Supervising Attorney - PDD Malden
About The Position
The Public Defender Division of CPCS, the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking two Supervising Attorneys with a minimum of four years of experience providing criminal defense representation for its Malden Office. CPCS 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 attorneys for individuals who cannot afford to retain one, covering a wide range of case types including criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post-conviction proceedings. The agency serves a diverse client base and emphasizes the need for culturally competent staff. The Malden Office is located in Middlesex County, close to downtown Boston, with excellent accessibility via highway and public transportation.
Requirements
- 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 four years of experience 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.
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.
- 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 a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.
- Foreign language skills, Spanish in particular, are desirable.
Responsibilities
- Supervise Trial Attorneys assigned to Municipal, District, and Superior Court cases in addition to their own case responsibilities.
- Assist in the supervision of Trial Attorneys, including new attorneys and experienced attorneys practicing in Superior Court, particularly on serious felony or complex cases.
- Conduct client interviews.
- Handle arraignment and bail advocacy.
- Perform legal research and writing.
- Conduct pretrial investigation, including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, and collecting/reviewing documentary evidence.
- Prepare and argue pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda.
- Perform dispositional investigations and advocacy.
- Conduct jury and bench trials of criminal cases.
- Represent clients in interlocutory proceedings.
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with individual supervisees to review case files.
- Conduct group meetings to review case preparation and performance.
- Provide in-court supervision, including second-seating trials and significant pretrial hearings.
- Prepare annual performance evaluations.
- Present in-office training sessions.
- Supervise other staff, such as investigators and student interns, as delegated by the office’s Attorney in Charge.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
