CPCS is seeking applications for the Training Director of the Children and Family Law (CAFL) Training Unit.  The CAFL Training Unit is part of the Training Department of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, which provides high-quality training to all staff and private assigned counsel. 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.

TRAINING DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The CPCS Training Department develops and delivers comprehensive, practice-driven education for staff and private assigned counsel across all areas of public defense. Through a team of experienced practice area trainers in Criminal Defense, Children and Family Law, Youth Advocacy, and Mental Health Litigation, the Department provides rigorous substantive instruction alongside advanced skills training that reflects the realities of modern indigent defense practice. Our programming is informed by evolving law, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the lived needs of the clients we serve, and is designed to meet the highest standards of excellence in public defense training nationwide.

In addition to core practice-area offerings, the Department leads agency-wide training initiatives in areas such as appellate and post-trial advocacy; emerging adult representation; forensic issues; holistic defense; leadership, management, and professional development; and wellness, These integrated training pathways equip attorneys not only with technical legal proficiency, but with the strategic, collaborative, and management competencies required for effective client-centered advocacy. By investing in continuous professional development, the Training Department strengthens the quality, consistency, and impact of representation provided by CPCS staff and private counsel statewide.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW DIVISION OVERVIEW

CAFL delivers legal services to children, parents and young adults in care and protection/termination of parental rights, child requiring assistance (CRA), and guardianship of minor proceedings in the Juvenile and Probate Courts of Massachusetts. CAFL is dedicated to providing client-centered, holistic, zealous advocacy to the clients it serves. The CAFL Training Unit works closely with CAFL leadership to ensure all staff and private bar attorneys receive the training, resources and support they need to provide high-quality representation to their clients.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The CAFL Training Director works within the Training Department under the supervision of the Training Chief and in consultation with the CAFL Deputy Chief Counsel to develop and deliver training for CPCS staff and privately assigned counsel throughout the state. The Training Director also oversees the development of written resources and provides advice on cases, court practice, and legal strategies. The Training Director collaborates with others within the Training Department to create and offer training on core competencies for the benefit of all CPCS clients. The CAFL Training Director is a member of the CAFL leadership team and provides advice on CAFL performance standards, proposed legislation and other policy issues.

The CAFL 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 7 years of experience as a family regulation/child welfare attorney and two years of experience as a manager, supervisor, or trainer with knowledge of training principles and practices for adult learners, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience;
• Access to an automobile in order 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 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 CAFL bar;
• Skills in supervision and performance coaching;
• Excellent administrative and supervisory skills;
• Skilled 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 in CAFL matters; 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 training programs for CPCS staff attorneys and private panel attorneys;
• Presenting lectures, facilitating large and small group discussions, and providing coaching and feedback at skills exercises and mock hearings;
• Working with CAFL leadership to assess the training needs of CPCS staff and the private bar;
• Supervising members of the CAFL Training Unit, including promoting the professional development of staff and completing annual staff performance evaluations in a timely and comprehensive manner;
• Researching, preparing, and publishing training materials, legal outlines, practice guides, and practice advisories;
• Preparing the CAFL annual training plan;
• Working with Training Department administrative support personnel on oversight of the CAFL training budget and the federal Court Improvement Program grant;
• Identifying, recruiting, and coaching qualified CPCS staff members and the private bar to help plan and teach at CAFL training programs;
• Supporting the CAFL resource attorneys (private contracted attorneys) to provide training to practitioners in their local jurisdictions;
• Overseeing CAFL email listservs, webpages and electronic research sites;
• 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 and private attorneys on individual cases;
• Staying up to date on practice issues and emerging laws that affect clients, attorneys, investigators, and social workers;
• Participating in statewide task forces and working groups related to CAFL practice;
• Working with the Training Leaders Group within the Training Department to develop an overall vision for CPCS training needs and to develop cross practice area trainings and CPCS Core Competency Training; 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