The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a full-time Assignment Coordinator to support the work of the Mental Health Litigation Division Administration.  The Assignment Coordinator is a key member of the MHLD Administration and helps ensure that all clients are assigned counsel for matters related to M.G.L. c. 123.

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.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Mental Health Litigation Division (“MHLD”) Administrative Office is seeking candidates for an Assignment Coordinator position. The Assignment Coordinator works in concert with the Trial Panel Director, MHLD Staff counsel, Paralegal and the administrative staff to ensure that all clients are assigned counsel for civil commitment hearings pursuant to M.G.L. c. 123. 

The Assignment Coordinator is one of the “faces” of MHLD as they are one of the first staff to answer calls from courts and clients and ensure that all clients are assigned counsel for civil commitment trials pursuant to M.G.L. c. 123 strict timelines.  The Assignment Coordinator must maintain a professional demeanor while working in a high-paced work environment with strict deadlines. The assignments of counsel to represent MHLD clients in civil commitment cases are time sensitive and must be completed as close to the date of filing of the petition as possible.

The Assignment Coordinator is also responsible for covering two four-hour shifts a week on the MHLD client intake phone line, where they field calls provide callers with basic information concerning the hospital admission process, refer callers with legal questions to either assigned private counsel or CPCS Staff Counsel and track calls in an online call log.

The Assignment Coordinator reports to the Supervising Administrative Assistant.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will be a person who is both highly organized and detail-oriented and enjoys interacting with people in a friendly work environment and will take satisfaction from working in an agency which is committed to protecting the fundamental legal rights of indigent persons.

Candidates must have:

• Two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in administrative work; and,
• Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Substitutions:

• A bachelor’s or higher degree with a major in business administration, business management, or public administration may be substituted for two years of the required experience. Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements completed.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

 Applications will be strengthened by the following:

• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work;
• Excellent written and verbal communication;
• Strong organizational and detail skills;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to exercise considerable judgment and discretion;
• Previous administrative assistant or similar experience and knowledge of general office procedures (e.g., correspondence, scheduling, filing);
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint);
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and to work as part of a team; and,
• Good problem-solving skills

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

•  Monitoring incoming telephone calls, emails, and faxes from courts and hospitals regarding Notices of Hearings relating to clients requiring representation proceedings under Chapter 123;
• Contacting private panel attorneys to determine availability for assignments;
• Emailing copies of the Notice of Assignment of Counsel (NAC) and related paperwork to attorneys who have accepted cases, and to courts, petitioners, opposing counsel, and other parties as required;
• Covering two four-hour shifts a week on the MHLD client intake phone line and tracking calls;
• Responding to inquiries from clients seeking information and referring callers to appropriate CPCS staff and private panel members;
• Responding to inquiries from hospital counsel and court staff on the status of case assignments;
• Maintaining records of assignments and logging case information;
• Maintaining a positive and professional relationship with the courts and counsel to expedite the assignment of counsel; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

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