Internship - PDD Quincy - Fall 2026

Committee for Public Counsel Services • Quincy, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The CPCS Public Defender Division, Norfolk County Office is seeking students for our Fall 2026 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. In the PDD Norfolk County office, we defend a broad range of adult felony and misdemeanor cases, including all offenses, in both District Court and Superior Court. We also advocate for clients in various capacities in mental health court, veteran’s court, and drug court programs. We offer law student interns (rising 2L through 3L) a variety of experiences and assignments, supervised by veteran attorneys, as well as extensive valuable training. Interns will work closely with lawyers, social workers, and investigators to provide legal representation and advocacy. The PDD Norfolk County office gives interns a wide range of opportunities, including legal research and writing (including motions to dismiss, to suppress, and more), arraignment and bail advocacy (for our 3:03 certified interns), and possible second seating trials. Interns will leave with multiple projects to utilize as writing samples and with a written review to use for a reference. At the beginning of the internship, there is mandatory attendance at an intensive, multi-day training. School-year internships at CPCS are unpaid. We strongly encourage students to pursue all funding sources available to students performing internships at public service agencies, including through their school or a federal work-study fellowship.

Requirements

• Law Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy
• Law students who speak a foreign language
• Law students who have successfully completed or are enrolled in an evidence or trial practice class
• Students who are, at the earliest, in the summer prior to their final year of law school
• Students must be able to devote at least two full days per week to the internship.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to represent clients under the supervision of a staff public defender in court, per SJC Rule 3:03 (for Criminal Law), with the written approval by their Dean and the Supreme Judicial Court.

Responsibilities

• Legal research
• Drafting pretrial motions, affidavits and legal memoranda
• Review of evidence, client and expert witness contact, correspondence with clients, and more
• Court Observation (Trials, Motions, Arraignments, and more)
• Client interviews (which 3:03 interns might conduct)
• Arraignment and bail arguments (for 3:03 interns)
• Pretrial Motion arguments (for 3:03 interns)
• Interns must agree to keep confidential all information involving client representation, and the work they perform on behalf of our clients, and will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed