Legal Policy Counsel

The Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking applications for a Legal Policy Counsel to work with the General Counsel in representing and advocating for the Agency before the Legislature and Executive branches of the government.

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.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal services to indigent persons in criminal and civil matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel for any person who cannot afford to retain counsel. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post-conviction cases related to those matters.

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for providing legal counsel to the Agency, and representing and advocating for the Agency before the Legislature and Executive branches of the government, which includes presenting oral and written testimony to legislative committees. The Office of the General Counsel also drafts, files, analyzes, and tracks legislation that affects the rights of CPCS clients and Agency operations.

Legal Policy Counsel will assist the General Counsel’s team in promoting the best laws and regulations that align with positive life outcomes for CPCS clients. The Legal Policy Counsel will aid in building and maintaining relationships with legal and other associations, research, draft, and track legislation pertinent to our agency and clients, present written and oral testimony to the legislature and other CPCS stakeholders, and generate policy memorandums and periodic reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific duties of the role:

- Build and maintain relationships with legal and other associations to promote the welfare of CPCS clients;
- Research, draft, file, analyze, and track legislation that affects the rights of clients and agency operations and is pertinent
to the provision of legal services, and laws that affect our clients;
- Advocate for the interests of the agency and its clients to the Executive Branch, the Legislature, Judiciary and advocacy
groups, as well as national, state and community groups; and assist the General Counsel in representing and advocating
on behalf of the agency before the legislative and executive branches;
- Generate policy memoranda for distribution to policy makers and the general public;
- Draft, edit, and present written and oral testimony before legislative committees, coalition meetings, and conferences;
- Provide periodic reports to the General Counsel and Chief Counsel to be presented at the CPCS governing board;
- Establish and maintain a resources bank; 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