The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services has an opening for a Internship.  The internship will be located in Lawrence, MA.    DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation.  In fulfilling its mission, CPCS is committed to fostering diversity at all levels of the agency.  We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs.  In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to:  (1) ensuring that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.   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, child welfare, 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.   POSITION OVERVIEW   The Mental Health Litigation Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of citizens facing civil commitment to mental hospitals, Guardianships and involuntary treatment including the administration of anti-psychotic medications. We do this through four staffed offices and a panel of private attorneys. All of our attorneys receive training in issues relating to mental health and the statutory and constitutional rights of our clients. We also provide training to attorneys in other divisions in mental health issues. The Mental Health Litigation Division provides attorneys for civil commitment proceedings in the District Courts and the Boston Municipal Court as well as attorneys in the Probate and Family Courts for guardianships, substituted judgment proceedings, and cases involving the validation of health care proxies. Civil commitments are handled by both panel attorneys and staff attorneys, while all of the cases in Probate Court are handled by private panel attorneys. The Mental Health Litigation Division also houses the Alternative Commitment Unit, charged with defending clients who are subject to Sexually Dangerous Person Petitions.  

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a skilled and experienced child welfare attorney to serve as the Trial Panel Director for its Children and Family Law Division (CAFL). The Trial Panel Director will manage CAFL’s Trial Panel Support Unit. The unit provides leadership, oversight, and support to the 800-plus private attorneys who represent CPCS clients in state intervention/child welfare cases and other civil matters involving children, young adults, and their families. The Trial Panel Director is also part of CAFL’s leadership team and helps promote the division’s mission and helps identify and promote its goals.   THE AGENCY   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, child welfare, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, including appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings.   THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW DIVISION   CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division provides attorneys to children, young adults, and indigent parents in care and protection (C&P), termination of parental rights (TPR), child requiring assistance (CRA), and guardianship-of-a-minor cases, as well as in other civil matters involving children and young adults in which there is a right to counsel. The vast majority of CAFL clients are represented by trial panel attorneys. Most CAFL cases are heard in the Juvenile Court. CAFL assignments, however, also require a significant amount of out-of-court advocacy, primarily with the Department of Children and Families, but also with schools and with other state and private agencies. There is substantial diversity – racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and otherwise – among CAFL clients. Hence, CAFL attorneys must be attuned to cultural nuance and a range of complex relationships involved in their cases.   The CAFL attorney plays a critical role in cases involving families. When the government removes a child from the custody of a parent in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL attorney can mean the difference between the family’s prompt reunification, on the one hand, and the termination of parental rights and the permanent dissolution of the family, on the other. For a teenager who is the subject of a CRA case, the attorney may secure the special education services that enable the client to succeed in school and avoid being placed in a foster home. For siblings looking for stability after the court has freed them for adoption, the CAFL attorney will fight to ensure that they are provided a permanent home that allows them to stay together. These are just a few examples of the important work that CAFL attorneys do in advancing the objectives and protecting the rights of their parent and child clients.   DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT   CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation. In fulfilling its mission, CPCS is committed to fostering diversity at all levels of the agency. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to: (1) ensuring that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experiences; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS’s leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.                                                                                                                         POSITION DESCRIPTION   The Trial Panel Director position will provide a dynamic leader an opportunity to shape how parents and children are represented in child welfare/state intervention cases in Massachusetts for years to come. Panel attorneys, most of whom are sole practitioners, represent the vast majority of parents and children in these cases. As the head of the Trial Panel Support Unit, the Trial Panel Director will use her/his leadership, management, and legal skills to ensure that panel attorneys provide high-quality, client-centered, and culturally humble representation to parents, young adults, and children in all of their cases. The Trial Panel Director achieves this through the leadership and management of the Trial Panel Support Unit, a team of seven skilled staff members which supports and oversees attorneys on CAFL’s private counsel trial panels.   In addition, as a member of CAFL’s leadership team, the Trial Panel Director works with other CAFL Directors to help promote the division’s mission and develop and promote the division’s goals. These include identifying and addressing court and child welfare agency policies and practices that adversely affect CAFL clients; exploring legislative, regulatory, and practice changes to improve outcomes for CAFL clients; and working to ensure that CAFL attorneys are provided the resources and tools they need in doing battle with the state on behalf of their clients. The Trial Panel Director also works with other CPCS leaders to promote agency-wide goals.   The Trial Panel Director reports directly to CAFL’s Deputy Chief Counsel.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal services to indigent persons in civil and criminal matters where the laws of the Commonwealth or the state or federal constitution mandate that counsel be provided. This includes representation in adult criminal, juvenile delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare/state intervention, mental health, guardianships, civil commitments, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters.   As part of its mission to provide holistic, client-centered representation, CPCS is looking to add to its Social Services Expert list.  In many cases our attorneys hire Social Services Experts to work as part of their client’s legal team.  Social Services Experts can provide essential professional expertise that can improve the client’s chances of successful litigation. The work produced by the Social Services Experts is considered the work product of the attorney and legal team. Please note that CPCS hires staff social workers who are employees of CPCS.  This posting is specifically for private Social Services Experts who wish to be retained as independent contractors.    DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation.  In fulfilling its mission, CPCS is committed to fostering diversity at all levels of the agency.  We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs.  In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to:  (1) ensuring that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

