The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking an experienced trial attorney to serve as a Senior Trial Counsel in the Youth Advocacy Division Boston office.
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.
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.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Trial Counsel (“STC”) will provide legal representation and advocacy to juveniles who are charged primarily with Juvenile and Superior Court jurisdiction offenses. The STC will take on a leadership role in the division, including first or second seating trial attorneys in serious felony or otherwise complex cases. The STC will mentor less experienced trial attorneys and aid in training trial attorneys on how to litigate complex cases. The STC will collaborate with the YAD Management Team, the Director of Strategic Litigation, and others on novel issues. The STC, if qualified, will be expected to represent clients in murder cases. Additionally, the STC will assist lawyers in using the science of adolescent development in the litigation of cases; and help in the development of strategic strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- First-seating, or second-seating, YAD trial attorneys, in serious felony or otherwise complex cases, primarily in the Juvenile
and Superior Court.
- Training trial attorneys on how to prepare and litigate complex cases;
Mentoring trial attorneys as directed, focused on mentee attorneys’ serious felony or otherwise complex caseloads;
- Sharing the application of the science of adolescent development to the representation of adolescents;
- Collaborating with the YAD Administration and Senior Management Team and others on strategic approaches to novel or
cutting edge legal issues;
- Collaborating with other STCs and management in MHLD, PDD, 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 YAD 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]
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 a minimum of seven years’ experience as an attorney, including at least three years’ experience with Juvenile
Delinquency practice;
- Applicants must be on the “murder list,” have a pending application to be on the murder list, or have an application
submitted to the murder list within 24 months after being selected for the role.
- Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by
public transportation.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Applications will be strengthened by:
- A thorough understanding of representing juvenile clients, and, in particular, be knowledgeable and skilled in the area of
adolescent development;
- Significant trial experience with juvenile and youthful offender cases, Superior Court cases, or equivalent jury trial
experience or equivalent appellate experience;
- Extensive experience involving expert matters, including mental health, forensic science, and electronic evidence;
- Experience mentoring and/or training attorneys; and
- Demonstrated ability to work well with others.
To apply, please go to; https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/1808/senior-trial-counsel--...
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume. Candidates must also complete the Senior Trial Counsel application, which may be found here.
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