Internship - CAFL Lowell - Spring 2027

Committee for Public Counsel • Lowell, MA

2d

About The Position

The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Lowell Office of CPCS is seeking applicants for Spring 2027 internship positions. 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.

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.

Interns will assist lawyers and work closely with social workers to represent children and parents in cases in which the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removes children from their homes because of claims of neglect or abuse. This unit also provides lawyers to children and parents in child requiring assistance (CRA) cases.

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation
• Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely

Responsibilities

• Significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits
• Case investigation to assist with trial preparation
• Service advocacy on behalf of clients
• Negotiation with opposing counsel
• Legal research and writing in preparation for motion argument, custody hearings and termination of parental rights trials, or on novel legal issues before the Court
• Reviewing pre-trial discovery and Department of Children and Families (DCF) case files
• Attendance of and participation in education-related matters on behalf of clients, such as suspension hearings and IEP meetings
• Appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of Child Requiring Assistance clients, if certified

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed