Committee for Public Counsel Services
Trial Attorney - Mental Health Litigation Division, Worcester Office
Committee for Public Counsel Services, Worcester, Massachusetts, us, 01609
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 Worcester Office.The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.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 ValuesCourage • Accountability • Respect • ExcellenceDIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENTCPCS 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.AGENCY OVERVIEWCPCS 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 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 OVERVIEWThe Worcester Office is located in downtown Worcester, a five-time recipient of the All-American City Award. It is New England’s second largest city and combines the historic charm of a small town with the conveniences of a thriving metropolis.The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, and the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.POSITION OVERVIEWThe 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 Worcester Office.The Mental Health Litigation Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of citizens facing civil commitment to a psychiatric facility, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys receive training in issues relating to mental health and the statutory and constitutional rights of our clients.Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking the initial commitment to, continued confinement at, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private psychiatric facilities licensed by DMH.Trial Attorneys will be supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.Qualifications
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTSApplicants 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.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/SKILLSForeign 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.Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.Responsibilities
RESPONSIBILITIESDuties 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.Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.EEO StatementThe 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.
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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 Worcester Office.The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.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 ValuesCourage • Accountability • Respect • ExcellenceDIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENTCPCS 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.AGENCY OVERVIEWCPCS 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 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 OVERVIEWThe Worcester Office is located in downtown Worcester, a five-time recipient of the All-American City Award. It is New England’s second largest city and combines the historic charm of a small town with the conveniences of a thriving metropolis.The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, and the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.POSITION OVERVIEWThe 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 Worcester Office.The Mental Health Litigation Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of citizens facing civil commitment to a psychiatric facility, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys receive training in issues relating to mental health and the statutory and constitutional rights of our clients.Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking the initial commitment to, continued confinement at, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private psychiatric facilities licensed by DMH.Trial Attorneys will be supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.Qualifications
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTSApplicants 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.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/SKILLSForeign 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.Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.Responsibilities
RESPONSIBILITIESDuties 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.Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.EEO StatementThe 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.
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