The New Jersey state attorney general's office is still finding scores of recruits for its Volunteer Associates in Public Service program, launched in 2009 when the recession in New Jersey's legal profession hit rock bottom.
The program offers training in a spectrum of work in the Division of Law -- touted as New Jersey's largest law firm -- and a chance to move into paying jobs as deputy attorneys general.
Since its inception, VAPS has received about 350 applicants and accepted about 175. Of those, 41 were hired for full-time positions that opened up as a result of attrition.
Division of Law Director Christopher Porrino says the volunteers -- there are 33 this year -- provide a cadre of professionals whose usefulness outweighs the training and supervision they require.
"We haven't had a situation where we've felt overburdened by the numbers," he says. "I suppose there could come a point where the numbers swell to a degree where we'd have to slow down, but we haven't hit that point yet."
The applicants are "generally very impressive," which is "a function of the market that we're in," Porrino says.
The program reviews and selects applicants throughout the year on a rolling basis. Most applicants get a response within 30 days of applying, and many in about two weeks.
Once aboard, VAPS participants receive the same training as regular deputies, including on conflict issues. They've done work in each of the division's roughly 30 sections, and, depending on experience, handle a range of tasks, such as conducting depositions, researching, brief writing and making court appearances.
Regular deputies train them. "As lawyers on the private side will tell you, it often takes young lawyers a few years to become what I'll call productive members of the team," Porrino says. Still, "we expect that they will provide work product that is consistent with the very high standards that we set," he adds.
Volunteers are asked to commit to 20 hours or more per week for at least three months. Most meet that standard, while many stay significantly longer, sometimes a year or more, and some put in full workweeks, Porrino says.
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