The Children and Family Law Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts state public defender agency, is seeking applications from individuals with lived experience for a Parent Advocate position in our Boston Office. This is a full-time position (35 hours/week) and is benefits eligible.
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.
DIVISION OVERVIEW
The Child and Family Law Division (“CAFL”) provides legal representation to children and indigent parents and guardians in family regulation/child welfare cases. CAFL trial offices are robust defender teams, including attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and administrative support staff. Specifically, they provide legal representation and advocacy throughout Massachusetts to children and indigent parents and guardians in care and protection, child requiring assistance, termination of parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and other types of custody and adoption proceedings. Team members work diligently to help and support CAFL clients to achieve their legal and life goals.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
The Boston Trial Office provides public defense in family regulation matters in Suffolk and Middlesex Counties. The Office has a strong culture of teamwork and strongly believes in community engagement and partnership to assist clients as they navigate the family regulation system.
The Boston Trial Office is conveniently located in the downtown area of Boston. It is accessible by MBTA subway and buses, Amtrak Commuter Rail, and ferry services. The Boston Trial Unit shares space with CPCS Administration, and other divisions and units on two floors of a modernized office building. Other amenities include restaurants, retail businesses, and historic landmarks.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Parent Advocates are parents who have navigated the child welfare system and utilize their lived experience and unique perspective to support parents who have open Care and Protection and Children Requiring Assistance (“CRA”) cases. Parent Advocates work alongside the multidisciplinary representation team, consisting of staff Trial Attorneys and Social Workers, to support parents. Data suggests family reunification occurs sooner for families whose legal teams have both a Social Worker and Parent Advocate. The use of Parent Advocates recognizes, and has the potential to address, the inherent power differential between parents and professionals, including state case workers and members of the legal team.
The Parent Advocate must adhere to the rules of confidentiality under the attorney-client relationship. The Parent Advocate will be supervised jointly by the Attorney in Charge (“AIC”) and the CAFL Director of Social Work (“DSW”) and will be expected to meet regularly with the AIC and DSW as well as with Trial Attorneys and Social Workers on case assignments. Cases will be assigned to the Parent Advocate will be determined after a conversation between the Attorney in Charge or Supervising Attorney and the assigned Social Worker.
The Immigration Impact Unit of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking to fill the position of Staff Counsel I to provide immigration advice, training, and litigation support to court appointed Child and Family Law (CAFL) attorneys throughout Massachusetts. The position allows for a hybrid work schedule.
We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.
Our Values
Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT
CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.
The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
The Immigration Impact Unit (IIU) is physically located in the CPCS Malden Office, where it shares office space with several other CPCS units. Located just outside of Boston, Malden has an estimated population of 66,263 people in 2020. Malden is a diverse community with large Brazilian and Vietnamese populations. Malden has several MBTA bus lines and is served by the Orange Line T.
Although situated in Malden, the IIU serves the entire state of Massachusetts. In 2023, the IIU provided support to more than 1400 immigrants from over 86 countries. We worked with attorneys from every county in Massachusetts and all divisions of CPCS.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The IIU supports CPCS staff attorneys and bar advocates in all divisions of CPCS to provide equitable, client-centered representation to immigrant clients and to provide technical assistance on related immigration issues. This position will specialize in the interplay of immigration and child welfare/family regulation law and focus on issues involving immigrant clients represented by attorneys in the Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division of CPCS. The attorney will work with CAFL training and leadership to identify missing resources and support and work to fill those gaps. The attorney will support individual CAFL attorneys in their direct representation and will also provide support on systemic issues.
The Staff Counsel I position will report to the Director of the Immigration Impact Unit and will work in close collaboration with other staff counsel in the IIU.
The position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a dynamic experienced leader to serve as Deputy Chief Counsel of the Children and Family Law Division.
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.
