Trial Attorney - CAFL Lowell

Committee for Public Counsel•Lowell, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking an attorney to work in the Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Lowell Office. CAFL provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation matters, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, children requiring assistance (CRA) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF. 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 CAFL Lowell Trial Office is a dedicated team of advocates committed to protecting the rights of children and families and to ensuring equity within the child welfare legal system. Our work is grounded in the fundamental belief that high-quality legal representation and strong community connection are essential to achieving just outcomes. Attorneys and staff collaborate closely with one another and with community partners to support clients as they navigate complex and often overwhelming legal challenges. We are committed to advancing racial justice and addressing the systemic inequities that disproportionately impact the families we represent. Conveniently located in the heart of Lowell, the office is within walking distance of the newly built and modernized courthouse, allowing for seamless access to the courts we serve. CAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights – the “death penalty of family law.” For a teenager who is the subject of a truancy CRA case, CAFL’s advocacy may secure the special education services that enable the client to succeed in school and avoid being placed in a foster home. For siblings looking for stability after the court has freed them for adoption, a CAFL attorney will fight to ensure that they are provided a permanent home – one that allows them to stay together. New Trial Attorneys in the CAFL Offices begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities. Continuing legal education programs for new and experienced Trial Attorneys are held periodically to ensure that our Trial Attorneys are up to date on the law and have the skills necessary to provide zealous representation to their clients.

Requirements

Committed to serving a culturally diverse, low income population
Eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, either as a member of the Massachusetts bar, or as an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction who is covered by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04
All Trial Attorney positions require travel; access to reliable transportation throughout the state is necessary
Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely

Nice To Haves

Foreign language skills are desirable
Trial experience in termination of parental rights cases as counsel for a parent and/or as counsel for a child or children is preferred
A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in family regulation cases
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills
Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively

Responsibilities

Interviewing adult clients
Visiting and interviewing child clients
Conducting legal research and writing
Conducting pre-72 hour hearing investigation including reviewing pleadings and exhibits, locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses, gathering facts from the DCF social worker and other collateral providers, consulting with other parties' counsel regarding their position, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence, identifying objections to testimonial and documentary evidence, and drafting appropriate motions
Obtaining the entire DCF file, reviewing DCF action plans, proposing plan changes, advising client on whether to sign, meeting with court investigator, preparing client to meet with court investigator, and preparing motions to strike inadmissible evidence contained in the court investigator report
Preparing necessary motions regarding outstanding discovery, identifying matters requiring further hearing (e.g., services, DCF reasonable efforts, visitation), preparing pre-trial memo, and developing trial strategy with client
Preparing for Foster Care Reviews
Reviewing DCF's permanency plans and filing objections, if necessary
Investigating and representing client's position in extraordinary medical treatment hearings
Filing motions challenging DCF decisions
Conducting care and protection trials and termination of parental rights trials
Representing clients in interlocutory proceedings
Working with the legal team, including social workers and paralegals
Conducting post-judgment representation
Other duties as assigned