The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking applications for a Trial Attorney in its Alternative Commitment Registration Support Unit (ACRSU) litigation unit located in Malden. The Trial Attorney will represent clients in Sexually Dangerous Persons cases in the Superior Court. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

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.

OFFICE OVERVIEW

The Alternative Commitment and Registration Support Unit (ACRSU) of CPCS is committed to ensuring that every indigent adult and youth in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation when facing “sexually dangerous person” (SDP) civil commitment and sex offender registry board (SORB) classification proceedings from hearings and trials to appeals at all levels. The ACRSU oversees, supports, and trains private panel attorneys to represent clients in SORB and SDP cases and assigns private counsel to these cases, as needed. The ACRSU also consists of a litigation unit with a group of staff attorneys who represent clients in SDP jury trials in Superior Court. The ACRSU provides leadership in the specialized areas of SORB and SDP litigation defense.

The Malden litigation unit of the ACRSU is comprised of a Supervising Attorney, one Trial Attorney, one rotation Trial Attorney, a Paralegal, and an Administrative Assistant. The litigation unit represents clients subject to Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) proceedings pursuant to G.L. c.123A. These are indigent clients previously convicted of sexual offenses for whom the Commonwealth is seeking initial civil commitment or continued confinement at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater. The attorneys in this unit represent their clients in opposing the commitment petitions and appear primarily in Suffolk Superior Court as well as other Super Court divisions in Massachusetts.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Trial Attorneys in the ACRSU Malden litigation unit represent clients in SDP jury trials in the Superior Court. These are indigent clients previously convicted of sexual offenses for whom the Commonwealth is seeking initial civil commitment or continued confinement at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater. The attorneys in this unit represent their clients in opposing the commitment petitions and appear primarily in Suffolk Superior Court as well as other Super Court divisions in Massachusetts. Most SDP cases result in Superior Court jury trials that involve multiple expert witnesses and can last a week or longer.

The Trial Attorneys report directly to the Supervising Attorney of the Malden litigation unit of the ACRSU.

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;
• Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• A minimum of three years’ experience handling civil or criminal cases is strongly preferred;
• Experience litigating SDP cases is preferred;
• Jury trials and significant motions filed and litigated;
• Significant work with expert witnesses is preferred;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; and,
• Ability to work independently, work collaboratively, and ask questions as needed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trial Attorney will provide zealous representation to clients in SDP trials in the Superior Court.

The duties of the Trial Attorneys include, but are not limited to:

• Full legal representation of clients previously convicted of sexual offenses including counseling and all stages of litigation;
• Visiting and counseling incarcerated clients, primarily at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater;
• Pre-trial investigation including locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses to testify, collecting, reviewing, and controlling often extensive documentary evidence;
• Retaining and working with expert witnesses;
• Mastering and remaining current with the developing body of empirical science relating to sex offender evaluation, treatment, and recidivism;
• Writing and arguing legal motions;
• Becoming familiar with community resources willing to work with convicted sex offenders, and assisting clients to develop community supports in anticipation of potential release;
• Providing training to CPCS Trial Attorneys and private panel attorneys; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Interested candidates should submit a written statement of interest and resume.  The letter of interest should include a description of the candidates’ trial, strategic litigation, SORB, SDP, and any other applicable experience. 

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