DIVISION OVERVIEW
The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of CPCS provides children, young adults, and indigent parents zealous legal representation in a range of civil matters involving families. These include child neglect and abuse cases (referred to in Massachusetts as care and protection or C&P cases); termination of parental rights cases; status offense (child requiring assistance) matters, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and proceedings for certain minors to obtain judicial consent for an abortion. We provide this representation through a diverse community of public defenders. Our multidisciplinary legal teams defend families against unwarranted governmental interference and protect the constitutional and statutory rights of children, young adults, and parents. CAFL provides leadership, training, and support to staff members and private attorneys throughout Massachusetts.
CAFL staff represent clients in 13 multidisciplinary litigation offices, two of which are part of the division’s new Family Justice Advocates firm, which handles conflicts matters. The other 11 are part of CPCS’s larger “Public Division” firm (which includes public defenders advocating for clients in other right-to-counsel matters). Most of CAFL’s work is handled by about 900 private attorneys whom CPCS trains and certifies as eligible to accept assignments and who are supported and overseen by our trial and appellate panel support units. Both private attorneys and staff are also supported by the CAFL Training Unit, which is part of CPCS’s Training Department.
CAFL’s client-directed legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases involving families. Whether private or staff, CAFL attorneys protect the rights of parents and children to remain together whenever possible and their right to be reunited quickly when children are removed from their homes. Our legal teams provide clients a voice and work to ensure that the Department of Children and Families and other agencies provide children, young adults, and parents the support and services they need and to which they are entitled under the law. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL attorney may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights. 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 or in congregate care. For siblings who are at risk of being separated, CAFL’s legal team will fight to ensure that they can stay together.
POSITION OVERVIEW
CPCS is seeking a new Deputy Chief Counsel who has the talent, vision, and perseverance to lead a dedicated, experienced, and skilled group of attorneys, social workers, administrative professionals, and peer advocates in providing ever-improving, high-quality advocacy to clients and engaging with client communities. The Deputy Chief Counsel will also lead the development and advancement of the division’s policy priorities to transform the racism-laden family regulation system – one that regularly traumatizes children, families, and whole communities – into a system that provide supports and services to help them thrive.
The Deputy Chief Counsel provides direct supervision to three Managing Directors (overseeing the staff litigation offices), the Directors of CAFL’s trial and appellate panels, the Director of Social Work, the Director of Private Social Work Services, and an Administrative Assistant. The CAFL Training Director, to whom the Deputy Chief Counsel provides significant substantive direction, and CPCS’s Director of Education Advocacy, whom the Deputy Chief Counsel works with to ensure that CAFL clients’ education needs are met, are also part of the CAFL leadership team.
The CAFL Deputy Chief Counsel reports to the Chief Counsel and is a member of the CPCS Senior Management Team, which develops and implements agency fiscal, operational, human resource, IT, and legislative policies.
The Mental Health Litigation Division of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2024 internship positions in our Civil Commitment trial offices located in Brockton, Northampton, Roxbury, and Worcester offices and in our Trial Support and Oversight unit located in Boston. We are interested in law students both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification for opportunities with the Mental Health Litigation Division.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 attorneys 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.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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 Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking applicants for the Summer Racial Justice Internship Program. Interns will be assigned to work with various offices, including the Training Department and the Director of Equity & Inclusion.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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 Private Counsel Division and Strategic Litigation Unit of CPCS are seeking applicants for Summer 2024 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities with these offices.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 attorneys 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.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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.
UNIT OVERVIEWS
Alternative Commitment & Registration Support Unit
The summer internship with ACRSU offers one to two second-year law students the opportunity to fully litigate a client’s case from assignment through to the final administrative hearing before the Sex Offender Registry Board. Interns will also help with legal research, observe Superior Court trials, visit incarcerated clients, review psychological and scientific studies, and assist with other projects. The ACRSU is committed to ensuring that every indigent adult and youth in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation when facing sexually dangerous person civil commitment trials and sex offender registry board classification proceedings. Emerging issues include disparate impact of proceedings on minorities, propriety of proceeding against individuals who are juveniles or were juveniles at the time of past crimes, and enforcement of due process guarantees.
