The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking applications for an Administrative Assistant in its Alternative Commitment Registration Support Unit (ACRSU) litigation unit located in Malden. The Administrative Assistant will support trial attorneys who represent clients in Sexually Dangerous Persons cases in the Superior Court.

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 Superior Court divisions in Massachusetts.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Administrative Assistant will work with attorneys in the litigation unit who represent clients subject to Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) proceedings pursuant to G.L. c.123A. The Administrative Assistant will help to ensure efficient operations of this busy office. The Administrative Assistant will also be cross-trained and assist with the private panel support work when needed.

The Administrative Assistant report to the Supervising Attorney of the Malden litigation unit of the ACRSU.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will be a person who is highly organized, creative and detail oriented, enjoys interacting with people in a friendly work environment, and will take satisfaction from working in an agency whose commitment is to protect the fundamental legal rights of indigent persons. 

Applicants must have at least (A) one year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience in administrative work or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below:

Substitutions: 

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

Applicants must also have access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

The following skills are preferable in a candidate:

• Strong organizational and writing abilities;
• Ability to work independently;
• Communicating effectively on the telephone and by email with clients, attorneys, court personnel and others;
• Good problem-solving and judgment skills;
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and to work as a team;
• Demonstrated experience with using software such as Word, Excel, Adobe, Windows, Teams, and Video platforms;
• Typing skill of 50 to 60 wpm preferred;
• Legal office experience;
• Ability to maintain strict adherence to confidentiality; and,
• Familiarity with the criminal justice system and/or mental health issues a plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of the Administrative Assistant include, but are not limited to:

• Providing administrative support to the “Sexually Dangerous Person” Trial office attorneys and paralegal, including phone reception, word and data processing, copying, scanning, and redacting legal documents;
• Performing various administrative functions such as preparing case files in electronic and paper format, preparing statistical reports, and use of case management systems;  
• Communicating with internal and external contacts at all levels, including courts for scheduling, the Prison to obtain client records, accepting collect calls from prisoners, and directing calls from expert witnesses and specialists;
• Ensuring that the office systems and agency procedures and practices are administered effectively;
• Assisting with administrative support tasks to ensure efficient operation of the ACRSU office;
• Working collaboratively with other administrative and clerical staff to coordinate services, assisting the tracking of CLEs of private counsel attorneys, and coordinating trainings;
• Providing support to the Director of unit, attorneys and the other administrative assistant; 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’ administrative experience 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.