Associate Attorney Civil Rights Jobs in South Hadley, MA

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is excited to announce the opening of a new Conflict Advocacy Office in Hampden County. We are seeking Trial Attorneys to represent adult clients in the District and Superior Courts throughout Hampden County.

Staff who have worked in other CPCS Hampden County non-conflict offices within the past three years are not eligible to work in the Conflict Advocacy Office.

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 just public policy to protect 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 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 of each member of the CPCS community.

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, family regulation, 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 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 staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

OFFICE OVERVIEW

The newly created Hampden County Conflict Advocacy Office ("CAO") will be located at 1441 Main Street in Springfield. The CAO will represent clients throughout Hampden County in the District and Superior Courts and act as the Conflicts Office for the Public Defender Division when a conflict of interest prevents a PDD staff attorney from representing a client.

The CAO will be considered  a separate law firm from all other CPCS offices for conflict of interest purposes. To this end, the CAO will have a separate managerial system, separate physical offices and computer/technology systems, and other mechanisms in place to ensure its separation for conflicts purposes from other CPCS offices.  

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. Public Defenders begin their work by representing clients who are charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, including misdemeanors and felonies, see G.L. c.218, 26, and some serious sexual offenses, and occasionally handle initial commitment proceedings under G.L. c.123, 12(e), 35. After gaining experience on cases within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, it is expected that Public Defenders will represent clients in the Superior Courts 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, as they gain experience, will act as informal mentors and advisors to other staff attorneys in the office.

New Trial Attorneys in the Public Defender Division begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities.  Continuing legal education programs for new and experienced Trial Attorneys are held periodically to guarantee our Trial Attorneys are up to date on the law and have the skills necessary to provide zealous representation to their clients.

MINIMUM 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, as a law school graduate under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, or as an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction who is covered by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04. A recent law school graduate who is ineligible to practice under SJC Rule 3:03 will be hired as a paralegal with the understanding that they will be promoted to trial attorney once admitted to practice in Massachusetts;
• 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 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;
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; and,
• Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interviewing clients;
• 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;
• Representation of clients in interlocutory proceedings;
• Where appropriate, working collaboratively with private attorneys on cases assigned through the Private Counsel Division of CPCS; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

To apply, please submit a resume and writing sample and answer the questions in the on-line job application.   

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 Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net