JUDICIARY OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Legal Band Specification

BAND SUMMARY

Legal staff render legal advice and services within Judiciary Guidelines for matters falling within the purview of the Judicial Branch of the State of New Jersey. Perform legal work in preparing cases for review and/or presenting cases before a court, tribunal or an administrative body or for quasi-judicial review. Staff Judiciary committees as required. 

LEVEL SUMMARY

Level 1 - (Law Clerk): Employees at this level assist Judiciary attorneys and/or judges by researching or preparing legal documents and meeting with litigants. They may also assist attorneys at the direction of the Judge and/or management.

Level 2 - Journey (Attorney 1): Employees at this level conduct legal research, write legal memoranda, review legal documents and/or prepare cases for legal action.

Level 3 - Mastery (Attorney 2): Employees at this level act as subject matter experts and/or the lead attorney in the preparation of cases for legal action. May present legal arguments and/or try cases before courts, tribunals or administrative bodies. 

NOTE: The above summary and following examples of work are for illustrative purposes only. Any one position may not necessarily include all of the tasks listed, nor do the examples cover all of the duties that may be performed. Tasks are cumulative; higher levels include the tasks associated with the lower. 

TASKS

Level 1

Act as liaison with outside counsel

Analyze briefs, records, or other papers filed in pending court matters to determine their merit

Analyze case histories

Analyze cases in accordance with existing laws, regulations or professional practices

Analyze data

Annotate calendars with additional information required by judges

Answer questions posed by judges, the public, litigants, complainants, co-workers, subordinates or supervisors

Assemble case files, documents or exhibits for hearings, trials or board meetings

Conduct legal research to determine the proper application of law to new or unique situations

Coordinate attorneys’ availability or readiness for hearings, trials and other court events

Draft and/or recommend appropriate court orders for submission to the courts pursuant to Judge’s decision and/or court rules

Draft correspondence, reports or proposals

Evaluate factual issues or evidentiary proofs

Examine transcripts, case files, records or other materials to determine issues or sufficiency of evidence for certification

Gather relevant facts pertaining to case

Mediate various legal matters

Obtain affidavits, evidence or other materials for hearings or trials

Prepare report of findings from legal research

Proofread opinions, legal briefs or other written materials

Provide cross-training to co-workers; for example, demonstrate to other staff how you perform your work

Provide information to judges, attorneys, or community organizations

Review court activities for compliance with procedures, laws, court rules, or administrative directives

Review legal decisions to determine their precedential value

Review litigants’ records

Schedule meetings, appointments, interviews and other activities necessary for accomplishing job assignments

Screen pending appeals or motions requiring special treatment or accelerated disposition

Summarize dispositions, briefs, interrogatories or testimony for review by others

Write case notes or draft case related correspondence

Write legal memoranda on matters coming before the court or tribunal for determination

Level 2

Act as staff to committees or conferences

Advise judges, management, or members of a tribunal on legal or case issues

Advise managers on deadlines, rules, regulations, or related information

Analyze case processing and/or bail from intake through disposition

Apply statutes, court rules, case law, policies, or other regulatory standards to cases

Approve continuances or adjournments in adherence to state or local division rules or practices

Check written reports for completeness and accuracy

Consult with judges, attorneys or law clerks for litigants with regard to special problems or pending cases

Explain judiciary policies or procedures

Give advice or assist staff or team members with work in progress

Prepare cases for hearing

Present cases on behalf of management at local hearings such as grievances and/or disciplinary hearings

Recommend appropriate court orders for submission to the courts

Research legal areas of concern for members of the legal staff or various court committees

Respond to attorney, litigant or citizen complaints

Review case status with judges, managers, or supervisors

Review legislation affecting the practice of law or the Judiciary

Level 3

Act as lead worker to team members or other group of non-subordinates in assigned tasks

Advise Justices, judges, management, committees, conferences and/or members of a tribunal on complex legal issues

Present legal arguments and/or try cases before review board, court or other tribunal

Provide higher level technical advice and/or expertise to staff, peers or management

Represent judiciary interests with outside entities

COMPETENCIES

NOTE: The following competencies are cumulative in nature. For example, lower level competencies are prerequisite to higher levels.

