DCR #24-239: Deputy Chief Legal Specialist (Attorney -Trenton) at New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety

The NJ Attorney General’s Office, Division of Division of Civil Rights, is hiring a Deputy Chief Legal Specialist for their Investigations Unit located in Trenton, NJ. The salary range for this position is $99,463.05 to $142,156.08 per year.  Salary offered is non-negotiable and will fall within the range posted.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Attorney General has broad oversight of the state’s legal and law enforcement matters. As the head of the Department of Law & Public Safety, the Attorney General supervises a wide range of Divisions, Offices, and Commissions, consisting of over 2,800 sworn law enforcement officers, 600 attorneys, and thousands of other public servants.

ABOUT THE DIVISION:

The Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is responsible for enforcing the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which makes it illegal to discriminate in employment, contracting, housing, and places of public accommodation. DCR provides training, education, and community outreach to reduce prejudice and bias across New Jersey.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Director, Deputy Director, and Chief Legal Specialist, the Deputy Chief Legal Specialist is responsible for ensuring the timely and efficient resolution of complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation. Responsibilities include:

• Providing guidance and leadership during the investigation, conciliation, and litigation process;
• Overseeing and maximizing the efficiency of the conciliation and litigation process for complaints on which the Division has issued a Finding of Probable Cause, in coordination with the Division of Law;
• Overseeing the production of high-quality agency determinations, orders, and related documents; and monitoring, reviewing, and overseeing the performance of staff, including by establishing performance expectations, conducting performance reviews, and making recommendations on personnel issues.
• Assisting in the management and operation of DCR’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit, including oversight over the terms, execution, and monitoring of Consent Orders and similar settlement agreements;
• Reviewing certain final agency determinations and overseeing the investigation of some claims of systemic discrimination;
• Recommendations on legal matters and litigation strategy to the Director, Deputy Director, and Chief Legal Specialist;
• Will perform other duties as required and as requested.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor.
• Four (4) years of experience in conducting legal research, analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation, or the review and analysis of regulatory matters in a government agency;
• or four (4) years of experience as an attorney, three (3) of which must have been in conducting legal research, analyzing and evaluating legal documents, rules, regulations, and/or legislation, or the review and analysis of regulatory matters in a government agency.       
• Appointee must possess a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any state in the United States. A copy must be submitted with your resume.

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• 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 required to perform the essential duties of the position
• This position may also require non-traditional work hours, on an as needed basis, including evenings and weekends on short deadlines for certain assignments, with or without advance notice.
• All offers of employment are conditional subject to the applicant agreeing to and then passing a background check that may include fingerprinting.

Benefits:

• Paid Leave Time
• Paid State Holidays
• Health, Dental, Vision and Prescription Benefits
• Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans
• Telework may be available

HOW TO APPLY:

If qualified, please submit a cover letter to the Recruitment Coordinator via email at jobs@njoag.gov indicating interest in job vacancy announcement #24-239, a current Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, or other license to practice law issued by any state in the United States, and a copy of your final unofficial transcripts and/or foreign degree evaluation, (for education verification) on or before the closing date of July 6, 2024.

For more information, please visit https://www.njoag.gov/careers/all-job-postings/