Internship - Mental Health Litigation Division Brockton - Fall 2026

Committee for Public Counsel Services • Brockton, MA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Mental Health Litigation Division of CPCS is seeking applicants for Fall 2026 internship positions in our Civil Commitment trial office located in Brockton. We are interested in law students both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification for opportunities with the Mental Health Litigation Division. 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 C ourage A ccountability R espect E xcellence We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply. 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 attorneys 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. 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 each member of the CPCS community. AGENCY OVERVIEW The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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, child welfare, guardianship, civil commitment, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as inВ in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

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 or public transportation to travel to courts and hospitals.
• Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
• Completed their 2L year (for those seeking to assist with representation of citizens facing involuntary civil commitment).
• Are or can be 3:03 certified (for those seeking to assist with representation of citizens facing involuntary civil commitment).

Nice To Haves

• SJC Rule 3:03 Certification

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys with representation of citizens facing involuntary civil commitment to mental health facilities, and involuntary medical treatment for mental illness, including the administration of anti-psychotic medications.
• Assist with client calls, reviewing medical records and legal research.
• Shadow several attorneys during their internship.
• Develop a working understanding of G.L. c. 123 and the requirements for civil commitment, District and Municipal Court commitment proceedings, court-ordered medication proceedings, and the rules of evidence as applied in mental health cases.
• Visit clients and conduct interviews to obtain relevant information and ascertain the client’s position on their pending petition(s).
• Work with independent medical experts including psychiatrists, psychologists, social service experts, and other mental health professionals as requested by staff attorneys.
• Work with attorneys to prepare motions for funds, motions for in person hearings, review medical records, direct examinations, cross-examination of Designated Forensic Psychologists and Psychiatrists and closing arguments.
• Develop research on race and equity issues in civil commitments and assist in developing a litigation guide for such issues.
• Conduct research into support for novel issues or arguments.

What This Job Offers

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