Internship Opportunities - Summer 2026 - Children and Family Law Division - Statewide

Committee for Public Counsel Services•Boston, MA

10d

About The Position

Overview The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2026 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities with the Children and Family Law 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, 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. CHILDREN AND FAMILY LAW DIVISION OVERVIEW Children & Family Law Division 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. Interns will have significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits, assist in case investigations, serviced advocacy on behalf of clients, negotiations with opposing counsel, legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, and termination parental rights trials, review of pre-trial discovery and DCF case files, attendance in education-related matters (suspension and IEP hearings), and appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of CRA clients. Children & Family Law Division (CAFL) Private Counsel Appellate Panel Unit Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters. Lawyers in this unit are also available to advise CAFL staff attorneys on appellate issues that arise in trial matters. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues. Children and Family (CAFL) Appeals Unit Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters. Lawyers in this unit are also available to advise CAFL staff attorneys on appellate issues that arise in trial matters. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues. Children and Family (CAFL) Family Justice Advocates (FJA) - Conflicts Office 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. Interns will have significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits, assist in case investigations, serviced advocacy on behalf of clients, negotiations with opposing counsel, legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, and termination parental rights trials, review of pre-trial discovery and DCF case files, attendance in education-related matters (suspension and IEP hearings), and appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of CRA clients.

Requirements

Interested candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
Have access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation.
Interested applicants should submit (1) Resume , (2) Personal Mission Statement (no more than two pages detailing your interest in the internship, your personal qualities and background, and what draws you to this work, and (3) Writing Sample.
Applicants should specify preferred office locations for the Summer 2026 Internship Program.
Applications received prior to January 10, 2026 will be given preference.

Responsibilities

Children & Family Law Division 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.
Interns will have significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits
Assist in case investigations
Serviced advocacy on behalf of clients
Negotiations with opposing counsel
Legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, and termination parental rights trials
Review of pre-trial discovery and DCF case files
Attendance in education-related matters (suspension and IEP hearings)
Appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of CRA clients.
Children & Family Law Division (CAFL) Private Counsel Appellate Panel Unit Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters.
Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues.
Children and Family (CAFL) Appeals Unit Interns will assist lawyers representing indigent parents and children in child welfare/family regulation appellate matters.
Interns will have the opportunity to assist with trainings, conduct clinical research and writing, and strategize with attorneys about appellate issues.
Children and Family (CAFL) Family Justice Advocates (FJA) - Conflicts Office 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.
Interns will have significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits
Assist in case investigations
Serviced advocacy on behalf of clients
Negotiations with opposing counsel
Legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, and termination parental rights trials
Review of pre-trial discovery and DCF case files
Attendance in education-related matters (suspension and IEP hearings)
Appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of CRA clients.