SEAVILLE — The laws of New Jersey are governed by the state’s constitution, which is interpreted by attorneys, legislators, citizens, and many other constituents. Quite often, the New Jersey Supreme Court becomes the arbiter in resolving disputes related to state law.
For J.C. Jones of this community, the opportunity to witness New Jersey law and its justice system in action addressing matters of critical importance is rare for an aspiring lawyer. Starting in September, Jones will have that chance when he launches his legal career as a clerk for New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry T. Albin.
Jones, 25, will receive his Juris Doctor degree from the Rutgers School of Law–Camden during a commencement ceremony in the Susquehanna Bank Center at 1 p.m. Monday May 24.
Judicial clerkships often are coveted by new law school graduates who seek to gain a rich understanding of their new profession in terms of how the legal system functions, legal writing and presentation, professional conduct, and much more.
Jones is no stranger to the demands of a judicial clerkship; during the summer after his first year of law school, he interned in the chambers of U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Rodriguez.
“That experience was invaluable for a lot of reasons,” explains Jones. “Obviously, when you work for a judge or justice, you’re exposed to all areas of the law, so you’re constantly learning new things. Your legal writing really improves a lot as well, since a lot of what you do is research and writing for the judge, who then revises and helps you improve your work product ,” he added.
While at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden, Jones was a Dean’s List student and served as associate managing editor of the Rutgers Law Journal. He also participated in the law school’s intramural softball league. He received bachelor’s degrees in finance and philosophy from the College of William and Mary in 2006.
Jones is the son of Seaville residents Jana and Jim Jones, and is a graduate of Ocean City High School.
