Mass.gov
Overview
The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking a full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases, including trials and a limited number of appellate cases, for its Roxbury Commitment Unit. The Unit handles civil commitments filed by Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, HRI Hospital in Brookline, and other facilities in the metro-Boston area. This position is currently remote temporarily until the Unit relocates to a permanent office location.
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.
Values : Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence
Diversity and Inclusion Mission
CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client. We embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as core values and maintain a commitment to: (1) Represent a broad range of human differences; (2) Provide a respectful work climate that supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership ensures equity, diversity, and inclusion, with responsibility for achieving these goals shared across the CPCS community.
Agency Overview
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, child welfare, 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 contexts and cultures, creating a need for CPCS attorneys to be culturally competent and able to work with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.
Position Overview
The Mental Health Litigation Division seeks an experienced, full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Roxbury Commitment Unit. The Unit handles civil commitments filed by Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, HRI Hospital in Brookline, and other facilities in the metro-Boston area. This position is currently a temporary remote work position until the Unit relocates to a permanent office location.
The MHLD Trial Attorneys protect the legal and constitutional rights of individuals facing civil commitment to psychiatric facilities, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders, including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Trial Attorneys receive training in mental health issues and the statutory and constitutional rights of clients.
Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking initial commitment, continued confinement, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private DMH-licensed facilities. Attorneys will appear primarily in District Court sessions at facilities served by the Office or in Superior Court divisions within the county where the facilities are located, and may represent clients in proceedings from other facilities and courts in the Commonwealth. Trial Attorneys may also represent clients in appeals to the Appellate Divisions of the District and Municipal Courts.
Trial Attorneys are supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.
Responsibilities Duties of MHLD Trial Attorneys include, but are not limited to:
Visiting with and interviewing clients at the facilities;
Conducting pre-trial investigation and discovery, including reviewing facility and other medical and psychiatric records, and interviewing facility staff;
Working extensively with forensic psychiatric and psychological clinicians;
Locating and interviewing witnesses and consulting with service providers;
Conducting legal research and writing; and,
Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.
Minimum Entrance Requirements
Applicants must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be 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 Commonwealth is necessary; and,
Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and a legal writing sample.
Qualifications/Skills
Foreign language skills to support interaction with limited English proficient groups in the region are desirable;
Trial experience in mental health cases is preferred;
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; and,
Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.
EEO Statement The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at
sdebow@publiccounsel.net
How to Apply ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CPCS iCIMS WEBSITE. IF YOU APPLY THROUGH MASS CAREERS AND DO NOT COMPLETE THE CPCS iCIMS APPLICATION, YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO APPLY (CUT AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER IF THE EMBEDDED LINK DOES NOT WORK):
https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/2976/trial-attorney---mhld-roxbury/job
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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.
Values : Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence
Diversity and Inclusion Mission
CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client. We embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as core values and maintain a commitment to: (1) Represent a broad range of human differences; (2) Provide a respectful work climate that supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership ensures equity, diversity, and inclusion, with responsibility for achieving these goals shared across the CPCS community.
Agency Overview
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, child welfare, 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 contexts and cultures, creating a need for CPCS attorneys to be culturally competent and able to work with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.
Position Overview
The Mental Health Litigation Division seeks an experienced, full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Roxbury Commitment Unit. The Unit handles civil commitments filed by Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, HRI Hospital in Brookline, and other facilities in the metro-Boston area. This position is currently a temporary remote work position until the Unit relocates to a permanent office location.
The MHLD Trial Attorneys protect the legal and constitutional rights of individuals facing civil commitment to psychiatric facilities, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders, including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Trial Attorneys receive training in mental health issues and the statutory and constitutional rights of clients.
Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking initial commitment, continued confinement, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private DMH-licensed facilities. Attorneys will appear primarily in District Court sessions at facilities served by the Office or in Superior Court divisions within the county where the facilities are located, and may represent clients in proceedings from other facilities and courts in the Commonwealth. Trial Attorneys may also represent clients in appeals to the Appellate Divisions of the District and Municipal Courts.
Trial Attorneys are supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.
Responsibilities Duties of MHLD Trial Attorneys include, but are not limited to:
Visiting with and interviewing clients at the facilities;
Conducting pre-trial investigation and discovery, including reviewing facility and other medical and psychiatric records, and interviewing facility staff;
Working extensively with forensic psychiatric and psychological clinicians;
Locating and interviewing witnesses and consulting with service providers;
Conducting legal research and writing; and,
Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.
Minimum Entrance Requirements
Applicants must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be 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 Commonwealth is necessary; and,
Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and a legal writing sample.
Qualifications/Skills
Foreign language skills to support interaction with limited English proficient groups in the region are desirable;
Trial experience in mental health cases is preferred;
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; and,
Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.
EEO Statement The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at
sdebow@publiccounsel.net
How to Apply ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CPCS iCIMS WEBSITE. IF YOU APPLY THROUGH MASS CAREERS AND DO NOT COMPLETE THE CPCS iCIMS APPLICATION, YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO APPLY (CUT AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER IF THE EMBEDDED LINK DOES NOT WORK):
https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/2976/trial-attorney---mhld-roxbury/job
#J-18808-Ljbffr