LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR

Code: 60402 State Competitive Range: P24 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $76,286.63 - $111,856.03/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

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 direction of a supervisory official, Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections, coordinates the training of inmate paralegals, monitors the institutional legal access programs, reviews and updates the institutional law libraries, conducts training for inmates in legal research, trains staff in practical law for correctional personnel, researches legal and legislative data; does related work as required.

Examples of work

Coordinates the curriculum and training of inmates in institutional paralegal functions at youth and adult institutions. Monitors the adequacy of the access to the courts provided to inmates by the legal access procedures at each adult and youth institution. Arranges, on behalf of new institutions and satellites, for the purchase of the basic law libraries required by the courts as a means of providing adequate access to the courts. Reviews institutional law libraries periodically, and recommends update and replacement volumes as required by changes in law and legal procedures. Trains inmates in basic legal research and trains selected staff in practical law for correctional personnel. Reviews computer terminal so as to access legal data base in remote mainframe computer as part of computer assisted legal research of current statutes and case law decisions. Researches recent legislation and case law relative to department procedures and regulations and submits reports and recommendations. Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports and summaries containing findings, statistical information, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations. 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.

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 curriculum development, program planning, and skills assessment. Knowledge of law and the legal process. Knowledge of legal documents, their various uses, and methods of processing them in the state and federal court systems. Knowledge of tools, skills, and modern methods of legal research. Knowledge of the resources available in government and private agencies in the form of libraries, data banks, bibliographies, and so forth, as sources of current legal information. Knowledge of law library collections, legal bibliography, annotation, and other techniques for law library use and maintenance. Knowledge of the New Jersey and federal court systems and their processes and procedures. Knowledge of Department functions and programs after a period of training. Ability to present training programs in a clear, concise, and understandable fashion according to the skills and experience of the inmate population. Ability to plan curriculum, to organize paralegal training programs, and to adapt them to the skills and experience of the inmate population. Ability to interview, and recommend for hiring, instructors with the knowledge and teaching skills appropriate to the paralegal program. Ability to assess and evaluate inmate trainees, and to recommend them for selection by the institution as law library clerks or legal assistants. Ability to remain current and knowledgeable about changes related to law and legal procedures and consequent development in legal publications. Ability to maintain current inventories of all institutional law libraries and to provide technical assistance in maintaining current and updated collections. Ability to train inmates in the methods and means for conducting legal research, including facility in the use of court decisions, precedents, opinions, legal citations, and other legal materials. Ability to train selected staff in practical law for correctional personnel including possible liability of staff, rights of prisoners, due process rights of inmates and employees, and the role of the courts in correctional administration. Ability to use the traditional tools of legal research and to use or learn the special skills of computer assisted legal research. Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports and analyses with findings, conclusions, and recommendations appropriate for management review in the decision making process related to department policies and regulations. 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.

Note

Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional experience performing legal research, and preparing briefs and petitions for inmates, one (1) year of which shall have included experience in developing and coordinating inmate training programs. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have included experience in developing and coordinating inmate training programs. OR Possession of a Law degree from an accredited college or university, and one (1) year of experience developing and coordinating inmate training programs. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.