Legislative Policy Counsel

The Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking applications for a Legislative 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

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.

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.

Legislative 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 Legislative 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:

-Building and maintaining relationships with legal and other associations to promote the welfare of CPCS clients;
-Researching, drafting and tracking legislation pertinent to the provision of legal services and the laws that affect our clients;
-Advocating 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;
-Generating policy memoranda for distribution to policy makers and the general public;
-Assisting the General Counsel in representing and advocating on behalf of the agency before the legislative and executive branches;
-Drafting, filing and analyzing legislation that affects the rights of clients and agency operations;
-Presenting written and oral testimony before legislative committees, coalition meetings and conferences;
-Providing periodic reports to General Counsel and Chief Counsel to be presented at the CPCS governing board;
-Establishing and maintaining a resources bank; and,
-Other duties as assigned.