Assistant Counsel Jobs in New Jersey
Assistant Counsel jobs in New Jersey are consistently active, with strong demand from corporate legal departments, government agencies, and financial services firms at every level from entry-level associate to senior counsel. The largest concentrations of openings are in Newark, Trenton, and Princeton, where employers such as Johnson and Johnson, Prudential Financial, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General maintain substantial legal teams. The most sought-after specialties in the state include regulatory compliance, government litigation, and corporate transactional work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Assistant Counsel JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 12+ Assistant Counsel jobs
Description
The New Jersey Judiciary is seeking a highly motivated attorney with demonstrated writing skills, extreme attention to detail, and strong time management to serve as an Attorney 2 (Assistant Counsel) for the Office of Board Counsel (the OBC). Under the general direction of First Assistant Counsel for the OBC, Assistant Counsel serves as advisor on complex legal matters for both the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) (attorney discipline and disability matters) and the Attorney Regulatory Board (ARB) (reinstatements from suspension and readmission from disbarment matters), which function as tribunals pursuant to the Court Rules.
Assistant Counsel prepares pre-hearing legal memoranda on matters calendared before the DRB and the ARB, in each case providing the respective Board with a cogent recitation of facts, independent in-depth research, and thorough analysis of all legal issues, including a recommendation as to the appropriate resolution of each matter. Thereafter, as the cases require, Assistant Counsel drafts formal decisions or letter decisions on behalf of the respective Board.
Assistant Counsel must possess strong organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently in an often fast-paced environment.
REMOTE WORK: 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.
Example of Duties
- Conducts thorough file review for completeness.
- Reads assigned files and prepares timely pre-hearing memoranda for benefit of DRB members, each of which includes a concise recitation of facts, the findings of the District Ethics Committee or Special Ethics Adjudicator, and a recommendation on the appropriate findings and determination by the DRB. Prepares similar pre-hearing memoranda for ARB members, analyzing the parties’ submissions with relevant criteria set forth by Court Rule and precedent.
- Navigates complex factual records and legal issues pertaining to attorney discipline and regulation. Analyzes financial records, evidence, and testimony supporting both the presenter’s case and each respondent’s case to determine whether the submitted proofs support each charged violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or, in ARB matters, support reinstatement or readmission;
- Recognizes and summarizes factual and legal issues which should be addressed by the respective Boards, making recommendations as to each.
- Creates thoughtful analyses which both identify and apply disciplinary precedent to the facts of the case and the recommendation.
- Competently performs ethics legal research. Validates and supplements all case law used to ensure continued accuracy, using the DRB portal, Lexis+, and other available legal resources.
- Prepares for and attends monthly DRB and ARB sessions, bearing responsibility to answer often complex legal and factual questions about assigned cases.
- Prepares drafts of dispositive letters and formal decisions for review by First Assistant Counsel and Chief Counsel, accurately stating parties’ positions at oral argument and the Board’s rationale. Also responsible for generating draft dissents when so directed by the relevant Board.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often with shifting priorities.
- Assists Chief Counsel and First Assistant Counsel in other duties related to the processing and disposition of all matters before each Board, as well as appeals from district ethics and fee arbitration committee determinations, as may be assigned.
Note: Excellent legal research and legal writing skills are essential. Three writing samples of complex research and writing assignments will be required at the time of the interview.
Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.Qualifications
Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school and three years of experience as an Attorney-at-Law performing 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.
License: Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active.
Supplemental Information
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.
Special Note: 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.
HOW TO APPLY:
The NJ Judiciary requires all applicants to complete the application process fully and as instructed. All applicants must complete the work experience and education sections and attach any required documents. Applications must describe all relevant work experience in detail, beginning with your current or most recent job, including military service (indicate rank), internships and job-related volunteer work, if applicable. Use a separate section to describe each position. Applicants who indicate "see resume" or enter their initials to acknowledge that they have skipped the Work History and Education sections will not be considered, unless they do not possess any education history or work experience. Only applicants that follow the application instructions and submit completed applications will be considered.
The New Jersey Judiciary consists of: the Supreme Court, the Superior Court including the Appellate Division and the Trial Court of the 15 vicinages in New Jersey, the Tax Court and the Municipal Court System. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides technical assistance, operational support, training, research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of information systems for the Courts of New Jersey.
Employer Committed to Ensuring an Open Door to Justice
NeoGov applicant support at 1-877-204-4442 (toll free call)
Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mountain Time (MT)
Description
The New Jersey Judiciary is seeking a highly motivated attorney with demonstrated writing skills, extreme attention to detail, and strong time management to serve as an Attorney 2 (Assistant Counsel) for the Office of Board Counsel (the OBC). Under the general direction of First Assistant Counsel for the OBC, Assistant Counsel serves as advisor on complex legal matters for both the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) (attorney discipline and disability matters) and the Attorney Regulatory Board (ARB) (reinstatements from suspension and readmission from disbarment matters), which function as tribunals pursuant to the Court Rules.
Assistant Counsel prepares pre-hearing legal memoranda on matters calendared before the DRB and the ARB, in each case providing the respective Board with a cogent recitation of facts, independent in-depth research, and thorough analysis of all legal issues, including a recommendation as to the appropriate resolution of each matter. Thereafter, as the cases require, Assistant Counsel drafts formal decisions or letter decisions on behalf of the respective Board.
Assistant Counsel must possess strong organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently in an often fast-paced environment.
REMOTE WORK: 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.
Example of Duties
- Conducts thorough file review for completeness.
- Reads assigned files and prepares timely pre-hearing memoranda for benefit of DRB members, each of which includes a concise recitation of facts, the findings of the District Ethics Committee or Special Ethics Adjudicator, and a recommendation on the appropriate findings and determination by the DRB. Prepares similar pre-hearing memoranda for ARB members, analyzing the parties’ submissions with relevant criteria set forth by Court Rule and precedent.
