The Youth Advocacy Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking to fill a Staff Counsel I position in its EdLaw Project. The EdLaw Project is a dynamic team-oriented group that provides a wide variety of experiences to the attorneys who work here from direct client representation to work on policies that affect the practice of education law across the Commonwealth.
We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just
public policy to protect the rights of all.
Our Values
Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT
CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.
The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.
EDLAW OVERVIEW
The EdLaw Project is a dynamic team-oriented group that provides multi-disciplinary support in education advocacy matters across the state. We offer a wide variety of experiences to the attorneys who work here including direct client representation, mentorship and policy advocacy. We are a supportive and cohesive team that currently includes eight attorneys, two social workers and an administrative assistant. EdLaw provides the opportunity for attorneys to work specifically at the intersection of school and court, an intersection that often leads a student on the path to future involvement in the criminal legal system.
LOCATION
This position may be seated anywhere in the Commonwealth in available CPCS office space.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The EdLaw Project of CPCS is seeking an education attorney to join our team. The EdLaw Project provides direct representation to children and young people involved with the juvenile court, legal training and support to attorneys and social workers, and free advice and consultation to families across the state. The education attorney position will have responsibilities across all areas listed above. Attorneys of all experience levels are encouraged to apply. The attorney will report to the Director of Education Advocacy or to the EdLaw Supervising Staff Attorney depending on level of experience.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties of the Staff Counsel I include, but are not limited to:
EEO Statement
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net
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