The Public Defender Division Appeals Unit is seeking interns. The Appeals Unit will typically hire one full-time student intern in the summer, and may hire one or more part-time student interns during the school year.  Student interns will assist staff attorneys in researching legal issues and drafting arguments for inclusion in briefs filed in the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.    DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation.  We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs.  In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to:  (1) ensuring that CPCS staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.     Overview of the Internship   The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is Massachusetts’ state-wide public defender organization.  The Committee for Public Counsel Services provides legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney in all matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel. This includes representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters.   The Appeals Unit provides legal representation and appellate advocacy for its indigent clients in the Massachusetts appellate courts and occasionally in federal court.  The cases handled by the Appeals Unit are primarily post-conviction criminal cases, but also include interlocutory appeals (primarily from orders deciding motions to suppress evidence and motions to dismiss criminal charges).  Post-conviction appellate cases usually involve clients convicted of serious felonies and sentenced to substantial periods of incarceration but may also include misdemeanor and other district court convictions. 

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is Massachusetts’ state-wide public defender organization. The Worcester District & Superior Court Office defends people accused of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including attempted murder in all 9 courts in the Worcester County: Clinton, Milford, Uxbridge, East Brookfield, Dudley, Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Westborough and Worcester. We defend clients against a broad range of charges, including firearm offenses, sexual assaults, drug charges, minor and serious assaults, property offenses and theft offenses. We also advocate for clients in drug court.     Interns are an integral part of our office and work closely with our team of dedicated attorneys, social service advocates and investigators. Students qualified to appear in court under SJC Rule 3:03 will represent clients at arraignments, bail appeals, violation of probation hearings, and pretrial motions, all under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Out-of-court work includes legal research and writing, case investigation, client meetings, and assisting attorneys with the preparation of trials. Students are also encouraged to attend court as often as they would like to observe motions and trials. Students will have the opportunity to produce a writing sample while working in our office.  The Worcester Court House contains both District and Superior Courts, which means students are able to observe trials ranging from OUI’s to murder.     Our office is committed to helping to prepare interns to be excellent public defenders. In essence, we treat our interns as new attorneys, and they are provided with their own caseload ranging from 6-12 clients.  They will research and write on potentially serious issues and assist more senior attorneys in preparation for trials, motions to suppress, motions to dismiss and more.    We offer a weekly “case crunch” for office attorneys and interns alike.  This is an opportunity for those with questions about how to tackle a case to present such questions to a group of attorneys within the office. Interns are also welcome to attend all office trainings and brainstorm sessions.  You will not just be a briefcase-carrying, copying intern in the Worcester office!   Our office is easily accessible via public transportation, so students are not required to have access to a car; however, it is recommended to have one to be able to get to the jail and outlying district courts. 

