attorney General. Researches various types of information for commissioner and/or supervisory official. May 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.
Experience
Five (5) years of experience in a public or private agency, assisting a professional staff in paralegal activities, including but not limited to the gathering, review, research, proofreading, recording and/or processing of legal documents, accepting legal documents such as subpoenaes, summons, and so forth, and taking appropriate action.
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 the procedure established by the Office of Administrative Law in the preparation and submission of material for promulgation of rules and regulations to the New Jersey Register after a period of training. Knowledge of the procedure utilized by the Office of Administrative Law in the preparation of contested cases for a formal hearing process after a period of training. Knowledge of the functions, policies, procedures, organization, and programs of a state department or agency after a period of training. Knowledge of modern office management, methods, and principles of practice. Knowledge of rules for Agency Rulemaking after a period of training. Knowledge of the rule-making process. Ability to utilize and interpret New Jersey Administrative Code and New Jersey Statutes and assist department programs with various inquiries. Ability to assist programs with preparation of rules and regulations in required format, correct code citation, necessary information required by Office of Administrative Law. Ability to review all rules and regulations submitted to the Office of the Commissioner for publication in New Jersey Register for accuracy, content, codification, and required summaries and statements in accordance with Office of Administrative Law rules for Agency Rulemaking. Ability to coordinate the flow of departmental legal materials both internally and externally. Ability to develop and maintain control and flow of formal hearing process with Office of Administrative Law; distribute decisions; monitor statutory time limit for departmental action. Ability to deal effectively with the public, Attorney General offices, and representatives of both private and state agencies. Ability to establish and monitor filing system for formal hearings, legal opinion, promulgated rules, and regulations. Ability to draft forms, charts, gather required information for annual reports. Ability to coordinate meetings and/or training sessions for department staff regarding rulemaking process. Ability to gather and research appropriate material to secure necessary information required to support supervisory official or commissioner. Ability to learn 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, 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.