The Lowell Trial Office of the Youth Advocacy Division is seeking applicants for a Trial Attorney to provide zealous legal representation on delinquency and youthful offender cases using the Positive Youth Development Approach, as well as using all the same criminal defense skills needed to practice in district and superior courts.
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.
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, 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.
LOWELL/LAWRENCE OFFICE OVERVIEW
The Youth Advocacy Division Office in Lowell is a group of four attorneys, one social services advocate and administrative assistant. We serve young people in the Lawrence and Lowell Juvenile Courts. YAD Lowell/Lawrence is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve.
DIVISION OVERVIEW
The Youth Advocacy Division, the juvenile defender department of CPCS, is committed to ensuring that every indigent child in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation in delinquency and youthful offender cases from a diverse and ever improving community of juvenile defenders consisting of both private appointed counsel and staff public defenders. YAD provides leadership, training, support, and oversight to the indigent juvenile defense bar in Massachusetts. Each trial office integrates the work of attorneys, a social service advocate, and an administrative assistant to fully address the legal and developmental needs of our clients.
YAD is looking for a Trial Attorney to join its Lowell Trial Office.
This posting will remain active until the position is filled, applicants who apply prior to February 12, 2021 will be given priority
RESPONSIBILITIES
Trial Attorneys provide zealous legal representation on delinquency and youthful offender cases using the Positive Youth Development Approach, as well as using all the same criminal defense skills needed to practice in district and superior courts. As appropriate, they provide post dispositional advocacy and support to DYS committed youth, as well as school based advocacy. Trial Attorneys also work on projects related to improving legal representation and outcomes for court involved children. In addition, Trial Attorneys play a leadership role in working towards reducing the racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system
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 in good standing, as a law school graduate under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, 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
Applications will be strengthened by the following:
Experience with criminal, especially juvenile defense;
Experience with a community oriented defender practice;
Ability to provide trauma informed and culturally competent representation;
Knowledge of adolescent development;
A demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and experience working with individuals of diverse backgrounds;
Knowledge of positive youth development;
Knowledge of state and local resources of use to juvenile defendants;
Understanding of juvenile justice practice and policy issues;
Experience with educational system advocacy;
Experience with the child welfare system;
Experience working with children and youth;
Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred; and,
Lawyers with four or more years of experience are encouraged to apply.
Competitive candidates will have an interest in direct advocacy, community education and engagement, system reform, and be multilingual. Lawyers with four of more years of experience are encouraged to apply.
Please submit a resume, statement of interest, and writing sample.
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].
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