OTPLA-2026-7i Legal Intern

NJ Department of Environmental Protection; Trenton (NJ); On-site; USD 35,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Earned Sick Time

Job summary

NJ Department of Environmental Protection seeks a Legal Intern at its Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration in Trenton. The intern will assist with legal research, review and draft legal documents, and support tracking of agreements related to the Department's land transactions.

Legal education background or experience is essential, with preferred study in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Pre-Law, or Environmental Sciences.

Qualifications

• Legal research and drafting experience required or pursued in law studies.
• Experience supporting transactional real estate or government contracts is a plus.
• Ability to develop and update policies, protocols, and documents.

Responsibilities

• Oversee contracts, including memoranda of agreement.
• Administer legal matters for real estate holdings, via Leases, Concessions, Licenses, and Rights of Entry, or Easements and Land Sales/Exchanges.
• Provide transactional support for land acquisitions from contracting through closing.

Skills

Legal research

Legal drafting

Contract administration

Policy development

Education

Law student

Job description

Title

Legal Intern

Posting Number

OTPLA-2026-7i

Closing Date

November 4, 2026

Start Date

February 8, 2027

End Date

April 30, 2027

Existing Vacancies

1

Location

401 East State Street, Trenton NJ 08625

Internship Hours Per Week

Fully in person up to 35 hours a week

Hourly Rate

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

Program

Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration

Program Description

• Oversee contracts, including memoranda of agreement.
• Administer legal matters for the Department's real estate holdings, through either: (1) Term Agreements: Leases, Concessions, Licenses, and Rights of Entry; or (2) Permanent Conveyances: Easements (access, utility, etc.) and Land Sales/Exchanges
• Oversee and provide transactional support for the acquisition of land by the Department, both at the contracting stage and the closing stage of such acquisitions.
• Assist the Commissioner in reviewing requests for the release of conservation restrictions.
• Develop new and updated policies, protocols, and documents to support OTPLA’s mission and functions and the Department's key land management initiatives, goals, and priorities.

Project Description

The intern would assist with performing legal research, the preliminary review and/or preparation of legal agreements and instruments, and the completion of discrete agreement tracking/inventory projects.

Specific to the Position

Legal education background and/or legal experience is essential.

Preferred Area of Study

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

License

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 necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Employee Benefits

• Earned Sick Time*

*Pursuant to the State/Department's policy, procedures, and/or guidelines.

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.

Veteran's Preference

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

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 visit https://nj.gov/csc/same/overview/index.shtml, email [emailprotected], or call CSC at (609) 292- 4144 and select Option #3.

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 Affi. 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.

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.