The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking applications for the new position of Appellate Training Director. The Appellate Training Director will prioritize and create training for all CPCS appellate and post-trial staff attorneys and privately assigned counsel across the state.

Training Department staff are in CPCS offices across the state. The office location for this position is negotiable and may be sited in any available CPCS office, depending on the needs of the candidate, Training Department, and available space. 

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.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Training Department provides high-quality training to all staff and private assigned counsel. The Training Department, led by the Training Chief, includes four practice area Training Units - Criminal Defense, Children and Family Law, Youth Advocacy, and Mental Health Litigation.  It also includes two agency-wide supports; the Forensic Services Unit and the Appellate Training Director. In addition to providing substantive and skill-based training to attorneys, the Training Department ensures all other professional CPCS staff members are provided with appropriate training in their areas of expertise. The Training Department also plays a significant role in the provision of leadership, management, supervision, and other relevant training to staff and private assigned counsel.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Appellate Training Director is responsible for working within the Training Department under the supervision of the Training Chief in consultation with all CPCS appellate and post-trial leadership to prioritize and train CPCS staff attorneys and private assigned counsel across the state. The Appellate Training Director also provides support through producing publications, offering listserv postings, and providing advice on cases, court practice, legal writing, and legal strategy. The Appellate Training Director will lead the Appellate Skills Cross Practice Area Working Group and also collaborate within the Training Department to create and offer training on core competencies of public defense.

The Appellate Training Director reports to the Training Chief.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be eligible to practice law in this jurisdiction as a member of the Massachusetts Bar in good standing, or as an attorney in another jurisdiction who is eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• Minimum of seven years of experience as an indigent defense attorney with at least five years of experience as an appellate defender, and two years of experience as a supervisor or trainer, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Access to an automobile to travel to offices, courts, and training locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

 QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Commitment to working with a culturally diverse population and an understanding of the biases affecting our clients;
• Knowledge of appellate practice and procedure in Massachusetts;
• Knowledge of training principles and practices for adult learners;
• Knowledge of training evaluation and needs assessments;
• Ability to develop curriculum and training materials and present information to audiences in a clear and engaging manner;
• Ability to facilitate small group discussion and coach skills exercises to maximize learning for the participants;
• Ability to organize event logistics;
• Ability to work concurrently on multiple short term and long-range projects;
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, orally and in writing;
• Ability to assess the training needs of the appellate bar;
• Excellent administrative, and collaboration skills;
• Skill in the use of technology to support distance learning through knowledge management and learning management systems as well as video-based webinars;
• Excellent organizational, time management, and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous, client-centered advocacy in the representation of indigent persons; and,
• Understanding of, and commitment to, providing reasonable accommodations and accessibility in trainings.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Designing, implementing, and evaluating appellate and post-trial certification and other training programs for CPCS staff attorneys and private panel attorneys;
• Presenting lectures, facilitating large and small group discussions, workshopping legal writing, and providing coaching and feedback during skills exercises, mock hearings, and moot oral arguments;
• Working with CPCS appellate and post-trial leadership to assess the training needs of CPCS staff and private counsel;
• Researching, preparing, and publishing training materials, legal outlines, practice guides, and practice advisories;
• Preparing the appellate and post-trial practice annual training plan and working with Training Department administrative support personnel on budget oversight;
• Identifying, recruiting, and coaching qualified CPCS staff members and private counsel to assist in planning training programs and serving as faculty at them;
• Overseeing relevant CPCS listservs;
• As a member of the Training Department, collaborating with others to plan and implement cross-divisional and agency-wide training programs;
• Providing advice to staff attorneys, bar advocates, and private counsel panel attorneys on cases, where appropriate;
• Remaining up-to-date on opinions issued by Massachusetts appellate courts, emerging areas of law, practice issues, and new laws and rules that affect CPCS clients, and where needed, developing relevant practice advisories or trainings;
• Working with the CPCS Training Leaders Group within the Training Department to develop an overall vision for CPCS training needs and to develop cross-practice area trainings; 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