Position Information

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking an experienced superior court practitioner to fill the position of Trial Attorney in our Salem Office located in Essex County. The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and zealous advocacy to the indigent and criminally accused, within our community. We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients with an aim to assist them, in achieving success, in both legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals as we strive to also promote favorable public policy, that will in turn, safeguard the rights of all.

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.

Our Values

Courage   •   Accountability   •   Respect   •   Excellence

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of 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, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs.  It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of 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.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (“CPCS”) is Massachusetts’ public defender agency providing legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney.  The Public Defender Division’s mission is to ensure that criminal defendants are given the fundamental protection of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Constitution. We believe that every person charged with a criminal offense is entitled to zealous advocacy and a rigorous defense, while being treated with respect and dignity, as we navigate a course together in the pursuit of a favorable criminal defense and legal outcome.

The Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking an experienced superior court practitioner to provide criminal defense representation in Essex County (Public Defender Division Salem Trial Office).  The Public Defender Division trial offices provide legal representation and advocacy on behalf of indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. The Trial Attorney will represent clients in the Superior Courts consistent with our unification guidelines and occasionally represent clients on interlocutory appeals, civil commitments, and certain collateral matters as permitted by a supervisor.  It is also expected that experienced Trial Attorneys will act as informal mentors and advisors to other Trial Attorneys in the office. 

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.

OFFICE OVERVIEW

The PDD Salem Trial Office is located near downtown Salem, and offers a variety of wonderful local shops, sights of historic interest.

Please take a moment and click on the link below for more information about the Public Defender Division Salem Trial Office:

http://www.publiccounsel.net/dir/salem-pd/
 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Litigating cases in the Superior, District and Municipal Courts;
• Interviewing clients;
• 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;
• Representing clients in interlocutory proceedings;
• Where appropriate, working collaboratively with private attorneys on cases assigned through the Private Counsel Division of CPCS; and,
• Other duties as assigned.