Level 1

Conflict Resolution - Demonstrates good listening skills. Promptly and proactively resolves interpersonal conflicts in a decisive manner based on facts and reason. Takes action to avoid conflict.

Creative Thinking - Develops insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to effectuate improvements or to resolve problems. Designs strategies as necessary where established methods and procedures are inapplicable, ineffective, inefficient or unavailable.

External Awareness - Identifies and understands economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.

Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where and how to gather information. Organizes and maintains information or information management systems.

Integrity and Honesty - Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the organization’s standards, including confidentiality in court operations, when appropriate, and the impact of violating these standards on the organization, self, and others. Trustworthy.

Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, respect, collegiality, courtesy, tact, empathy, cooperation, concern, and politeness to others. Develops and maintains effective relationships with others; including effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed. Relates well with people from varied backgrounds and different situations. Sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences. Participates fully in team activities.

Legal, Government and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, government organization and functions, and the democratic political process. This generally includes legal competence in legal research, court rules, practices and procedures and rules of evidence.

Oral Communication - Effectively communicates information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information, for example, technical, sensitive, controversial. Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Organizational Awareness - Knows the organization’s mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operate effectively within them, including the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.

Perceptual Speed – Sees details in words, numbers, pictures and graphs, quickly and accurately.

Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements. Determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them. Coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals. Monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

Reading Comprehension - Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs or tables. Applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.

Reasoning - Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information. Asks pertinent questions to acquire needed information. Analyzes information and makes logical inferences or draws accurate conclusions.

Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals. Displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner. Works with minimal supervision. Motivated to achieve. Demonstrates responsible behavior.

Written Communication - Composes correspondence, reports and other written material that is clear, concise, well organized and understood by recipient. Recognizes and uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Communicates information, for example, facts, ideas, or messages, in a succinct and organized manner. Produces written information which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Level 2

Decision Making - Makes sound, well informed, and objective decisions. Perceives the impact and implications of decisions. Commits to action.

Interpretation and Analysis of Written Materials - Comprehends and evaluates information, balancing the pros and cons to determine a desired outcome. Makes recommendations based upon logic and acquired knowledge.

Legal, Government and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, government organization and functions, and the democratic political process, with professional legal competence in specific practice areas for example: civil law, criminal law, family law, constitutional case law, lawmaking and civics, legal research, court practices and procedures, Rules of Evidence, judiciary and attorney ethics, labor and employment law, probation and parole.

Visualization - Mentally organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects or other information, for example, interprets auditing report from accounting to legal concepts, comprehends various legal processes and structures following review of court rules.

Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity. Fosters commitment and team spirit, works with others to achieve goals.

Level 3

Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed and objective decisions. Perceives the impact and implications of decisions. Commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals. Recommends, devises, and/or implements change. Effectively deals with ambiguity.

Conflict Management - Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative impact.

Counseling – Mentors, guides and coaches staff or team members. Provides feedback targeted at individual development.

Flexibility - Is open to change and new information. Adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.

Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others. Adapts leadership style to a variety of situations. Exhibits high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for the individual by applying these values to daily behaviors

Persuasion - Develops and articulates well thought out arguments to inform and persuade the decision maker where appropriate. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

Levels 1, 2 and 3 

Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school.

Experience

Level 1 

Must not have practiced law. 

Level 2 

One year of experience in legal research and analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation.

Level 3

Three years of experience as an Attorney-at-Law performing legal research and analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation.

Substitution

Levels 2 and 3

One year of experience as a Judicial Law Clerk may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

License

Levels 2 and 3

Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active.

Levels 1, 2 and 3

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.

Effective Date: 01/20/2018