Attorney in Charge - YAD Quincy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Quincy, MA

About The Position

The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), Massachusetts’s public defender agency, is seeking an experienced juvenile defender to lead its Quincy office. The office includes an Attorney in Charge, four staff attorneys, a Social Service Advocate, and an Administrative Assistant. The Attorney in Charge (AIC) leads a trial office that integrates legal and social-service work to address clients’ legal and developmental needs. The position combines local office management and staff supervision with representation of individual clients, leadership within YAD, and collaboration with private assigned counsel. The AIC provides leadership, support, and oversight to a multidisciplinary, community-oriented public defender office and contributes to statewide efforts supporting indigent representation in delinquency and youthful offender cases. The AIC reports directly to a Managing Director of YAD and participates in regular meetings with other YAD AICs, local Juvenile Supervising Attorneys, and the YAD management team.

Requirements

Be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or be an attorney in another jurisdiction eligible for limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04.
Have at least seven years of experience handling criminal defense cases.
Have access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations not easily reached by public transportation.
Have reliable home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience in juvenile defense, particularly community-oriented defender practice.
Experience supervising, managing, and training attorneys and other staff.
Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of juvenile justice practice and policy.
Demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy for indigent people in criminal cases.
Ability and commitment to complete annual performance evaluations comprehensively and on time.
Demonstrated writing and public-speaking skills.
Strong organizational and administrative ability.
Substantial knowledge of state and local resources useful to juvenile defendants.
Ability to provide in-house training and disseminate information about case law and other relevant legal developments.
Substantial experience using forensic experts.

Responsibilities

Manage and supervise a juvenile public defender office, overseeing representation under YAD’s Positive Youth Development approach to interdisciplinary representation in delinquency, youthful offender, and related proceedings.
Maintain a reduced caseload and lead difficult and potentially precedent-setting cases.
Ensure cases are assigned promptly and opened and closed in a timely manner.
Ensure annual performance evaluations for all staff are completed comprehensively and on time.
Apply the Positive Youth Development approach to zealous advocacy, including education advocacy and the use of staff and private social workers.
Use the CPCS case management system, including generating and interpreting case statistics and reports, to support performance management, program evaluation, and policy advocacy.
Participate in, support, and provide leadership to local juvenile defender communities and stakeholders, and encourage staff engagement in client communities.
Provide ongoing in-house staff training and work with the YAD Training Director to develop and deliver training for private counsel.
Build and maintain working relationships with the local Juvenile Court, Probation, DYS, DCF, community agencies, and other juvenile justice stakeholders; represent YAD in selected circumstances.
Collaborate extensively with private assigned counsel and participate in regular meetings with YAD AICs, local Juvenile Supervising Attorneys, and the YAD management team.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Adhere to CPCS enabling legislation, the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, CPCS performance guidelines, and other agency practice standards.