Human Rights Internship Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

The Immigration Impact Unit (IIU) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking applicants for Fall 2026 internship positions.  We are interested in law students both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification.     

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 each member of the CPCS community.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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 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. 

IMMIGRATION IMPACT UNIT OVERVIEW

The Immigration Impact Unit (IIU) is available to assist all Massachusetts court-appointed attorneys understand and address the collateral immigration issues a client faces. The IIU serves as an expert resource for attorneys statewide who are appointed to represent indigent clients including in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters.

In criminal matters, the IIU assists appointed counsel to advise noncitizens about the specific immigration consequences of criminal dispositions and to mitigate those consequences where possible. Often, the most serious concern for a noncitizen client is the impact that a criminal disposition will have on his immigration status. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the failure of a criminal defense attorney to advise a client about the impact of a criminal disposition on his immigration status constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010). Since then, the Supreme Judicial Court has decided a number of significant cases clarifying the extent of the duty in Massachusetts. A priority of the IIU is to help defense attorneys fulfill their Sixth Amendment duty as defined by this body of law.

In addition to advice in individual cases, the IIU publishes practice advisories and case notes on significant legal issues. We also provide trainings throughout Massachusetts on a range of immigration-related topics, including the immigration consequences of criminal conduct. 

We engage in systemic litigation where due process and constitutional rights of indigent noncitizen criminal defendants in Massachusetts are affected.  We also provide direct representation to a limited number of noncitizens each year in post-conviction matters.  

APPLICATION INFORMATION

 Interested applicants should submit (1) Resume, (2) Personal Mission Statement (one  page detailing your interest in the internship, your personal qualities and background, and what draws you to this work, and (3) Writing Sample. 

 INTERNSHIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Please note that this is an unpaid internship. CPCS can work with students to support the receipt of externship credit or outside funding.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

This is a strong opportunity for students interested in crimmigration work, post-conviction litigation, or public interest immigration practice. Interested candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Interested candidates must have experience with criminal and immigration law through coursework, prior internships, and/or clinics and be able to decipher a Massachusetts criminal record (CORI).

Hours: Minimum 30 per week; hybrid schedule

This internship will support IIU's post-conviction relief work at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. The candidate will:

• Review criminal conviction records, CORIs, and immigration documents
• Conduct legal research on criminal-immigration issues
• Draft post-conviction motions
• Argue at least one post-conviction motion in court (3:03 certified students only)

Candidates must also have access to:

• Reliable transportation or public transportation to travel to courts, and,
• A personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

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, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net