The Boston Office is currently seeking law students for Fall 2020 internship positions.  Interns must be able to commit to at least 21 hours, three full days per week. At this time, we are accepting applications for Fall 2020 only. To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of references no later than July 1, 2020.   DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation.  We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs.  In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to:  (1) ensuring that CPCS staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.     Position Overview:   The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is Massachusetts’ state-wide public defender organization. The Boston Office defends people accused of misdemeanors and felonies in six courts in the Boston area: the South Boston, East Boston, Brighton, Charlestown and Central Divisions of the Boston Municipal Court, as well as the Chelsea District Court. We defend clients against a broad range of charges, including firearm offenses, drug charges, assaults and theft offenses. We also advocate for clients in mental health court, veteran’s court, drug court and homeless court programs.     Students are an integral part of our office and work closely with our team of dedicated attorneys, social service advocates and investigators. Students qualified to appear in court under SJC Rule 3:03 will represent clients at arraignments, bail appeals, and pretrial motions, all under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Out-of-court work includes legal research and writing, case investigation, client meetings, and assisting attorneys with the preparation of trials. Students are also encouraged to attend court as often as they would like to observe motions and trials.   Our office is committed to helping to prepare students to be excellent public defenders. All students begin their internship by participating in an intensive two day training focused on client advocacy skills and Massachusetts criminal practice. During the summer, our office hosts a weekly brown bag lunch series for interns. Interns are also welcome to attend all office trainings and brainstorm sessions.    Our office and all of our courts are easily accessible via public transportation, so students are not required to have access to a car. 

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Cape and Islands Office has on going openings for Spring and Summer term student interns to assist staff attorneys who practice in Barnstable County/Plymouth Town Juvenile and Barnstable Probate Courts. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases, Guardianship and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. Please note that this internship is unpaid.   

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state Public Defender agency in Massachusetts. We at the Norwood Superior Court Trial office represent adults accused of superior-court only felony offenses in superior court and district courts in Norfolk County (Quincy, Brookline, Dedham, Wrentham, Stoughton).   Interns will be supervised by veteran attorneys and will have the opportunity to work on serious felony cases. They may participate in investigations, research complex issues of law, and brainstorm theories of defense. Interns may also have the opportunity to work one-on-one with attorneys, preparing for suppression hearings, and drafting motions to dismiss and other trial motions. Interns may assist attorneys, attend court hearings in Norfolk Superior Court and district courts, and may have the opportunity to visit and interview clients who are imprisoned.   Our office is MBTA-accessible.​  

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the government agency providing representation to low-income clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel.   The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Boston Office seeks 2-3 law student summer interns to assist trial attorneys who practice in Cambridge and Boston, MA. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance (status offense) matters. The Boston CAFL Office is located near downtown Boston.   Please note that this internship is unpaid, but Boston CAFL is able to work with students on receiving externship credits or outside summer funding.    Interested candidates should supply: - Resume - Cover letter demonstrating skills and experiences relevant to our work

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Lowell Office has on going openings for summer term student interns to assist staff attorneys. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. Please note that this internship is unpaid.   

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division has openings for student interns to assist staff attorneys. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. Please note that this internship is unpaid. 

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the government agency providing representation to low-income clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel.   The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Fall River Office seeks 2-3 law student summer interns to assist trial attorneys who practice in Bristol County.  CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance (status offense) matters.   Please note that this internship is unpaid, but Fall River CAFL is able to work with students on receiving externship credits or outside summer funding.    Interested candidates should supply: - Resume - Cover letter demonstrating skills and experiences relevant to our work - Cover letter detailing specific interest in CAFL’s work and how the law student meets the qualifications listed above. - Student should also explain skills and experiences that are relevant to CAFL’s goals and advocacy. - Writing sample (not exceeding 5 pages).

