Attorney in Charge - PDD Boston Central Office
About The Position
The Public Defender Division (PDD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is establishing a new Boston Central Office and is seeking an experienced attorney to lead it as the first Attorney in Charge. This office will handle case assignments in the Boston Municipal Court, Central Division and Charlestown Division, as well as Suffolk Superior Court cases. The CPCS is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney, covering a wide range of legal matters including criminal, delinquency, family, and mental health cases. The agency emphasizes zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the importance of cultural competence among its staff to serve a diverse client population. The new office will be staffed with Supervising Attorneys, Trial Attorneys, Social Services Advocates, Investigators, a Paralegal, and Administrative Assistants.
Requirements
- Eligible to practice law in Massachusetts as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or as an attorney in another jurisdiction eligible for limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04.
- A minimum of seven years of experience handling criminal cases.
- At least four of those years must have been as assigned counsel for indigent persons in criminal cases.
- Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations not easily accessible by public transportation.
- Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
- Significant Superior Court or equivalent jury trial experience.
- Administrative and managerial skills.
- Supervisory experience.
- Commitment to working with a culturally diverse, low-income population.
- Demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in criminal cases.
- Ability and commitment to complete annual performance evaluations in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
- Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.
Nice To Haves
- Foreign language skills, Spanish in particular, are desirable.
Responsibilities
- Supervise and assist staff Trial Attorneys to ensure zealous advocacy and effective representation of clients.
- Manage Supervising Staff Attorneys and all other defense team personnel, including Social Service Advocates, Investigators, and Administrative Assistants.
- Maintain an active, albeit reduced, caseload, providing the same quality of representation as other Trial Attorneys while balancing managerial duties.
- Supervise and assist trial lawyers in developing trial strategies, motions practice, and other tasks.
- Supervise and develop non-attorney support staff.
- Understand, communicate, and ensure compliance with the agency’s Personnel Policies.
- Be thoroughly familiar with the CPCS case management system, including generating and interpreting case statistics and reports.
- Ensure attorneys' schedules and caseloads are reasonable and conform with CPCS guidelines, performance standards, and practice advisories.
- Ensure case files are properly maintained and scanned at the conclusion of each case.
- Assign all cases promptly.
- Ensure all cases are promptly opened and closed in the agency’s case management system.
- Ensure all cases are promptly checked for conflicts of interest and reassigned immediately when discovered.
- Ensure detailed running sheets for each case are current and electronically maintained.
- Ensure annual performance evaluations are completed for all staff in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Disseminate information about recent developments in the law, CPCS policies and practices, and other relevant matters to staff in a timely manner.
- Provide ongoing in-house training to ensure continued excellence by all staff.
- Foster positive relationships within the community and courthouses.
- Maintain a professional relationship and leadership role with the assigned private bar in the county.
- Provide zealous and effective representation of the Attorney-in-Charge's own clients consistent with PDD guidelines and performance standards.
- Attend regular meetings with other office heads, Managing Directors, and the Deputy Chief Counsel to discuss management and policy issues.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
