LEGAL SPECIALIST
                                                   UNCLASSIFIED
                                                   N.J.S.A.11A:3-4(1)

  

DEFINITION


       Under direction of the Chief Executive Officer or other
  supervisory official in a state department, institution, or autonomous
  agency, 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; prepares reports and
  recommendations on the impact of proposed or existing legislation; does
  related work 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.

       Participates as a legal assistant (non-attorney) in negotiations
  on behalf of the employing entity.

       As a legal assistant (non-attorney) with prior written consent of
  the Attorney General, represents a state entity in a matter before the
  Office of Administrative Law.

       Drafts proposed regulations, legislation, and amendments in
  accordance with the policy objectives of the employing entity, subject
  to restrictions applicable to non-attorneys.  Provides written interim
  and final agency orders, subject to the review of the Attorney General.

       Provides litigation and other support as requested by the Attorney
  General.

       Distributes relevant legal decisions, requests for public records,
  and other legal communications and information.

       Develops legal or policy questions to raise with the Department of
  Law and Public Safety.

       Manages document inspection and administrative hearing requests.
       Prepares officials to give testimony for the department regarding
  regulatory changes or the enactment of new regulatory policies.

       Prepares clear, accurate, and informative reports on department
  legislative and regulatory matters containing findings, conclusions,
  and recommendations.

       As required, analyzes and performs research into state and/or
  federal legislation pertaining to department programs, functions and
  procedures, and prepares reports thereon.

       Does research into court decisions, and court cases which affect
  the work of the department.

       Prepares material for use in hearings, reviews, or other executive
  determinations.

       Reviews department rules, regulations, and procedures for
  correctness and prepares digest thereof.

       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).

       Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.

       Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
  and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the
  agency, office, or related units.

  REQUIREMENTS:

       EDUCATION:

           Graduation from an accredited law school with Juris Doctor
  (J.D.) or a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) degree.

                                   -OR-

       EDUCATION:

           Graduation from an accredited college or university with a
  Bachelor's degree.

       EXPERIENCE:

           Three (3) years of experience involving legal or legislative
  research, drafting of rules, regulations, legislation, amendments,
  and/or the interpretation of statutes.

           NOTE: Appointees currently matriculating in an accredited law
  school as an LL.B or J.D. candidate may substitute such enrollment for
  the three (3) years of required experience on a year-for-year basis.

           NOTE: The legal specialist may be a fulltime law school
  student working for the state on a limited parttime basis or during
  periods when law school is not in session.

       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 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.

           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 in order to clarify points which may be in dispute by
  reference to original source materials.

           Ability to write reports of a high professional order
  containing findings and conclusions.

           Ability to draft technical correspondence.

           Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative
  reports to department matters containing findings, conclusions, and
  recommendations.

           Ability to maintain essential records and files.

           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.

  CODES:  X98-37156                  JMR                3/4/95