- Navigates complex factual records and legal issues pertaining to attorney discipline and regulation. Analyzes financial records, evidence, and testimony supporting both the presenter’s case and each respondent’s case to determine whether the submitted proofs support each charged violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or, in ARB matters, support reinstatement or readmission;
- Recognizes and summarizes factual and legal issues which should be addressed by the respective Boards, making recommendations as to each.
- Creates thoughtful analyses which both identify and apply disciplinary precedent to the facts of the case and the recommendation.
- Competently performs ethics legal research. Validates and supplements all case law used to ensure continued accuracy, using the DRB portal, Lexis+, and other available legal resources.
- Prepares for and attends monthly DRB and ARB sessions, bearing responsibility to answer often complex legal and factual questions about assigned cases.
- Prepares drafts of dispositive letters and formal decisions for review by First Assistant Counsel and Chief Counsel, accurately stating parties’ positions at oral argument and the Board’s rationale. Also responsible for generating draft dissents when so directed by the relevant Board.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often with shifting priorities.
- Assists Chief Counsel and First Assistant Counsel in other duties related to the processing and disposition of all matters before each Board, as well as appeals from district ethics and fee arbitration committee determinations, as may be assigned.
Note: Excellent legal research and legal writing skills are essential. Three writing samples of complex research and writing assignments will be required at the time of the interview.
Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position.Qualifications
Graduation from an American Bar Association-approved law school and three years of experience as an Attorney-at-Law performing 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.
License: Attorney-at-Law with a plenary license in the State of New Jersey and having Supreme Court Good Standing Status of Active.
Supplemental Information
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.
Special Note: 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.
HOW TO APPLY:
The NJ Judiciary requires all applicants to complete the application process fully and as instructed. All applicants must complete the work experience and education sections and attach any required documents. Applications must describe all relevant work experience in detail, beginning with your current or most recent job, including military service (indicate rank), internships and job-related volunteer work, if applicable. Use a separate section to describe each position. Applicants who indicate "see resume" or enter their initials to acknowledge that they have skipped the Work History and Education sections will not be considered, unless they do not possess any education history or work experience. Only applicants that follow the application instructions and submit completed applications will be considered.
The New Jersey Judiciary consists of: the Supreme Court, the Superior Court including the Appellate Division and the Trial Court of the 15 vicinages in New Jersey, the Tax Court and the Municipal Court System. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides technical assistance, operational support, training, research and development, budget and personnel coordination, and development and operation of information systems for the Courts of New Jersey.
Employer Committed to Ensuring an Open Door to Justice
NeoGov applicant support at 1-877-204-4442 (toll free call)
Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mountain Time (MT)
See All 12 Assistant Counsel Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Assistant Counsel JobsAssistant Counsel Jobs by City in New Jersey
Where New Jersey roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Assistant Counsel Job Market in New Jersey
A snapshot from current New Jersey openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What New Jersey Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant counsel jobs across New Jersey.
- Active New Jersey bar admission or license recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court
- Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required for all positions
- Experience in regulatory compliance, litigation, or corporate transactional law preferred
- Strong legal research and writing skills demonstrated through work samples or writing tests
- Ability to manage caseloads independently under supervision of senior counsel
- Familiarity with New Jersey court procedures and state-specific administrative regulations
Assistant Counsel Jobs in New Jersey: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an assistant counsel in New Jersey?
You become an assistant counsel in New Jersey by earning a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, passing the New Jersey Bar Examination, and gaining admission through the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners. After admission, candidates typically apply directly to corporate legal departments or government offices. Many employers also accept attorneys admitted in New York who obtain New Jersey licensure through motion on comity, which is common given the overlap between the two state bars.
How much do assistant counsels make in New Jersey?
Assistant counsels in New Jersey earn a median of about $161,430 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $93,810 for the lowest 10% to over $328,270 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire assistant counsels in New Jersey?
Employers hiring assistant counsels in New Jersey right now include Valley Bank, Holman, and CoreSite, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New Jersey's concentration of pharmaceutical, insurance, and financial services headquarters means many of these openings sit within large in-house legal departments rather than law firms.
Which New Jersey cities have the most assistant counsel jobs?
The cities with the most assistant counsel openings in New Jersey are Morristown, Ewing, and Edison. Newark anchors the market as the state's largest commercial and government hub, while Trenton draws consistent demand from state agency legal offices, and Princeton and the surrounding Route 1 corridor attract in-house counsel roles from the dense cluster of pharmaceutical and financial services firms headquartered there.
Are there remote assistant counsel jobs in New Jersey?
Yes, and more than many legal roles allow. About 100% of assistant counsel openings tied to New Jersey are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on document review, research, and contract drafting. Corporate transactional and compliance roles tend to offer the most flexibility, while government litigation positions almost always require in-person attendance at New Jersey courts and agency offices.
How can I get hired as an assistant counsel in New Jersey with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a judicial clerkship with a New Jersey Superior Court judge, which many in-house and government employers treat as equivalent to practice experience. Large state employers such as the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety run structured entry-level attorney programs for recent admittees. Candidates without experience can also target paralegal or law clerk roles at corporate legal departments in Newark or Parsippany to build New Jersey-specific exposure before transitioning to counsel positions.
Where can I find and apply to assistant counsel jobs in New Jersey?
You can find and apply to assistant counsel jobs in New Jersey on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to New Jersey employers. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to each one. No account creation is required to see the listings.
See All 12 Assistant Counsel Jobs in New Jersey
Find roles in New Jersey that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Assistant Counsel Jobs