The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking to fill a Staff Counsel II position in the Trial Panel Support Unit (TPSU). The TPSU provides support and oversight to attorneys on the MHLD private panels.
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 AND OFFICE OVERVIEW
The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) provides leadership, training, support, and oversight for four staffed trial offices, trial and support unit, training unit, an appellate unit, and a panel of private trial and appellate attorneys. The Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of persons facing civil commitment to public and private psychiatric facilities, the involuntary administration of extraordinary medical treatment, including anti-psychotic medications, and the appointment of a guardian. We are dedicated to zealous advocacy and a client centered model.
The Trial Panel Oversight and Support Unit assigns counsel to approximately 4400 civil commitment clients per year in defense of commitment Petitions filed in the District and Municipal Courts. The Trial Panel Oversight and Support Unit also provides information to individuals concerning the admission process for both voluntary and involuntary admission to psychiatric facilities. In addition, the Trial Panel Oversight and Support Unit certifies and provides oversight and support to a panel of approximately 300 private panel attorneys who represent clients in Guardianships and other proceedings in the Probate & Family Court.
This position will be seated in one of CPCS’ offices, dependent upon the candidate’s preference and space availability in the office. This is a hybrid position with a requirement to be in the office three days a week.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The TPSU Staff Counsel II provides support and oversight to attorneys on MHLD’s private panels while working to ensure that they are provided the resources and tools they need to represent their clients. As a member of the TPSU, the Staff Counsel II works with other members of the TPSU team on a variety of tasks including research and drafting of trial practice aid documents, overseeing the Mentor Program, working with the Regional Coordinators, investigating complaints against panel attorneys, and answering advice calls from private panel trial attorneys.
Additionally, Staff Counsel II may need to answer and return phone calls on the MHLD intake line if the unit paralegal or administrative assistants are unable to assist the caller.
Staff Counsel II reports directly to the MHLD Trial Panel Director.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary responsibility of Staff Counsel II is to assist in the oversight and support of the Mental Health Litigation trial panel, helping to ensure effective and zealous representation of Mental Health Litigation clients.
The Staff Counsel II will assist the Trial Panel Director in the oversight, support, and administration of the trial panel attorneys by
• Providing support and advice to private panel attorneys in Civil Commitment and Guardianship proceedings;
• Providing support and technical assistance to trial panel attorneys;
• Assisting with the development of practice advisories, pleading templates, and other resource materials;
• Working with the Regional Coordinators to support panel attorneys and to complete performance evaluations;
• Managing the administration of the MHLD Mentor program, including working closely with MHLD Mentors to support our newly admitted trial panel attorneys;
• Evaluating applications from attorneys seeking to join the MHLD trial panel;
• Assisting with Certification Trainings in coordination with the Training Department;
• Assisting the drafting and communication of MHLD trial panel policies and performance standards;
• Investigating complaints against panel attorneys and drafting proposed decisions; and,
• Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
The following attributes are required for the position of Staff Counsel II:
• Applicants must be members in good standing of the Massachusetts bar or be licensed in another jurisdiction and eligible to practice in Massachusetts under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• A minimum of five (5) years of mental health litigation and/or related experience;
• Access to reliable transportation to travel to CPCS offices, courts, mental health facilities, and other locations as required; and,
• Access to a personal computer and home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
• A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in mental health cases;
• Commitment to working with a culturally diverse, low-income population and a substantive understanding of the implicit biases impacting our clients.
• Ability to maintain a professional and supportive relationship with the private bar;
• Possess superior communication skills to write and edit persuasive legal documents, practice advisories, and draft decisions on complaint investigations;
• Significant litigation and trial experience;
• Able to interact professionally and effectively with courts, counsel, clients, witnesses, and other participants in the justice system;
• Ability to effectively support, advise, and provide feedback to MHLD private panel attorneys;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Private panel experience is a plus but not required;
• Experience handling guardianship cases strongly preferred but not required; and,
• Knowledge of and experience working in CPCS practice areas outside of mental health is also preferred but not required.
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 interim Chief Human Resources Officer.
To be considered for this position, please apply at https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/2481/attorney-in-charge---p...