Job Description

Overview

The Special Projects Unit is currently seeking law students for Spring 2027 internship positions. The internship will run from January 4 to May 7, 2027. Interns must be enrolled in law school. To apply, please submit a resume and complete the required statement of interest no later than November 27, 2026. We are considering applications on a rolling basis, so we strongly encourage applicants to submit their completed applications as soon as practically possible. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tricia Muse at pmuse@publiccounsel.net

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, 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 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 Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is Massachusetts’ state-wide public defender organization. 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 vacating a conviction. The SPU 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/

Interns assist the SPU on post-conviction case investigation by reviewing case files and court dockets. In the Spring, 2026, interns will primarily aid attorneys in preparation for an anticipated evidentiary hearing relating to forensic testing performed at the now shuttered Hinton Drug Lab. In addition, interns will also research state and federal constitutional issues relating to other post-conviction litigation and participate in the preparation of arguments to be presented to the appellate courts. They may also field questions from attorneys and others regarding SPU litigation. Interns are encouraged to attend court to observe motions and arguments in the appellate courts as well as hearings and trials in the trial court.

Our office is committed to preparing students to be excellent public defenders. All interns will participate in trainings focused on the Massachusetts criminal court system and appellate practice.

Our office is easily accessible via public transportation, so students are not required to have a car.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

All eligible applicants must have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship.

Preferred qualifications

• Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy
• Students with experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBT people, and other underrepresented groups
• Students who speak a foreign language

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

Interns work directly with two attorneys, as well as our administrative assistant and paralegal on the following:

• Case investigation and document review online and at the court
• Discovery review using an electronic discovery tool
• Conducting legal research
• Drafting legal memoranda
• Strategizing about legal theories to pursue in current litigation
• Responding to client inquiries

EEO Statement

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net