Innocence Program
This unit is devoted to identifying and fighting wrongful convictions in all counties across Massachusetts. Innocence Program staff and private panel attorneys represent indigent defendants who have been convicted and punished for crimes they did not commit. The Innocence Program accepts both DNA and non-DNA based innocence claims, with special attention to cases involving eyewitness identification evidence, police misconduct, flawed or invalidated forensic science testimony, and false confessions. Legal interns will work closely with the program director, staff attorneys, paralegal and administrative assistant to screen cases, provide litigation support, work on related research projects, and assist in drafting trial and appellate court filings for any active litigation. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend court for any hearings or arguments.
Parole Advocacy Unit
The Parole Advocacy Unit advocates for incarcerated people who need assistance with parole or medical parole release. In addition to training, assigning, and supporting private counsel, the unit handles cases and serves as a point of contact for prisoners, their loved ones, and attorneys with questions about parole, medical parole, and incarceration. The Parole Advocacy Unit consists of a Director, a Staff Attorney, and an Administrative Assistant. Interns will help the Unit’s attorneys by screening clients for access to counsel, helping on staff cases at various stages of representation, and conducting needed legal research in this emerging area of law.
Private Counsel Criminal Appeals
The Criminal Appeals Unit assigns attorneys to adult, criminal, post-conviction cases and oversees panel attorneys who litigate these cases. Interns should be law students and will assist lawyers on some developing and pivotal legal issues by drafting responses to inquiries, research, writing, review of documents, and preparing discovery packets.
Special Projects Unit
The Special Projects Unit (SPU) is part of the Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit. This unit assigns cases to criminal post-conviction clients when there have been developments in the law that have a widespread impact on CPCS post-conviction clients and may provide grounds for undoing a conviction, notifies clients and attorneys about these developments and, in some cases, litigates these issues. For more information, please see our webpage at https://www.publiccounsel.net/pc/criminal-post-conviction-and-appeals-unit/ Of special note, Summer Interns will be asked to assist in preparation for direct litigation which will involve seeking and reviewing discovery and related legal research and assisting with preparation for an evidentiary hearing.
Strategic Litigation Unit
Interns will collaborate with experienced lawyers responsible for pursuing litigation to address systemic issues of injustice CPCS clients face daily. This unit also assists attorneys from other CPCS units with cases of strategic importance and therefore involves both criminal and civil litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels. Interns will work with lawyers on various tasks depending on what is happening at the time including, but not limited to, researching and writing advisory memoranda on issues of systemic importance, helping with the research for and editing of briefs, and reviewing cases and other materials for inclusion in a police misconduct database.
The Public Defender Division (PDD) of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2024 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities in the Public Defender Division.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 attorneys 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.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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.
PUBLIC DEFENDER DIVISION OVERVIEW
Public Defender Division (PDD) Trial Offices
Interns will work closely with attorneys, Social Services Advocates, and Investigators by providing legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. Trial offices will provide interns with a wide range of opportunities, including, but not limited to, legal research and writing, arraignment and bail advocacy, second seating trials, pretrial investigations including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses.
Public Defender Division Appeals Unit
The Public Defender Division has a statewide Appeals Unit, based in the Boston office, whose lawyers provide appellate advocacy in cases tried by Public Defender Division attorneys. Interns will assist skilled Appeals Unit attorneys represent clients before the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, and occasionally in Federal Court. Interns will have opportunities to do a great deal of legal research and writing, including drafting legal memos and sections/entire briefs, and will be encouraged to observe oral arguments.
The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2024 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities in the Youth Advocacy Division.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 attorneys 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.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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.
