CPCS is seeking an Appeals Attorney to work in the Children and Family Law (CAFL) Division Appellate Unit located in Worcester, MA. CAFL provides legal representation and advocacy to children and parents in the child welfare system.
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 each member of the CPCS community.
THE AGENCY
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.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
The CAFL Appellate Unit provides public defense services in child welfare appeals for parents and children throughout Massachusetts. The office strongly believes in community engagement and partnership to assist clients as they navigate the child welfare legal system.
The office is centrally located in the City of Worcester and is within walking distance of Union Station, which hosts WRTA bus service and MBTA commuter rail service. Worcester is the home of the Worcester Red Sox, nicknamed the WooSox, the Triple-A East Division affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
POSITION OVERVIEW
CAFL Appellate Unit Attorneys represent parents and children in appeals from custody and guardianship orders and decrees terminating parental rights (Please note that all child welfare appeals receive oral argument at the Appeals Court). CAFL Appeals Attorneys also help trial attorneys in CAFL’s trial offices to identify and preserve legal issues, raise constitutional concerns, and address systemic problems that impact vulnerable children and families throughout the Commonwealth. Each Appeals Attorney will advise, assist, and train trial attorneys and social workers in the CAFL trial offices. This requires travelling to each assigned trial office (no more than three) at least once per month. The Appeals Attorneys also may participate in other projects related to CAFL appellate and trial practice, such as drafting and review of legislation and regulations, oversight of law students and research projects, and other matters.
RESPONSIBILITIES
-Representing clients in child welfare appeals;
-Meeting with, and interviewing, adult and child clients;
-Ensuring that case files are up-to-date, complete, and closed promptly;
-Conducting legal research and writing;
-Advising CAFL trial attorneys on appellate matters;
-Meeting regularly with each of the assigned staff trial offices;
-Assisting trial attorneys with issue identification, motion practice, and providing support and assistance with interlocutory appeals;
-Developing and participating in trainings for each of the assigned trial offices; and,
Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
-An Appeals 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 or as an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction who is covered by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
-Candidates must have at least two years as an attorney in a related field;
-The Appeals Attorney position requires travel. Access to reliable transportation throughout the state is necessary; 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 Appeals Attorney:
-At least three years of recent experience as a trial attorney in child welfare cases in Massachusetts;
-A demonstrated proficiency in legal research and writing;
-At least one of the following:
(a) current certification for the CAFL appellate panel and authorship of at least one appellate brief in a CAFL case;
(b) primary authorship of two appellate briefs, preferably in child welfare or a related field;
(c) a recent appellate clerkship, substantial editing experience for a law journal, or publication of a law journal article; or
(d) primary authorship of a petition for interlocutory relief or two substantial memoranda of law.
-A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in child welfare cases;
-A demonstrated commitment to our organizational values;
-Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
-Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively; and,
-Foreign language skills to support interaction with predominant limited English proficient groups in the region are desirable.
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and two legal writing samples. The letter of interest should include a description of the candidate’s trial, appellate, and writing experience.
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 Director of Human Resources Management, Mark Conlon, at [email protected]
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