The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking an experienced superior court practitioner to fill the position of Trial Attorney in our Salem Trial Office in Essex County. The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and zealous advocacy to the indigent community. 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 public policy that in turn safeguards 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 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 Massachusetts’ public defender agency providing legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney. The Public Defender Division’s mission is to ensure that criminal defendants are given the fundamental protection of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Constitution. We believe that every defendant should not only receive zealous advocacy but respect and dignity as they deal with the potential loss of their liberty.
The Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking an experienced superior court practitioner to provide criminal defense representation in Essex County (Salem). The Public Defender Division offices provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. The Trial Attorney will represent clients in the Superior Courts consistent with our unification guidelines and occasionally represent clients on interlocutory appeals, civil commitments, and certain collateral matters as permitted by a supervisor. It is also expected that Public Defenders will act as informal mentors and advisors to other staff attorneys in the office. 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 attorneys to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, religious preference, ethnicities, gender and/or gender identity preferences, abilities and limited and/or nonexistent English language proficiency, among other protected characteristics.
RESPONSIBILITIES
-Client interviews;
-Arraignment and bail advocacy;
-Legal research and writing;
-Pretrial investigation including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence;
-Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits and legal memoranda;
-Dispositional investigations and advocacy;
-Jury and bench trials of criminal cases;
-Litigating cases in the Superior, District and Municipal Courts;
-Representation of clients in interlocutory proceedings; and,
-Where appropriate, work collaboratively with private attorneys on cases assigned through the Private Counsel Division of CPCS.
MIMINUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
-A Trial Attorney must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, either 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;
-Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
-Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Candidates should possess the following attributes for the position of Trial Attorney:
- A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in criminal cases;
-A demonstrated commitment to our organizational values;
Significant superior court experience or equivalent jury trial experience for a minimum of three (3) years is preferred;
-A commitment to continuing legal and organizational training;
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
-Ability to work within a criminal defense oriented community and capacity, both independently and collaboratively; and,
Foreign language skills to support interaction with predominant limited English proficient groups in the region are desirable.
To apply: please supply a resume and a personal mission statement of no more than two pages detailing your interest in the position, your personal qualities, background, and skills, and what you hope to achieve in this work.
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]