Senior Trial Counsel - PDD Western Region - Committee for Public Counsel

Overview

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking experienced attorneys to serve as Senior Trial Counsel in the Public Defender Division, Western Region, covering our Worcester, Holyoke, Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield Offices. 

Senior Trial Counsel provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged primarily with Superior Court jurisdiction offenses.  They are expected to take on leadership roles in their regions, including first or second seating Trial Attorneys in serious felony or otherwise complex cases. 

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.

REGION OVERVIEW

This particular position will be assigned to the Western Region of Massachusetts, encompassing Worcester, Hampden Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties.  Embedded in these counties are the Worcester, Springfield, Northampton, Pittsfield, and Holyoke PDD Trial Offices. 

Western Massachusetts offers the benefits of urban and rural living.  You will find the Dr. Seuss Museum, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Volleyball Hall of Fame, theaters, galleries, eclectic shops, sports venues, and diverse restaurants.  Balanced with that, the region offers a variety of outdoor activities that include hiking, skiing, water sports, spectacular Fall foliage, and renowned annual festivals, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

Senior Trial Counsels (“STC”) provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged primarily with Superior Court jurisdiction offenses.  STCs are expected to take on leadership roles in their regions, including first or second seating Trial Attorneys in serious felony or otherwise complex cases.  They will mentor less experienced Trial Attorneys and aid in training Trial Attorneys on how to litigate complex cases.  STCs will collaborate with the PDD Management Team, the Director of Strategic Litigation, and others on novel or cutting-edge issues.  STCs will be expected to represent clients in murder cases.

The Senior Trial Counsel will report to the Western Region Managing Director.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must:

• Be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, 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; 
• Have at least seven (7) years’ experience as a criminal defense attorney;
• Be on the CPCS “Murder List” or have a pending application at the time of application to the STC position; and,
• Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation.

 QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

An application will be strengthened by:

• Significant Superior court or equivalent jury trial experience or equivalent appellate experience
• Extensive experience involving expert matters, including mental health, forensic science, and electronic evidence; and,
• Experience mentoring and training attorneys.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample.  The letter of interest should include a description of the candidate’s relevant experience; including a description of the candidate’s work on his or her five (5) most serious or otherwise complex felony trials completed in the past five (5) years.  If the candidate has substantial appellate experience, the description should address that work as well or in lieu of trial matters.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Trial Counsel are responsible for providing full representation at the trial level for PDD clients facing serious or complex cases, including murder cases.

Responsibilities include:

• First-seating, or second-seating Trial Attorneys, in serious felony or otherwise complex cases, primarily in the Superior Court, including murder cases.  If a STC’s experience includes relevant appellate experience, their focus may be on second-seating murder and other serious felony or otherwise complex trial matters;
• Working with Managing Director(s) and Attorneys in Charge to involve Trial Attorneys in second-seating capacity in appropriate cases;
• Training Trial Attorneys on how to prepare and litigate complex cases;
• Mentoring Trial Attorneys as directed, focused on mentee attorneys’ Superior Court caseload;
• Collaborating with the Senior Management Team and others on strategic approaches to novel or cutting edge legal issues;
• Collaborating with STCs and management in MHLD, YAD, and CAFL on serious or complex co-occurring matters; devising and participating in cross-divisional training and mentorship;
• Taking assignments in multiple counties, as deemed appropriate by Senior Management; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

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