Job Description

Overview

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking two attorneys to serve as Trial Attorneys in the Transition Age Youth (TAY) office, an exciting new initiative of the Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division.

The TAY office will be fully remote until office space is procured. The final office location is expected to be in Framingham but may be in another MetroWest or Greater Boston area location. These positions may be sited in FJA Offices in Springfield or Worcester depending on available space and the needs of the office and candidate. These positions are eligible for hybrid work schedules.

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 Transition Age Youth (TAY) office is a new, statewide advocacy unit dedicated to improving the experiences and outcomes for youth and young adults (ages 14-22) navigating the Massachusetts family regulation system. TAY provides specialized training, case consultation, and limited direct client representation. The team will include an Attorney in Charge, four attorneys, a social worker, a peer support advocate, and an administrative assistant.

TAY is part of Family Justice Advocates (FJA), the “CAFL conflicts offices.” FJA has separate physical offices, management, computer systems, and other mechanisms in place to ensure its independence and separation from all other CPCS offices for conflict-of-interest purposes.

The TAY office will be fully remote until office space is procured. The final office location is expected to be in Framingham but may be in another MetroWest or Greater Boston area location.

These positions may be sited in FJA Offices in Springfield or Worcester depending on available space and the needs of the office and candidate. These positions are eligible for hybrid work schedules.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Trial Attorneys will provide direct representation to transition age youth (and their siblings, as appropriate) in all CAFL cases, including Care and Protection (C&P), Child Requiring Assistance (CRA), and Permanency for Young Adult (PYA) cases, specialized legal training, and case consultation to FJA staff and CAFL private panel attorneys. Trial Attorneys will be assigned a catchment area for case-taking and consultation, with consideration given to their location and the needs of the office, and they will have responsibilities across all areas listed above.

Trial Attorneys report to the Attorney in Charge of the Transition Age Youth office.

Attorneys from all counties are encouraged to apply. Attorneys with a minimum of three years of relevant legal experience are preferred.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Attorneys must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, either as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or as the member of the bar of another jurisdiction eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and other locations throughout the state; and,
• Access to home internet sufficient to work remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Three or more years of experience representing parents, youth, or young adults in C&P, CRA, and/or PYA cases is preferred (however, candidates with fewer years of experience who demonstrate strong knowledge, initiative, and the ability to manage an active caseload will be fully considered);
• Experience with the juvenile court system and/or DCF preferred;
• Experience working with young people of diverse backgrounds;
• A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy and to improving the representation of, and outcomes for, transition age youth throughout Massachusetts;
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
• Excellent litigation, writing, and oral presentation skills;
• Foreign language skills are desirable; and
• Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of Trial Attorney include but are not limited to:

• Providing direct representation of transition age youth in all aspects of CAFL cases at the trial level, including representation in C&P, CRA, and PYA cases. Direct representation includes, but is not limited to, visiting and interviewing clients, investigation and discovery, consulting with experts, negotiation, motion practice, biannual foster care reviews, evidentiary hearings, administrative and interlocutory appeals, and post judgment representation;
• Developing and delivering training and resources on the representation of transition age youth;
• Advising and consulting with FJA staff and CAFL private panel attorneys on cases that involve transition age youth;
• Conducting legal research and writing;
• Keeping up to date on practice issues and emerging laws and policies affecting transition age youth;
• Working on projects related to improving legal representation and outcomes for transition age youth;
• Maintaining strong working relationships with CAFL practitioners, assigned Juvenile Courts, and community agencies;
• Working with stakeholders on issues related to the representation of transition age youth;
• Assisting with the development of annual work plans for TAY training programs and projects; and
• Other duties as assigned.

To apply, please submit a statement of interest, resume, and legal writing sample.

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