YOUTH ADVOCACY DIVISION OVERVIEW
Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) Trial Offices
Interns will work with lawyers committed to ensuring that every child in Massachusetts had access to zealous legal representation, which incorporates a Positive Youth Development approach, in delinquency and youthful offender cases. Interns will assist lawyers and work closely with social workers to represent juveniles. YAD provides effective representation in court as well as educational advocacy and individualized referrals to community-based resources. This unit will provide interns with a wide range of opportunities, including, but not limited to, legal research and writing, arraignment and bail advocacy, pretrial investigations including visiting crime scenes, and locating and interviewing witnesses.
Juvenile Appeals Unit
Interns will assist Youth Advocacy Division Appellate attorneys who oversee a panel of skilled and zealous private lawyers representing clients in two distinct types of assignments: direct appeals and screenings. These assignments arise from delinquency, youthful offender and juvenile murder cases. We collaborate with the adult Private Counsel Criminal Post Conviction and Appeals Unit on “emerging adult” cases, where individuals were between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time the offense was committed. Interns will have the opportunity to do legal research and writing, policy discussions, and assist in developing and implementing trainings.
The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2024 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities with the Children and Family Law Division.
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
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
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 attorneys 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.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW DIVISION OVERVIEW
Children & Family Law Division
Interns will assist lawyers and work closely with social workers to represent children and parents in cases in which the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removes children from their homes because of claims of neglect or abuse. This unit also provides lawyers to children and parents in child requiring assistance (CRA) cases. Interns will have significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits, assist in case investigations, serviced advocacy on behalf of clients, negotiations with opposing counsel, legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, and termination parental rights trials, review of pre-trial discovery and DCF case files, attendance in education-related matters (suspension and IEP hearings), and appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of CRA clients.
Children & Family Law Division (CAFL) Private Counsel Appellate Panel Unit
Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters. Lawyers in this unit are also available to advise CAFL staff attorneys on appellate issues that arise in trial matters. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues.
Children and Family (CAFL) Appeals Unit
Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters. Lawyers in this unit are also available to advise CAFL staff attorneys on appellate issues that arise in trial matters. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues.
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking attorneys to work in the office of Family Justice Advocates (FJA), CPCS’ Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) “conflicts office” in Worcester; FJA also has an office in Springfield.
FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation cases, including care and protection proceedings, child requiring assistance 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.
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
Family Justice Advocates is CAFL’s Worcester County conflicts trial office, located in Worcester, Massachusetts. FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents and guardians in family regulation/child welfare cases in which (a) a CAFL staff attorney in a non-conflict office has been appointed to another party to the case or (b) a conflict of interest prevents CAFL staff attorneys in non-conflict offices from representing any party in the case. For example, an attorney in FJA may be appointed to represent a parent in the same case in which a staff attorney in CAFL’s existing Worcester trial office represents a child. Alternatively, an attorney in FJA may be appointed to represent a party in a case in which CAFL’s existing Worcester trial office attorneys are unable to represent any party because of conflicts relating to a current or former client of a CPCS staff attorney. FJA is considered a separate law firm from all other CPCS offices for conflict of interest purposes. To this end, it has a separate managerial system, separate physical offices and computer/technology systems, and other mechanisms in place to ensure its separation for conflicts purposes from other CPCS offices.
All CAFL trial offices, including FJA, are robust defender teams, including attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and administrative support staff. They provide legal representation and advocacy throughout Massachusetts to children and indigent parents in care and protection, child requiring assistance, termination of parental rights, and guardianship-of-a-minor cases, as well as other types of custody and adoption proceedings. Team members work diligently to help and support FJA clients to achieve their legal and life goals.
The office is centrally located in the City of Worcester and is within walking distance of Union Station, which hosts WRTA bus service and MBTA commuter rail service. Worcester – New England’s second largest city (with just over 200,000 people) – is the home of the Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox), the Triple-A East Division affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Woo Sox often host Red Sox players on rehab assignments. Worcester is also the home of the Worcester Railers, a minor league hockey team affiliated with the New York Islanders. Worcester also has an exciting restaurant, concert, and event scene, as well as eight colleges and universities. It also has a world-class art museum, many nearby farms and orchards, and affordable rents.
