• Child Protection. (Many NJ counties) Attorneys will provide representation to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), the agency tasked with protecting children and strengthening families. Among other responsibilities, attorneys will represent DCF when the agency seeks supervision or custody of abused and neglected children or seeks termination of parental rights when necessary. The work is litigation-intensive but also touches on aspects of social work.

• Clean Energy & Public Utilities. (Trenton.) Attorneys will counsel and represent the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on a wide range of energy and telecommunication services issues, including on expanding the use of offshore wind energy and establishing a Zero Emission Credit (ZEC) program. Attorneys will handle complex administrative litigation before the Office of Administrative Law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the U.S. Department of Energy, and will represent BPU in litigation before state and federal courts. Among other responsibilities, attorneys will advise BPU on clean energy initiatives involving a range of renewable sources of energy, including solar and wind.

• Complex Financial Transactions. (Trenton office.) Attorneys will advise the State Treasurer and other State departments and agencies on complex financial transactions, including redevelopment transactions, corporate securities and debt financing transactions, public finance, bank lending transactions, and public-private partnerships. Attorneys will be assigned to the Pensions & Financial Transactions Section.

• Environmental Enforcement & Environmental Justice. (Trenton.) Attorneys will enforce a wide range of federal and state environmental laws, including against major polluters across the state. Attorneys will advise the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on civil investigations and represent DEP in affirmative civil enforcement matters. Among other responsibilities, attorneys will file suits in environmental justice communities across the state; oversee and litigate Natural Resource Damage actions to hold polluters accountable for the toxic damage they have caused; and pursue federal court litigation involving changes to federal environmental regulations.

• Government Contracting & Procurement. (Trenton office.) Attorneys will advise the State Treasurer and other State departments and agencies on government contracting and procurement matters, including by drafting of Requests for Proposals (RFPs), preparing agency decisions, rendering contracting advice, and litigating certain appellate matters. Attorneys will be assigned to the Pensions & Financial Transactions section.

• Pensions & Health Benefits. (Trenton office.) Attorneys will provide legal advice and counseling to the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits, as well as the State’s various pension and health benefit boards and committees. Attorneys assist the Division in interpreting and implementing federal law requirements with respect to pension funds and health benefits. Additionally, attorneys defend the decisions of the various pension and health benefit boards and committees in administrative law trial proceedings and in the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. Attorneys will be assigned to the Pensions & Financial Transactions section.

• Public Education. (Trenton.) Attorneys will provide counsel and representation to the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE). Attorneys will litigate a wide range of matters involving education law, including charter schools, special education, and the constitutionality of the state’s public education funding. Attorneys will also counsel and represent State institutions of higher education, representing them in federal and state trial court litigation, handling labor arbitration, defending tenure decisions and providing advice on a wide variety of academic, health care, educational, and business issues.

• Special Litigation Section. (Trenton.) Attorneys will represent the State of New Jersey in matters where the Federal Government violates or threatens the rights of state residents. The Section pursues a range of legal strategies, including affirmative litigation in federal and state court, as well as regulatory comments and formal letters to the Federal Government. The Section’s attorneys often work in collaboration with other state attorney general’s offices to develop legal strategies and participate in multistate litigation.

As part of the online application, applicants will need to upload the following documents:

• Cover letter. Applicants should upload a cover letter that briefly explains their interest in joining the Division of Law.
• Resume. Applicants should attach a current version of their resume.
• Writing sample. The writing sample should be no more than 5,000 words and should contain your own legal analysis. You may submit any legal document you have drafted, so long as it does not contain material that is privileged or otherwise confidential or contains the necessary redactions.
• Certificate of good standing in New Jersey. A candidate must have a certificate of good standing in the event an offer for the position is made. You may request a certificate of good standing from the New Jersey Courts here.
• Scanned copy of law school transcript. Applicants who are licensed less than 5 years must submit a scanned copy of your official or unofficial law school transcript. If you need to request a copy of your transcript, you may download a sample request form here.

When completing the online application, applicants will also be asked to provide their employment history as well as contact information for three professional references. In addition, applicants should select three sections they wish to be considered for

Please note that, under the New Jersey First Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14-7, successful applicants must reside in New Jersey or be willing to establish residency in New Jersey within one year of beginning state employment. Exemptions to the residency requirement may be granted based on a proven “critical need or hardship.” To learn more about the Act and the exemption process, click here.

After submitting the online application through this website, applicants will be asked to also, complete the State of New Jersey’s Affirmative Action Information Form, which is not part of the employment application and is not considered in any hiring decision.

The Attorney General’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our staff. State law prohibits discrimination in hiring or employment on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, or mental or physical disability. For more information about diversity and inclusion initiatives within the Attorney General’s Office, click here.

We will gladly assist applicants who are unable to complete an application online or who are in need of an accommodation during the application process. If you need assistance, please call (609) 376-3232.

After completing a background check, successful applicants will be hired as Deputy Attorneys General. The starting salary depends on the incoming attorney’s experience level. For non-supervisory attorney positions, the starting salary ranges from $87,578.62 to $158,260.13. The salary range for supervisory positions vary depending on the title.

All Deputy Attorneys General are entitled to employment benefits, including health and dental insurance. For more information on employment benefits, visit www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions.

Please note that certain Deputy Attorneys General in the Division of Law are unionized.