Supervising Attorney - PDD Lawrence

Committee for Public Counsel•Lawrence, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Defender Division of CPCS, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking a Supervising Attorney with a minimum of five years of legal experience including at least three years providing criminal defense representation for its Lowell Office. Candidates must have sufficient trial experience in both the District and Superior Courts so they are qualified to supervise all Trial Attorney staff. 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. 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 PDD Lawrence Trial Office is located inside of the historic and stately Union Mills building that harkens back and is reminiscent of an era of great industrious growth, for the city of Lawrence. The area also offers a variety of wonderful local shops, eateries, and sites of great historic interest. The Public Defender Division of CPCS, Lawrence Office, is seeking a Supervising Attorney, with a minimum of five years of legal experience including at least three years providing criminal defense representation. Under the direction of the office’s Attorney in Charge, the Supervising Attorney will assist in the supervision of Trial Attorneys and will also have their own reduced caseload. Clients are indigent persons charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the respective court.

Requirements

Must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts either as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing or as the member of the bar of another jurisdiction eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Court Rule 3:04
A minimum of five years of legal experience including at least three years providing criminal defense representation in District and Superior Courts
Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation
Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely
Sufficient trial experience in both the District and Superior Courts so they may supervise all Trial Attorney staff

Nice To Haves

Significant jury trial experience as lead counsel in criminal cases; including Superior Court cases
Commitment to working with a culturally diverse, low-income population
Willingness and ability to work positively and collaboratively with both the Attorney in Charge and Supervisees
A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in criminal cases
Ability and commitment to complete annual performance evaluations in a timely and comprehensive manner
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills
Ability to work in community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively
Foreign language skills, Spanish in particular, are desirable

Responsibilities

Supervise Trial Attorneys assigned to District and Superior Court cases in addition to their case responsibilities.
Be capable of supervising new Trial Attorneys as well as experienced Trial Attorneys practicing in the Superior Court, particularly around serious felony or otherwise complex cases.
Client interviews
Arraignment and bail advocacy
Legal research and writing
Pretrial investigation including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence
Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits and legal memoranda
Dispositional investigations and advocacy
Jury and bench trials of criminal cases
Representation of clients in interlocutory proceedings
Regular one-on-one meetings with individual supervisees to review case files, as well as group meetings, to review case preparation and performance
In-court supervision, including second-seating of trials and significant pretrial hearings
Preparation of annual performance evaluations
Presentation of in-office training sessions
Supervision of other staff, such as investigators and student interns, as delegated by the office’s Attorney in Charge
Other duties as assigned