Internship - PDD Malden - Spring 2026

Committee for Public Counsel Services•Malden, MA

50d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Defender Division, Malden Office is currently seeking students for Spring 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. Our Values Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence 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 of each member of the CPCS community. AGENCY OVERVIEW 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. 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. The Malden Trial Office defends people accused of misdemeanors and felonies in Superior and District Courts in Middlesex County including: the Middlesex Superior Court, the Woburn District Court, the Waltham District Court, the Cambridge District Court, the Malden District Court, and the Somerville District Court. POSITION OVERVIEW Student legal interns are an integral part of our office and work closely with our team of dedicated attorneys, social service advocates, and investigators. Interns qualified to appear in court under SJC Rule 3:03 will represent clients at arraignments, bail appeals, and pretrial motions, all under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Out-of-court work includes legal research and writing, case investigation, client meetings, and assisting attorneys with the preparation of trials. Interns are also encouraged to attend court as often as they would like to observe. An internship in this office includes working closely with a group of experienced, dedicated, and passionate attorneys, all of whom are committed to helping to prepare interns to be excellent public defenders. Our attorneys are always grateful for intern assistance and input, and recognize that our interns' work can be an integral part of a successful defense for our clients. All interns begin their internship by participating in training focused on client advocacy skills and Massachusetts criminal practice. Interns are also welcome to attend all office trainings and brainstorm sessions. We are currently working in-person, and interns will be able and expected to work on-site at our office and/or our courts most days. Our office and all of our courts are easily accessible via public transportation, so interns are not required to have access to a car. The Malden Office is currently seeking law students for internship positions for Spring 2026. Interns may apply for a part-time or full-time internship. This is not a paid position. We 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. All students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship are eligible to apply. This internship is best suited to students who enjoy legal research and writing, whose coursework demonstrates an interest in criminal law, a commitment to social and racial justice, and who share our commitment to providing all of our clients with zealous representation. 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. Note that students who will not be eligible for 3:03 certification are also encouraged to apply!

Requirements

All students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship are eligible to apply.
In order to apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.
Please address the cover letter to attorneys Brian Pilchik and Rebecca Hutchinson.

Nice To Haves

Course work in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy
Experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and other historically oppressed groups
Experience working with clients with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders
Ability to speak a foreign language

Responsibilities

Representing clients at arraignment and arguing for their release from imprisonment (if 3:03 certified)
Representing clients at pretrial hearings, including hearings on motions to dismiss (if 3:03 certified)
Meeting with and interviewing clients in the office and at various prisons, jails and hospitals
Conducting legal research
Drafting pretrial motions and legal memoranda
Assisting attorneys to prepare for motions and trials
Investigating cases, including visiting the locations of alleged offenses and interviewing witnesses

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