Open to: General Public

Work Week: Up to 35 hours per week (5 days per week)

Hourly Rate: Sliding Scale based on Education Level ($19-$24 Per Hour)

Opening Date: 7/1/2026

Closing Date: 7/22/2026

Existing Vacancies: 2

Internship Length: 9/21/2026- 4/30/2027

Program/Location

Department of Environmental Protection

Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Office of Legal Affairs

401 East State Street

Trenton NJ 08625

Scope of Eligibility

Open to applicants who meet the requirements below.

Program Description

The Office of Legal Affairs facilitates all Departmental rulemaking, prepares agency final decisions, and processes subpoenas and tort claims notices. The office also provides litigation, transactional and regulatory compliance assistance as needed. The office manages the Office of Records Access and incoming OPRA requests. The office also manages the Ethics Office for the department.

Specific to the Position

Position 1

The intern will assist with regulatory matters, hearing requests, legal research and other matters related to administrative procedure considered by the Department. The intern will also assist with ethics projects.

Position 2

Preferred Skillset

Position 1

Legal research/writing, attention to detail, strong communication and organizational skills.

Position 2

Legal research/writing, attention to detail, strong communication and organizational skills.

Preferred Area of Study

Position 1

Seeking individuals enrolled at an accredited university/college studying Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Pre-Law, or Environmental Sciences.

Position 2

Seeking individuals enrolled at an accredited university/college studying Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Pre-Law, or Environmental Sciences.

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 the essential duties of the position.

Employee Benefits

TES / Hourly employee benefits include:

Earned Sick Time*
Enrollment in Defined Contribution Retirement Plan upon meeting minimum earnings threshold

*Earn one hour of earned sick leave for every 30 hours you work

SAME Applicants

If you are applying under the NJ SAME program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter) must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above. For more information on the SAME program, please email SAME@csc.nj.gov, or call CSC at (609) 292-4144 and select Option #3.

Veteran's Preference

To qualify for New Jersey Veteran's Preference/status, you must establish Veteran's Preference through the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs. Please submit proof of your Veteran's Preference along with your resume as indicated. For more information, please visit https://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/services/civil-service-preference/

Residency

All persons newly hired on or after September 1, 2011, have one year from the date of employment to establish, and then maintain principal residence in the State of New Jersey subject to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L.2011, Chapter 70), also known as the “New Jersey First Act”.

Authorization to Work

Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services regulations. NOTE: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The State of New Jersey seeks to increase the richness and diversity of its workforce, and in doing so, become the employer of choice for all people seeking to work in State Government. To evaluate the effectiveness of our efforts to attract and employ a diverse workforce, applicants are asked to voluntarily answer a few brief questions on the NJ Affirmative Action Information Form. All information is considered confidential and will be filed separately with the agency's affirmative action officer. This information will not be part of your application for employment and will not be considered in any hiring decision.

DEP Notices of Vacancy have a 4:00 p.m. deadline on the closing date. When filing for these opportunities, please be sure to have your letter of interest and credentials sent electronically before 4 p.m. on the closing date.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to inclusive hiring and a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Accommodations under ADA will be provided upon request.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Details

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