The Role
Legal Intern assisting the Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration with legal research, preliminary review and preparation of legal agreements and instruments, and agreement tracking and inventory projects. The role supports contracts, real estate transactions, land acquisitions, conservation restrictions, and related policies. This is a fully in-person internship of up to 35 hours per week in Trenton, New Jersey.
Summary Generated by Built In
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: The Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration (OTPLA) has responsibilities Department-wide to:
• 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 studying Political 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
TES / Hourly employee benefits include:
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 [email protected], 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 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.
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: The Office of Transactions and Public Land Administration (OTPLA) has responsibilities Department-wide to:
• 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 studying Political 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
TES / Hourly employee benefits include:
- Earned Sick Time*
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 [email protected], 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 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.
Skills Required
- Legal education background and/or legal experience
- Enrollment at an accredited college or university
- Authorization to work in the United States
- New Jersey residency established within one year of employment and maintained thereafter
- Valid New Jersey driver's license if vehicle operation is necessary for essential duties
- Study in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, Pre-Law, or Environmental Sciences
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The Company
What We Do
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is a government agency responsible for managing the state's natural resources, protecting its air, land, and water, and addressing issues related to pollution, thereby making New Jersey a stronger and fairer state.
