Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services
Trial Attorney - CAFL FJA Springfield
Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, Springfield, Massachusetts, us, 01119
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):
Apply Here
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking attorneys to work in the office of Family Justice Advocates (FJA), CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division Hampden County Conflicts Trial Office, located in Springfield. FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation cases, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, child requiring assistance (CRA) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF.
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
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.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
Family Justice Advocates is CAFL’s Hampden County Conflicts Trial Office in Springfield, Massachusetts. FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents and guardians in child welfare/family regulation cases in which (a) a CAFL staff attorney in a non-conflict office has been appointed to another party to the case or (b) a conflict of interest prevents CAFL staff attorneys in non-conflict offices from representing any party in the case.
POSITION OVERVIEW
FJA’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a care and protection case, having a skilled FJA lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights. New Trial Attorneys in the FJA office and the non-conflict CAFL Offices begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Interviewing adult clients;
Visiting and interviewing child clients;
Conducting legal research and writing;
Conducting pre-72-hour hearing investigations;
Obtaining and reviewing the DCF file;
Drafting and filing necessary motions;
Preparing pre-trial memoranda;
Representing the client at hearings;
Working with the entire Conflict Office legal team;
Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
A Trial Attorney must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts;
All Trial Attorney positions require travel; access to reliable transportation throughout the state is necessary;
Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Foreign language skills are desirable;
Trial experience in termination of parental rights cases is preferred;
A demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy;
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
Ability to work 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.
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Apply Here
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking attorneys to work in the office of Family Justice Advocates (FJA), CPCS’s Children and Family Law Division Hampden County Conflicts Trial Office, located in Springfield. FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation cases, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, child requiring assistance (CRA) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF.
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
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.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
Family Justice Advocates is CAFL’s Hampden County Conflicts Trial Office in Springfield, Massachusetts. FJA provides legal representation to children and indigent parents and guardians in child welfare/family regulation cases in which (a) a CAFL staff attorney in a non-conflict office has been appointed to another party to the case or (b) a conflict of interest prevents CAFL staff attorneys in non-conflict offices from representing any party in the case.
POSITION OVERVIEW
FJA’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a care and protection case, having a skilled FJA lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights. New Trial Attorneys in the FJA office and the non-conflict CAFL Offices begin their CPCS career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course to ensure they are ready to represent their clients to their full capabilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Interviewing adult clients;
Visiting and interviewing child clients;
Conducting legal research and writing;
Conducting pre-72-hour hearing investigations;
Obtaining and reviewing the DCF file;
Drafting and filing necessary motions;
Preparing pre-trial memoranda;
Representing the client at hearings;
Working with the entire Conflict Office legal team;
Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
A Trial Attorney must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts;
All Trial Attorney positions require travel; access to reliable transportation throughout the state is necessary;
Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Foreign language skills are desirable;
Trial experience in termination of parental rights cases is preferred;
A demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy;
Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
Ability to work 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr