Description:
The Division on Civil Rights (DCR) is charged with enforcing the
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, New Jersey Family Leave Act, and
Fair Chance in Housing Act. DCR has a team of neutral investigators and
legal specialists who investigate, process, and issue findings on
complaints of discrimination and bias-based harassment.
Duties: Under
direction of the Chief Legal Specialist, Deputy Chief Legal Specialist,
Director and Deputy Director of DCR, the Hourly Legal Specialist will
work to quickly and efficiently investigate cases under the New Jersey
Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and New Jersey Family Leave Act (FLA).
Will investigate complaints of discrimination and bias-based harassment,
including by reviewing relevant documents, interviewing witnesses, and
gathering evidence to determine whether there is probable cause to
believe that the LAD or FLA has been violated. Duties will also include
drafting an investigation plan that identifies relevant evidence to be
obtained, including witnesses to interview, conducting the relevant
interviews, and summarizing relevant information; gathering and
evaluating documents and other physical evidence from the parties and
summarizing relevant information learned from same; facilitating
settlement discussions when appropriate, and drafting, editing, and
reviewing settlement agreements; drafting administrative decisions
including a summary of the investigation and thorough legal analysis,
including legal research, and ensuring that assigned investigations and
decisions are legally sound and correctly enforce the LAD and FLA. This
position will be required to conduct investigations in a timely fashion
with limited supervision and oversight, use DCR's online case management
system (NJBIAS) to actively manage a caseload and move several
investigations forward at the same time, and tailor all investigations
only to what is relevant to the particular legal claim; performs other
related duties as required.
Requirements:
- Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with Juris Doctor (J.D.) or a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) degree.
- OR -
- Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree.
- Experience: Three (3) years of experience involving legal or legislative research, drafting of rules, regulations, legislation, amendments, and/or the interpretation of statutes.
- Note: Appointees currently matriculating in an accredited law school as an LL.B or J.D. candidate may substitute such enrollment for the three (3) years of required experience on a year-for-year basis.
- Note: The legal specialist may be a full-time law school student working for the State on a limited, part-time basis or during periods when law school is not in session.
- License: Appointees 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 necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
- Preference: Preference will be given to applicants who haven a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) degree from an accredited law school.
- Special Note: Special Services positions are filled on a part-time, temporary basis during normal business hours. Candidates appointed to a Special Services title will be limited to 944 work hours in a fiscal year.
- Same Applicants: If you are applying under the NJ CSC “SAME” program, your Schedule A or B letter must be submitted along with your resume and any other required supporting documents indicated on the announcement by the closing date indicated below. For more information on the SAME Program please email: SAME@csc.nj.gov, or call CSC at (609) 292-4144, option 3.