LAW CLERK

UNCLASSIFIED 11A:3-4

DEFINITION

Under the supervision and general direction of a State Attorney, assists attorneys in performing 
legal research of applicable criminal or civil cases, and pertinent standards of law; reviews legal or 
legislative documents, reports, and other legal memoranda to be presented in a forum or by 
attorneys in courts of law, criminal proceedings, grand juries, and other formal proceedings and 
hearings; does other related work as required.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Performs legal research activities of pending, proposed or existing legislation of a state 
department's or agency's statutes, public laws, and administrative codes interfaced with existing 
policies, programs, objectives, and functional outputs; prepares reports, and drafts official 
memoranda thereof for an attorney.

Reviews drafts of proposed legislative initiatives, and prepares legal opinions of legislation for 
review and action by an attorney.

Researches federal and state court decisions, court oases, and other legal opinions rendered on 
specific cases, trials, or formal proceedings.

Assists an attorney in preparing for a court appearance involving criminal or civil cases, or other 
formal proceedings.

Oversees the security of specific evidentiary papers, documents, or other articles obtained during 
a criminal or civil investigation.

Prepares clear, accurate, and informative reports. 

Maintains essential and confidential records and files.

Assists investigators and attorneys interviewing witnesses to obtain highly confidential, accurate, 
and accountable documentation and testimony involving criminal or civil cases before courts of law 
or other formal proceedings.

Assists attorneys in providing liaison activities with federal, state, and local government agencies.

Prepares legal documents and other legal memoranda.

Advises interested parties of the provisions of the New Jersey Administrative Code, public laws, 
and other pertinent rules and regulations.

Assists investigators in coordinating input; maintains management case file system of criminal and 
civil investigative matters, and queries to identify specific open related cases or closure of prior 
cases.

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.

REQUIREMENTS 

EDUCATION

Graduation from an accredited law school or university with a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree and the 
ability to meet the qualifications for admittance to the New Jersey Law Bar Examination.

LICENSE

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 AND ABILITIES

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.


This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
30464
S
U
NL
20
N/A
P20
-

This job specification is for state government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 6/29/91