Internship Fall 2026 - PDD Fall River

Committee for Public Counsel Services • Fall River, MA

3d

About The Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) Fall River Public Defender Division currently has openings for 2026 Fall semester interns. Here in the Fall River PDD office, we represent adults accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses. We also represent low-income clients who face civil commitment based on mental illness or substance use. 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. We offer law student interns a variety of experiences and assignments, supervised by veteran attorneys, as well as valuable training. Interns will work closely with lawyers, social workers, and investigators by providing legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. This unit will provide interns with a wide range of opportunities, including, but not limited to, legal research and writing, arraignment and bail advocacy, second seating trials, pretrial investigations including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses.

Requirements

• Law students who have successfully completed or are enrolled in an evidence or trial practice class, with the written approval by their Dean, may represent clients under the supervision of a staff public defender in court per SJC Rule 3:03.

Nice To Haves

• Law Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy
• SJC Rule 3.03 certification

Responsibilities

• Client interviews
• Arraignment and bail arguments
• Legal research
• Drafting pretrial motions, affidavits and legal memoranda
• Pretrial investigation, including visiting the locations of alleged crimes and interviewing witnesses
• Pretrial Motion arguments
• Keep confidential all information involving client representation, and the work they perform on behalf of our clients.

What This Job Offers

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