Jobs at Committee for Public Counsel Services

Provides administrative support to attorneys in a public defender office. Responsibilities include opening and closing cases, conducting conflict checks, preparing legal documents, processing CORI requests and subpoenas, filing and scanning records, handling telephone and reception services, and communicating with internal and external contacts. The role requires strong organization, confidentiality, communication, typing, document formatting, and interpersonal skills, with legal office and foreign language experience preferred.

Provides high-level administrative support to the Public Defender Division’s senior leadership and management team. Responsibilities include calendar and travel coordination, correspondence, document organization, client communications, case-management support, statistical reporting, expense reports, project assistance, and cross-division communication. The role requires confidentiality, discretion, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-demand legal environment.

Supports statewide attorney recruitment and outreach through social media content, videos, recruitment materials, advertisements, event materials, and marketing campaigns. The intern will collaborate with communications staff to develop creative storytelling and digital content highlighting CPCS attorneys and its mission. This unpaid, primarily remote internship requires at least 20 hours weekly and may include travel to office locations.

Summer interns support racial justice initiatives through legal and policy research, writing, data collection and analysis, race-based training preparation, and assistance on racial equity issues. Interns collaborate with attorneys, investigators, social service advocates, trainers, and agency staff. The role requires at least eight weeks of full-time employment and may involve work related to litigation, policy advocacy, education, and training.

Law student interns support public defenders representing indigent clients in criminal cases. Responsibilities include client interviews, arraignment and bail advocacy, legal research, drafting pretrial motions and memoranda, investigating alleged crimes, interviewing witnesses, visiting crime scenes, and arguing pretrial motions under attorney supervision.

Summer 2027 legal internship opportunities with CPCS Private Counsel Division and Strategic Litigation Unit. Interns conduct legal research, draft memoranda and court filings, review discovery and case materials, support litigation, screen clients, attend court proceedings, and assist with systemic justice projects. Opportunities cover criminal appeals, post-conviction matters, innocence claims, parole advocacy, strategic litigation, and sexually dangerous person or sex offender registry proceedings.

Summer 2027 internships in CPCS’s Public Defender Division for law, graduate, and undergraduate students. Interns support criminal defense and appellate advocacy through legal research and writing, client and witness interviews, bail advocacy, investigations, trial support, and brief drafting. Positions are available statewide in trial offices and the Boston Appeals Unit. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to zealous advocacy and human rights, have reliable transportation, and possess a computer with adequate home internet access.

Spring 2027 legal interns will support attorneys, investigators, and social workers representing children and parents in family regulation and Child Requiring Assistance cases. Responsibilities include client interviews and home visits, case investigation, service advocacy, negotiation, legal research and writing, discovery and case-file review, education-related advocacy, and possible Juvenile Court appearances if certified. Interns must maintain client confidentiality and demonstrate commitment to zealous advocacy and constitutional rights.

Private panel contract attorneys provide constitutionally required legal representation to individuals who cannot afford counsel across practice areas and courts throughout Massachusetts. Applicants must apply through the official CPCS Private Panel Certification Application Portal and review certification requirements, training programs, and application guidance. The ICMS posting is informational only and does not constitute an application.

Law student interns support post-conviction litigation by investigating cases, reviewing court files and discovery, researching constitutional and criminal law issues, drafting legal memoranda, developing litigation strategies, responding to client inquiries, and assisting attorneys with evidentiary hearings and appellate matters. Interns also receive training in the Massachusetts criminal court system and appellate practice and may observe court proceedings.

Law student interns support public defenders in criminal cases through client representation under supervision, legal research, motion and memorandum drafting, case investigation, client interviews, trial preparation, and court observation. Interns receive training in client advocacy and Massachusetts criminal practice and work primarily onsite at the Malden office and local courts. Part-time and full-time Spring 2027 internships are available; the position is unpaid.

Leads the statewide criminal private counsel trial panel, ensuring quality, compliance, attorney certification, and effective assignment procedures. Supervises 10 staff members, supports bar advocate programs, oversees budgets and contracts, investigates compliance concerns, reviews eligible counsel billing, manages murder hotline staffing, and collaborates across agency divisions. The Director also provides training, develops staff, supports diversity and inclusion, and responds to courts, clients, justice-system stakeholders, and other public counsel partners.