Assistant Counsel (Attorney 2)

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Central Office, 25 Market Street, Trenton, NJ
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Central Office/Vicinage: Central Office
Division: Supreme Court (Office of Board Counsel)
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 12/4/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Description
If another position becomes available within five months of this recruitment's closing date, the applicant pool from this posting may be used to fill additional vacancies.
SALARY: The salary range for this position is $100,154.67 to $145,874.92 for Schedule A, and $100,154.67 to $138,581.18 for Schedule B. For newly hired individuals, the starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the salary range. For current Judiciary employees, salary upon promotion or advancement will be an increase of 5% of base salary, not to exceed the maximum of the range, or the minimum salary of the band/level, whichever is greater.Judiciary employees hired prior to June 3, 2014, are considered Schedule A. Newly hired individuals, and Judiciary employees hired on or after June 3, 2014, are considered Schedule B.
The Judiciary offers a strong opportunity for growth.
The New Jersey Judiciary is seeking a highly motivated attorney with demonstrated writing skills, extreme attention to detail, and strong time management to serve as an Attorney 2 (Assistant Counsel) for the Office of Board Counsel (the OBC). Under the general direction of First Assistant Counsel for the OBC, Assistant Counsel serves as advisor on complex legal matters for both the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) (attorney discipline and disability matters) and the Attorney Regulatory Board (ARB) (reinstatements from suspension and readmission from disbarment matters), which function as tribunals pursuant to the Court Rules.
Assistant Counsel prepares pre-hearing legal memoranda on matters calendared before the DRB and the ARB, in each case providing the respective Board with a cogent recitation of facts, independent in-depth research, and thorough analysis of all legal issues, including a recommendation as to the appropriate resolution of each matter. Thereafter, as the cases require, Assistant Counsel drafts formal decisions or letter decisions on behalf of the respective Board.
Assistant Counsel must possess strong organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently in an often fast-paced environment.
REMOTE WORK: The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings. To participate in this program, in addition to installing a multifactor authentication app on your phone or tablet, you will be required to have high speed home internet access.
Example of Duties

• Conducts thorough file review for completeness.
• Reads assigned files and prepares timely pre-hearing memoranda for benefit of DRB members, each of which includes a concise recitation of facts, the findings of the District Ethics Committee or Special Ethics Adjudicator, and a recommendation on the appropriate findings and determination by the DRB. Prepares similar pre-hearing memoranda for ARB members, analyzing the parties' submissions with relevant criteria set forth by Court Rule and precedent.
• Navigates complex factual records and legal issues pertaining to attorney discipline and regulation. Analyzes financial records, evidence, and testimony supporting both the presenter's case and each respondent's case to determine whether the submitted proofs support each charged violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or, in ARB matters, support reinstatement or readmission;
• Recognizes and summarizes factual and legal issues which should be addressed by the respective Boards, making recommendations as to each.
• Creates thoughtful analyses which both identify and apply disciplinary precedent to the facts of the case and the recommendation.
• Competently performs ethics legal research. Validates and supplements all case law used to ensure continued accuracy, using the DRB portal, Lexis+, and other available legal resources.
• Prepares for and attends monthly DRB and ARB sessions, bearing responsibility to answer often complex legal and factual questions about assigned cases.
• Prepares drafts of dispositive letters and formal decisions for review by First Assistant Counsel and Chief Counsel, accurately stating parties' positions at oral argument and the Board's rationale. Also responsible for generating draft dissents when so directed by the relevant Board.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often with shifting priorities.
• Assists Chief Counsel and First Assistant Counsel in other duties related to the processing and disposition of all matters before each Board, as well as appeals from district ethics and fee arbitration committee determinations, as may be assigned.

Note: Excellent legal research and legal writing skills are essential. Three writing samples of complex research and writing assignments will be required at the time of the interview.
Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.
Qualifications
Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school and three years of experience as an Attorney-at-Law performing legal research and analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation.

Substitution: One year of experience as a Judicial Law Clerk may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
License: Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active.

Supplemental Information
Driver's License: Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Authorization to Work: US citizenship is not required. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations.

Special Note: Newly hired employees must agree to a thorough background check that will include fingerprinting. All data received will be kept in strict confidence except to inform the individual of the findings and what action will be taken as a result of this information.

Residency Law: In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary within one year must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Any person may request an exemption from that requirement from the Employee Residency Review Committee in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on the basis of either hardship or employer critical need.

HOW TO APPLY:

The NJ Judiciary requires all applicants to complete the application process fully and as instructed. All applicants must complete the work experience and education sections and attach any required documents. Applications must describe all relevant work experience in detail, beginning with your current or most recent job, including military service (indicate rank), internships and job-related volunteer work, if applicable. Use a separate section to describe each position. Applicants who indicate "see resume" or enter their initials to acknowledge that they have skipped the Work History and Education sections will not be considered, unless they do not possess any education history or work experience. Only applicants that follow the application instructions and submit completed applications will be considered.

The New Jersey Judiciary consists of: the Supreme Court, the Superior Court including the Appellate Division and the Trial Court of the 15 vicinages in New Jersey, the Tax Court and the Municipal Court System. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides technical assistance, operational support, training, research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of information systems for the Courts of New Jersey.

NeoGov applicant support at 1-877-204-4442 (toll free call)
Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mountain Time (MT)
New Jersey Courts offers an exciting and rewarding public service career with incredible employee benefits for full-time employees only and their eligible dependents such as:

• State Health Benefits Program including options for medical, dental and prescription coverage
• Public Employee's Retirement System pension program
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness for employees with 10 years or more of service
• Generous leave program which includes vacation, personal and sick leave and 13 annual paid holidays
• Voluntary investment programs separate from and in addition to the pension plan through the Deferred Compensation Plan and the Supplemental Annuity Trust of New Jersey (SACT)
• Comprehensive training offerings including LinkedIn Learning.
• Tax Savings Programs including the Premium Option Plan, Medical Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account and Commuter TaxSave
• NJBest 529 College Savings Plan
• Member Term Life Coverage including basic and optional plans

01

What is your month and year of admission to the New Jersey Bar (and the Bar of any other jurisdiction)?
Required Question