Private Panel Support Attorney - MHLD Trial Panel Support Unit

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking an experienced and skilled attorney to serve as a Private Panel Support Attorney in the Trial Panel Support Unit (TPSU). The TPSU provides leadership oversight and support to attorneys on the MHLD private panels. Private Panel Support Attorneys are eligible for a hybrid work schedule and may be seated in any CPCS office location, depending on the needs of the TPSU, the attorney, and available and appropriate space. 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 Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) provides trial and appellate representation to indigent persons facing commitment to public or private psychiatric facilities, petitions for authorization to administer or terminate "extraordinary" medical treatment, and petitions seeking to impose guardianships, among other types of petitions in which mental health and capacity are at issue. The Trial Panel Support Unit provides support and oversight of a panel of approximately 260 private attorneys who provide representation to approximately 12,000 clients each year in Civil Commitment and Guardianship of Adult proceedings. Private Panel Support Attorneys assist the Trial Panel Director in the oversight and support of the Trial Panel attorneys, helping to ensure effective and client centered representation of Mental Health Litigation clients in accordance with CPCS performance standards. Private Panel Support Attorneys also respond to requests for assistance by callers to the MHLD intake telephone line. Private Panel Support Attorneys work with other members of the TPSU team to promote courageous multidisciplinary representation statewide by supporting and reviewing the performance of individual attorneys, responding to advice calls from private panel attorneys, overseeing the MHLD mentor program, and responding to callers to the MHLD intake telephone line. Private Panel Support Attorneys also have opportunities to work on various MHLD and interagency initiatives to improve representation and outcomes for our clients.

Requirements

Applicants must be eligible to practice law in this jurisdiction as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or as an attorney in another jurisdiction who is eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
Applicants must have a minimum of five years’ legal experience, including at least four years of experience representing clients on Mental Health Litigation issues;
Applicants must have access to reliable transportation throughout the state;
Applicants must have home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated commitment to serve racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse low-income populations;
Ability to maintain and foster a professional and supportive relationship with the private bar and to serve as a leader when working with the courts, Respondent’s counsel, and professional and community organizations;
Significant litigation and trial experience;
Private attorney trial panel experience;
Willingness to travel within Massachusetts;
Excellent writing, litigation, and oral presentation skills;
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and Monday.com;
Ability to maintain an optimistic outlook along with the humor, integrity, patience and perseverance necessary to advance TPSU efforts and to ensure that MHLD clients are treated with respect and dignity and provided high-quality legal services across Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

Providing support and advice to private panel attorneys in MHLD proceedings;
Providing billing support and technical assistance to trial panel attorneys;
Assisting with the development and distribution of resources including practice advisories, pleading templates, and other resource materials;
Working with the Regional Coordinators to support panel attorneys and to complete performance evaluations;
Assisting in the administration of the MHLD Mentor program, including working closely with MHLD Mentors to support our newly admitted trial panel attorneys;
Assisting the evaluations of applications from attorneys seeking to join the MHLD trial panel;
Assisting with Certification Trainings in coordination with the Training Department;
Reviewing Complex Case Reviews to determine whether to increase billing thresholds and whether to recommend releasing, reviewing, or rejecting billing submissions;
Assisting the drafting and communication of MHLD trial panel policies and performance standards;
Investigating complaints against panel attorneys, drafting proposed decisions, and monitoring dispositions of complaints;
Collaborating with IT, Finance, Audit & Oversight to resolve issues with panel attorneys;
Responding to client calls to the MHLD intake line as required;
Other duties as assigned.