POSITION OVERVIEW
FJA’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a care and protection case, having a skilled FJA 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, FJA’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, an FJA attorney will fight to ensure that they are provided a permanent home – one that allows them to stay together.
New Trial Attorneys in the FJA office and the non-conflict 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 Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking attorneys to represent children and parents in family regulation 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 family regulation 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.
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.
OVERVIEW
CAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a Care & Protection 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 Child Requiring Assistance 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.
Attorneys interested in applying for these positions are invited to submit an application, as further described below.
Positions will be filled as our FY24 & FY25 budgets allow. This posting does not guarantee that we will be filling Trial Attorney positions.
These positions have an expected start date in late August/early September 2024.
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 provides 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.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Public Defender Division provides 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 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.
New Trial Attorneys in the Public Defender Division 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.
Positions will be filled as our FY24 & FY25 budgets allow. This posting does not guarantee that we will be filling Trial Attorney positions.
These positions have an expected start date in late August/early September 2024.
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.
The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) is seeking attorneys to represent children and parents in family regulation cases for immediate openings in its Western Massachusetts offices. CAFL provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation 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.
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 OVERVIEWS
We are seeking attorneys to work in our three Western Massachusetts offices: Springfield, Pittsfield, and Northampton. All of our offices are robust defender teams that include attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and administrative support staff. Team members work diligently to help and support CAFL clients to achieve their legal and life goals. Our offices have a strong culture of teamwork and strongly believe in community engagement and partnership to assist clients as they navigate the family regulation system.
Springfield
The CAFL Springfield Trial Office provides public defense in family regulation matters in Hampden County. Springfield, the third largest city in Massachusetts, is located in Western Massachusetts along the Connecticut River. It is centrally located: Northampton is 25 minutes away, Hartford is 27 minutes away, Worcester is 55 minutes away, Boston is 90 minutes away, and New York City is 2 ½ hours away. Springfield is best known for being the birthplace of basketball and the home of Theodor Geisel, better known as “Dr. Seuss.”
Pittsfield
The CAFL Berkshire Trial Office provides public defense in family regulation matters and is in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Situated within the heart of the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Pittsfield offers a laidback city atmosphere inspired by its local roots. The Berkshires are a special place, filled with artists, artisans, and purveyors who thrive on originality. Deep, historic roots can be traced to this region, and yet it’s laced with a refreshingly modern vibe in its dining, culture, and design. All of this is within the backdrop of the Berkshires, the mountains of western Massachusetts with outdoor activities including hiking, skiing, viewing spectacular Fall foliage, and renowned annual festivals including the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Northampton
The CAFL Northampton Trial Office provides public defense in family regulation matters in Franking and Hampshire Counties. The city of Northampton provides a sophisticated rural lifestyle combined with the cultural, artistic, academic, and culinary amenities of a big city. It offers more restaurants, eclectic shops, galleries, theaters, and performance venues than most urban centers ten times its size. You will also find two rivers, mountain views, landscaped parks, and meadow walks. It provides a unique and charming combination of natural and cultural activities that should not be missed.
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 CAFL offices in Western Massachusetts serve clients in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties with offices in Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield.
JOIN THE FIGHT!
GROW YOUR LEGAL PRACTICE AND HELP CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN NEED! APPLY FOR OUR CAFL TRAINING AND BECOME CERTIFIED TO HELP THESE FAMILIES!
We need zealous, effective attorneys who want to protect the rights of parents and children in state intervention cases and Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases.
ATTORNEYS ACCEPTED INTO THIS TRAINING WILL RECEIVE A “CERTIFICATION PAYMENT” OF $5,032 upon the following: 1) successful completion of the CAFL Trial Panel Certification Training; and 2) within twelve months of completing the training the attorney (a) receives appointments on 12 care and protection cases, and (b) submits 600 hours of billing on care and protection cases.
