Attorney in Charge - PDD Hampden County Conflict Advocacy Office

Committee for Public Counsel Services•Springfield, MA

14d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking an experienced attorney to be the first Attorney in Charge of the new Conflict Advocacy Office in Hampden County. This role involves leading and managing the office, supervising staff attorneys and administrative assistants, and representing individual clients. The office will represent clients in District and Superior Courts throughout Hampden County and act as the Conflicts Office for the Public Defender Division when conflicts arise. The Attorney in Charge is expected to maintain an active, albeit reduced, caseload while balancing managerial duties with providing excellent legal representation. CPCS is committed to equal justice, human dignity, and zealous advocacy for its clients, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.

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 years of experience as assigned counsel for indigent persons in criminal cases.
Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations.
Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
Significant Superior Court or equivalent jury trial experience.
Administrative and managerial skills and 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 in the development of trial strategies, motions practice, and other trial 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 that all cases are promptly opened and closed in the agency’s case management system.
Ensure that all cases are promptly checked for conflicts of interest, and when discovered, reassign those cases immediately.
Ensure that detailed running sheets for each case are current and electronically maintained.
Ensure that 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.
Represent individual clients.
Lead and manage the Conflict Advocacy Office.