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Salem Office seeks 1 full-time fall intern for Fall 2017 to assist staff attorneys who practice in Essex Juvenile and Probate Courts. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. The Salem CAFL Office is located in downtown Salem. Please note that this internship is unpaid. Though the start date of the internship is somewhat flexible, interns are expected to begin in Fall 2017. A minimum commitment of 10 weeks is expected.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division has openings for student interns to assist staff attorneys. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. Please note that this internship is unpaid.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is a government agency providing representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Brockton Office has on going openings for summer, fall and winter term student interns to assist staff attorneys who practice in Plymouth and Norfolk County Juvenile and Probate Courts. CAFL provides zealous and creative advocacy for children and parents in child welfare proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases and Child Requiring Assistance proceedings.   Interns who are certified student attorneys under S.J.C. Rule 3.03 will have an opportunity to carry a small caseload of Child Requiring Assistance cases under supervision of a staff attorney. Please note that this internship is unpaid. 

CPCS Quincy Office   The CPCS Quincy Office represents clients in misdemeanor and felony criminal matters in four courts in Norfolk County. We defend a broad range of cases, including motor vehicle offenses, drug charges, assaults, theft offenses, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and firearm offenses.  We also advocate for clients in various capacities in mental health court, veteran’s court, and drug court programs. Additionally, we handle some indicted cases in Norfolk Superior Court.   Law students will work closely with our team of dedicated and passionate attorneys, social service advocates, investigators, and administrative assistants. Students qualified to appear in court under SJC Rule 3:03 can represent (with supervision) clients at arraignments, bail appeals, motions to dismiss, motions to suppress, and more.  Occasionally students may have the opportunity to assist on jury trials.  All student work is done under the supervision of an experienced attorney.  Students are also encouraged to attend court as much as they can, given their other assignments, to observe motions and trials. In-office work includes legal research and writing, case investigation, client meetings, and assisting attorneys to prepare for trials.  Interns will leave with multiple projects to utilize as writing samples and with a written review to use for a reference. At the beginning of the internship, there is mandatory attendance at an intensive, multi-day training.   Schedule    Law student summer interns must be able to commit to a full Monday-Friday schedule, and be available from mid-May through mid-August. NOTE that our summer internship slots fill up very quickly, possibly even before January, so apply early. For the other seasons (during the school sessions), we give preference to those who can commit to a full time schedule. However, the fall, winter, and spring students must be able to devote at least two full days per week to the internship.    Unpaid Internships   All internships at CPCS are unpaid.  We strongly encourage students to pursue all funding sources available to students performing internships at public service agencies, including through their school or a federal work-study fellowship.   Transportation   Our office is located in Quincy.  We are currently near the Wollaston T-stop on the Red Line (.6 mile) and have access within less than one block by bus.  NOTE that we will be relocating to Quincy Center sometime in 2020 (accessible by walking from the Quincy Center station). We handle matters in the Quincy, Stoughton, Wrentham, and Dedham District Courts, and some in Norfolk Superior Court. The main jails are in Dedham for males, and in Framingham for females, but we do have clients in various other institutions throughout the Commonwealth.  Although a car is not a requirement for an internship, having your own means of transport will allow you to have a much more valuable and broader range of experience, as you can then participate in/observe in the outlying courts and/or visit clients in jail, with an Attorney.           

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal services to the poor in civil and criminal matters wherethe laws of the Commonwealth or the state or the federal constitution mandate that counsel be provided. The Youth Advocacy Division represents juveniles in delinquency and youthful offender matters.    We offer law student interns a variety of experiences and assignments, supervised by veteran attorneys, as well as valuable training.  Interns who are certified under SJC Rule 3:03 have successfully argued in court for the release of our clients at arraignment, as well as motions to dismiss.  Law students who are not 3:03 certified assist attorneys in case preparation which includes research and writing motions and memoranda of law.   At times we also offer internships to undergraduates to work on special projects.