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The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, seeks attorneys to represent children and parents in child welfare cases. CPCS provides legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney. The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in child welfare matters, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, children requiring assistance (CRA) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
CAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights – the “death penalty of family law.” For a teenager who is the subject of a truancy CRA case, CAFL’s advocacy 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, a CAFL attorney will fight to ensure that they are provided a permanent home – one that allows them to stay together.
New Trial Attorneys in the CAFL Offices begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities. Continuing legal education programs for new and experienced Trial Attorneys are held periodically to ensure that our Trial Attorneys are up to date on the law and have the skills necessary to provide zealous representation to their clients.
The Children and Family Law Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking Trial Attorneys to provide child welfare representation. Attorneys interested in applying for these positions are invited to submit an application, as further described below.
We will be prioritizing recruiting and hiring in our Springfield, Northampton/Amherst, and Pittsfield Offices.
Positions will be filled as our budget allows. This posting does not guarantee that we will be filling Trial Attorney positions.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter.
These positions have an expected start date in late August/early September 2020.
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The Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking applicants for a Senior Web Application Developer for our IT Department. The Senior Web Application Developer will be principally responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and developing web-based applications for Agency informational and transactional systems.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal services to indigent persons in criminal and civil matters in which the state or federal Constitutions, state statute, or case law require the appointment of counsel for any person who cannot afford to retain counsel. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post-conviction cases related to those matters. CPCS seeks applications for the position of Senior Web Application Developer.
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The Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking Trial Attorneys to provide criminal defense representation in various offices throughout the Commonwealth. The Public Defender Division offices provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. Public Defenders begin their work by representing clients who are charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, including misdemeanors and felonies, see G.L. c.218, § 26, and some serious sexual offenses, and occasionally handle initial commitment proceedings under G.L. c.123, §§ 12(e), 35.
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’ public defender agency providing legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney. The Public Defender Division’s mission is to ensure that criminal defendants are given the fundamental protection of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Constitution. We believe that every defendant should not only receive zealous advocacy but respect and dignity as they deal with the potential loss of their liberty.
New Trial Attorneys in the Public Defender Division Offices begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities. Continuing legal education programs for new and experienced Trial Attorneys are held periodically to guarantee our Trial Attorneys are up to date on the law and have the skills necessary to provide zealous representation to their clients.
The Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking Trial Attorneys to provide criminal defense representation in various offices throughout the Commonwealth. The Public Defender Division offices provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. Public Defenders begin their work by representing clients who are charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, including misdemeanors and felonies, see G.L. c.218, § 26, and some serious sexual offenses, and occasionally handle initial commitment proceedings under G.L. c.123, §§ 12(e), 35. After gaining experience on cases within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, it is expected that Public Defenders will represent clients in the Superior Courts consistent with our unification guidelines and occasionally represent clients on interlocutory appeals, civil commitments, and certain collateral matters as permitted by a supervisor. It is also expected that Public Defenders, as they gain experience, will act as informal mentors and advisors to other staff attorneys in the office.
Positions will be filled as our FY20 & FY21 budgets allow. This posting does not guarantee that we will be filling Trial Attorney positions.
The expected staffing needs for Public Defender Division offices are greatest in central, western, and southeastern Massachusetts and we will be concentrating our recruitment and hiring for those regions.
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The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking a Supervising Staff Attorney to supervise Trial Attorneys and to provide child welfare representation for its Worcester Office.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking a Supervising Staff Attorney, with a minimum of five years of experience providing child welfare representation for its Worcester office. Under the direction of the office’s Attorney in Charge, the Supervising Staff Attorney will assist in the supervision of staff Trial Attorneys. The Supervising Staff Attorney will also have his or her own reduced caseload. Clients are children and indigent parents who are parties to care and protection, child requiring assistance, termination of parental rights cases, and children and custodians in guardianship-of-a-minor cases in the Juvenile and Probate Courts of the Commonwealth. Attorneys interested in applying for this position are invited to submit an application, as described below.
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CPCS is seeking an experienced Human Resources professional to be the Assistant Director of Human Resources/Senior Business Partner. This position works as an integral HR Team member to develop and implement solutions designed to improve HR effectiveness and to address the needs of legal and operational units and the agency as a whole.
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 Assistant Director of Human Resources/Senior Business Partner contributes to CPCS’s mission by providing tactical and strategic consulting on HR strategies and practices that support the zealous representation of indigent clients across the Agency. This position serves as a coach to assigned managers on a broad variety of HR issues and assists them in understanding HR policies, systems, and management best practices. In addition, the Assistant Director of Human Resources/Senior Business Partner works as an integral HR Team member to develop and implement solutions designed to improve HR effectiveness and to address the needs of legal and operational units and the agency as a whole. In consultation with the Director of Human Resources Management, the Assistant Director also partners with Senior Management Team (SMT) members to align CPCS’s HR strategy with its mission, organizational goals, and strategic plans. The successful candidate will demonstrate a capacity to act as a successful and positive champion and agent for organizational change and transformation within HR and CPCS. This position reports directly to the Director of Human Resources Management and works in partnership with another Assistant Director of Human Resources/Senior Business Partner.
