Senior Trial Counsel - Greater Boston Area

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Job location
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Committee for Public Counsel Services
Street address: 
44 Bromfield Street
City: 
Boston
State: 
Massachusetts
ZIP: 
02108
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking experienced attorneys to serve as Senior Trial Counsel in the Public Defender Division.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation. In fulfilling its mission, CPCS is committed to fostering diversity at all levels of the agency. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to: (1) ensuring that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

THE 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.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Senior Trial Counsels (“STC”) provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged primarily with Superior Court jurisdiction offenses. STCs are expected to take on leadership roles in their regions, including first or second seating Trial Attorneys in serious felony or otherwise complex cases. They will mentor less experienced Trial Attorneys and aid in training Trial Attorneys on how to litigate complex cases. STCs will collaborate with the PDD Management Team, the Director of Strategic Litigation, and others on novel or cutting edge issues. STCs will be expected to represent clients in murder cases.

Public Defender Division Senior Trial Counsel will be assigned to one of the four region(s) of the Commonwealth and report to a Managing Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Trial Counsel are responsible for providing full representation at the trial level for PDD clients facing serious or complex cases, including murder cases.

Responsibilities include:

- First-seating, or second-seating Trial Attorneys, in serious felony or otherwise complex cases, primarily in the Superior
Court, including murder cases. If a STC’s experience includes relevant appellate experience, their focus may be on second-
seating murder and other serious felony or otherwise complex trial matters;
- Working with Managing Director(s) and Attorneys in Charge to involve Trial Attorneys in second-seating capacity in
appropriate cases;
- Training Trial Attorneys on how to prepare and litigate complex cases;
- Mentoring Trial Attorneys as directed, focused on mentee attorneys’ Superior Court caseload;
- Collaborating with the Senior Management Team and others on strategic approaches to novel or cutting edge legal issues;
- Collaborating with STCs and management in MHLD, YAD, and CAFL on serious or complex co-occurring matters; devising
and participating in cross-divisional training and mentorship;
- Taking assignments in multiple counties, as deemed appropriate by Senior Management; and,
- Other duties as assigned.

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 Director of Human Resources Management, Lisa Bacon, at [email protected]

Requirements: 

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

- Be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, 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;
- Have at least seven (7) years’ experience as a criminal defense attorney;
- Be on the CPCS “Murder List” or have a pending application at the time of application to the STC position; and,
- Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily
accessible by public transportation.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

An application will be strengthened by:

- Significant Superior court or equivalent jury trial experience or equivalent appellate experience
- Extensive experience involving expert matters, including mental health, forensic science, and electronic evidence; and,
- Experience mentoring and training attorneys.

To apply: 

To apply, please go to:

https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/1770/senior-trial-counsel--...

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample. The letter of interest should include a description of the candidate’s relevant experience; including a description of the candidate’s work on his or her five (5) most serious or otherwise complex felony trials completed in the past five (5) years. If the candidate has substantial appellate experience, the description should address that work as well or in lieu of trial matters.

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary range: 
$91,450.00 - $116,750.00, commensurate with years of experience
Submission deadline: 
Monday, July 8, 2019