Trial Attorney - YAD Lowell
About The Position
The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), Massachusetts’ public defender agency, is seeking a Trial Attorney for its Lowell office. The attorney represents children in delinquency and youthful offender cases using the Positive Youth Development Approach and criminal defense skills used in district and superior courts. The role also includes post-dispositional advocacy and support for Department of Youth Services (DYS)-committed youth, school-based advocacy, and projects intended to improve representation and outcomes for court-involved children. Trial Attorneys contribute to efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile legal system and may be assigned cases in other counties as needed. CPCS provides counsel to people who cannot afford an attorney when representation is required by the constitution or state law. YAD is the juvenile defender division of CPCS and provides leadership, training, support, and oversight to the Massachusetts juvenile defense bar. Its trial offices integrate Trial Attorneys with social service advocates and administrative assistants to address clients’ legal and developmental needs. The position requires a commitment to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and to providing culturally competent, trauma-informed representation. The Lowell office also covers Lawrence. CPCS identifies courage, accountability, respect, and excellence as its values, and is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace relationships.
Requirements
- Be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, a law school graduate eligible under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, or an attorney from another jurisdiction eligible for limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04.
- Be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population.
- Have access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations not easily accessible by public transportation.
- Have home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
- Experience with criminal defense, especially youth defense.
- Experience with a community-oriented defender practice.
- Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent representation.
- Knowledge of adolescent development and positive youth development.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice issues and experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Knowledge of state and local resources relevant to juvenile defendants.
- Understanding of juvenile justice practice and policy issues.
- Experience with educational system advocacy, the child welfare system, and working with children and youth.
Nice To Haves
- Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.
- Lawyers with four or more years of experience are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Provide zealous legal representation in delinquency and youthful offender cases using the Positive Youth Development Approach and criminal defense skills used in district and superior courts.
- Provide post-dispositional advocacy and support to DYS-committed youth.
- Provide school-based advocacy.
- Work on projects to improve legal representation and outcomes for court-involved children.
- Play a leadership role in efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile legal system.
- Accept case assignments in other counties as needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