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The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a child welfare attorney with management experience to serve as one of two Managing Directors in its Children and Family Law Division (CAFL). The Managing Director will support and oversee four to six county-based trial offices. The Managing Director may also be responsible for supporting and overseeing CAFL’s appellate office. In addition, the Managing Director will be part of CAFL’s leadership team.
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, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.
THE CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW DIVISION
The Children and Family Law Division of CPCS represents parents, children and custodians in state intervention cases in which the Department of Children and Families is seeking custody of a child(ren). Lawyers appointed to these cases represent clients in Care and Protection Petitions (C & P), Termination of Parental Rights cases (TPR), Guardianship Petitions, and Child Requiring Assistance cases (CRA). The majority of these cases are heard in the Juvenile Court.
CAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights – the “death penalty of family law.” For a teenager who is the subject of a truancy case, CAFL’s advocacy 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, CAFL will fight to ensure that they are provided a permanent home – one that allows them to stay together.
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 OVERVIEW
The Managing Director’s primary responsibility is ensuring that CAFL staff provides high-quality, client-centered, culturally humble representation to parent and child clients in child welfare matters. The Managing Director achieves this by overseeing CAFL staff offices and providing supervision and support to the Attorneys in Charge (AIC’s) for each of those offices. In addition, as a member of the CAFL Leadership Team, the Managing Director also works collaboratively with other CAFL Directors as well as CPCS’s other legal practice divisions and CPCS’s legal support and operational units (Training, Human Resources, IT, Facilities, and General Counsel). The Managing Director reports directly to CAFL’s Deputy Chief Counsel.
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The Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking an experience attorney to be the Director of the Criminal Trial Support Unit in the Private Counsel Division. The Director provides leadership, oversight, and support to the state-wide criminal private counsel trial panel (approximately 1,700 attorneys, taking about 120,000 trial court assignments/year).
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Director of the Criminal Trial Support Unit (Director) provides leadership, oversight, and support to the state-wide criminal private counsel trial panel (approximately 1,700 attorneys, taking about 120,000 trial court assignments/year). The Director ensures panel attorney compliance with the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct and the CPCS Performance Standards of Practice (Performance Guidelines) pursuant to the Assigned Counsel Manual (ACM) policies and procedures. The Director works closely with the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Private Counsel Division (Deputy Chief Counsel) to ensure Division goals are accomplished. The Director also directly supervises a unit of approximately 8 staff members.
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The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking a Supervising Staff Attorney to supervise Trial Attorneys and to provide child welfare representation for its Worcester Office.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking a Supervising Staff Attorney, with a minimum of five years of experience providing child welfare representation for its Worcester office. Under the direction of the office’s Attorney in Charge, the Supervising Staff Attorney will assist in the supervision of staff Trial Attorneys. The Supervising Staff Attorney will also have his or her own reduced caseload. Clients are children and indigent parents who are parties to care and protection, child requiring assistance, termination of parental rights cases, and children and custodians in guardianship-of-a-minor cases in the Juvenile and Probate Courts of the Commonwealth. Attorneys interested in applying for this position are invited to submit an application, as described below.
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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.
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The Malden District Court Office is seeking interns to be an integral part of our office and work closely with our team of dedicated attorneys, social service advocates, and investigators.
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 Malden District Court Office defends people accused of misdemeanors and felonies in three District Courts in Middlesex County: the Cambridge District Court, the Malden District Court, and the Somerville District Court. We defend clients against a broad range of charges, including firearm offenses, drug charges, assault charges, theft offenses, and operating under the influence charges. We also advocate for clients in Mental Health Court, Drug Court, and Homeless Court programs.
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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.
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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.
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The Public Defender Division, Boston Office is seeking interns for the 2020 Spring and Summer semesters. All students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship are eligible to apply. Students who have successfully completed or are enrolled in an evidence or trial practice class, with the written approval by their Dean, may represent clients under the supervision of a staff public defender in court per SJC Rule 3:03. However, students who will not be eligible for 3:03 certification are also encouraged to apply.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the government agency that provides representation to indigent clients in criminal cases, civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. The Appellate Unit of the Children and Family Law Division (CAFL AU) has ongoing openings for student interns.
CAFL AU provides zealous and creative appellate advocacy for children and parents in state intervention child custody proceedings, including termination of parental rights cases. CAFL AU also assists CAFL trial staff in interlocutory appeals and in addressing systemic issues.
CAFL AU is located in Worcester.
Please note that this internship is unpaid. The start date and weekly hour requirements are flexible, but the internship should comprise at least 17.5 hours/week and a minimum commitment of 8 weeks is expected.
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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.
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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.
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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 where the laws of the Commonwealth or the state or federal constitution mandate that counsel be provided. We represent adults accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses. We also represent low income clients who face civil commitment based on mental illness or alcohol or other substance abuse.
We offer law student interns a variety of experiences and assignments, supervised by veteran attorneys, as well as valuable training. Interns with our office have successfully argued in court for the release of our clients at arraignment, as well as motions to dismiss.