Attorney 1 - Public Access Unit

About the role

The New Jersey Judiciary Appellate Division Clerk's Office is seeking a highly motivated professional with excellent research, analytical, and communication skills to serve as an attorney to the Public Access Unit under the direction of the Chief Counsel and Deputy Counsel. The selected candidate will review and analyze publicly posted Appellate Division filings and requested records to ensure they do not contain confidential information excluded from public access under Rule 1:38-3 and any other applicable legal authority prior to release. Such analysis will involve application of court rules, statutes, case law, administrative directives, and other relevant legal authority to appeals as well as a strong attention to detail. The selected candidate will provide legal guidance to judges and court staff, training on confidentiality, and will review and analyze court rules and recommend any changes or amendments deemed necessary by the Supreme Court's public access initiative. The selected candidate will also provide procedural guidance to self-represented litigants and attorneys, including litigants seeking emergent relief, and assist on court accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $81,866.60 to $127,586.80 for Schedule A, and $81,866.60 to $121,207.46 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.

Schedule

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. Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.

Responsibilities

• Review Appellate Division filings, from a legal perspective, for confidential information excluded from public access pursuant to court rule, statute, case law, or other applicable legal authority
• Investigate and respond to correspondence and inquiries from judges and staff, attorneys, and self-represented litigants
• Provide training on identification of confidential information and redaction requirements to court staff as well as attorneys and self-represented litigants
• Provide assistance on court accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Provide assistance to emergent clerks, including processing applications and communicating with litigants
• Perform related duties and projects that shall be assigned by the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Chief or Deputy Counsel
• Provide back-up and assistance to other staff attorneys when necessary, including emergent clerks

Qualifications

• Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school
• One year of experience in 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
• Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active

Requirements

• 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
• Background Check: 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