READ BELOW AND APPLY FOR CAFL TRIAL PANEL TRAINING BY JULY 26!
We are looking to increase the number of attorneys handling state intervention cases (typically referred to as “care and protection” or “termination of parental rights” cases) in the Massachusetts Juvenile Court.
The Private Counsel Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking private attorneys who wish to be self-employed to become contractors with their local Bar Advcoate Programs. This is not a job posting for a position within CPCS.
Overview
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal services to indigent persons in criminal matters where the laws of the Commonwealth or the state or federal constitution mandate that counsel be provided. As part of its mission to provide holistic, client-centered representation, CPCS contracts with local Bar Advocate Programs, located in each county of the Commonwealth, to provide legal services to adult criminal defendants and juvenile offenders. This posting is specifically for private attorneys who wish to be self-employed and not for those attorneys who wish to be employed by the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
Qualifications
- Must be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
How to Apply
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ADVOCATE PROGRAM TO APPLY:
Barnstable County Bar Advocates, Inc.
2 Harold Street
Harwich Port, MA 02646
508-432-8866 (same for fax)
barnstableba@publiccounsel.net
Kim Sarowsky, Administrator
Bristol County Bar Advocates, Inc.
448 County Street, 1st Floor
New Bedford, MA 02740-5012
508-999-1322; 508-999-0477 (FAX)
bristolba@publiccounsel.net
Kelly Walsh Barley, Program Administrator
Franklin County Bar Assoc. Advocates, Inc.
20 Federal Street, Suite 4
Greenfield, MA 01301-3302
413-774-2994 same for FAX
franklinba@publiccounsel.net
Jennifer Lively, Executive Director
Hampshire County Bar Advocates, Inc.
15 Gothic Street, Suite 10
Northampton, MA 01060-3084
413-586-5038; 413-586-7388 (FAX)
hampshireadvocates@gmail.com
Rebecca J. Ryan, Administrator
Middlesex Defense Attorneys, Inc.
200 Trade Center, Room 605
Woburn, MA 01801
781-939-0441; 781-939-0442 (FAX)
jstone@mdalaw.org
Karen Brann, Program Administrator
Berkshire County Bar Advocates, Inc.
85 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201-5313
413-442-7444; 413-442-7791 (FAX)
berkshireba@publiccounsel.net
Brenda K. Fiero, Administrator
Essex County Bar Assoc. Advocates, Inc.
100 Cummings Center, Suite 312 J
Beverly, MA 01915
978-744-7092; 978-741-7415 (FAX)
ecbaa@ecbaa.net
Deborah J. Pollock, Administrator
Hampden County Lawyers for Justice, Inc.
20 Maple Street, 2nd Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-732-7110; 413-732-6545 (FAX)
hampdenba@hclji.org
Sarah Pegus, Administrator
Island Bar Advocates, Inc.
P.O. Box 1270
282 Upper Main Street
Edgartown, MA 02539
508-627-3322; 508-627-7848 (FAX)
rdm@edgartownlaw.com
Norfolk County Bar Advocates, Inc.
1359 Hancock Street, Suite 4
Quincy, MA 02169
617-472-6006; 617-472-6004 (FAX)
norfolkba@publiccounsel.net
Barbara Fonseca, Executive Director
Pilgrim Advocates, Inc.
144 Main Street, 4th Floor
Brockton, MA 02301
508-583-6966; 508-583-6967 (FAX)
pilgrimadv@publiccounsel.net
Jean M. Lee, Executive Director
Bar Advocates of Worcester County, Inc.
370 Main Street, Suite 975
Worcester, MA 01608-2413
508-753-9069; 508-754-6909 (FAX)
worcesterba@publiccounsel.net
Christina Murphy, Administrator
Suffolk Lawyers for Justice, Inc.
529 Main Street, Suite P242
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-348-0088; 857-576-5603 (FAX)
director@sljinc.org or www.sljinc.org
Nicole M. Revesz, Executive Director
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.