Internship - Innocence Program - Fall 2026

Committee for Public Counsel•Malden, MA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) Innocence Program is seeking students for internship positions. The program fights for equal justice and human dignity by supporting clients in achieving their legal and life goals, zealously advocating for the rights of individuals and promoting just public policy. CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. The Innocence Program (IP) is a unit of the Massachusetts public defender’s office devoted to identifying and fighting wrongful convictions across the state. IP aims to identify and litigate meritorious Massachusetts innocence claims at both trial and appellate levels, assign experienced attorneys to litigate such claims, supervise and train lawyers handling innocence cases, and administer funds from a federally-supported Expert Funding System to support post-conviction investigation, forensic consultation and testing in both DNA and non-DNA cases. Interns will work closely with the program director, staff attorneys, paralegal, and fellows to screen cases, provide litigation support to post-conviction innocence claims, work on research and data projects and policy advocacy, and help draft trial court filings or appellate briefs for any active litigation. Interns will have the opportunity to attend court for any hearings or arguments.

Requirements

All students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship are eligible to apply.
Have access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely on at least a part-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy
Students with experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBT people, and other underrepresented groups
Students who speak a foreign language
Students who can work with us full-time