Trial Attorney - CAFL Pittsfield

Job Description - Trial Attorney - CAFL Pittsfield (240007XE)The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking an attorney to work in the Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Pittsfield Office.CAFL provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation matters, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, children 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.Position OverviewCAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights. For a teenager who is the subject of a truancy CRA case, CAFL’s advocacy may secure the special education services that enable the client to succeed in school and avoid being placed in a foster home.ResponsibilitiesInterviewing adult clients;Visiting and interviewing child clients;Conducting legal research and writing;Conducting pre-72 hour hearing investigation including reviewing pleadings and exhibits, locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses, gathering facts from the DCF social worker and other collateral providers, consulting with other parties' counsel regarding their position, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence, identifying objections to testimonial and documentary evidence, and drafting appropriate motions;Obtaining the entire DCF file, reviewing DCF action plans, proposing plan changes, advising client on whether to sign, meeting with court investigator, preparing client to meet with court investigator, and preparing motions to strike inadmissible evidence contained in the court investigator report;Preparing necessary motions regarding outstanding discovery, identifying matters requiring further hearing, preparing pre-trial memo, and developing trial strategy with client;Preparing for Foster Care Reviews;Reviewing DCF's permanency plans and filing objections, if necessary;Investigating and representing client's position in extraordinary medical treatment hearings;Filing motions challenging DCF decisions;Conducting care and protection trials and termination of parental rights trials;Representing clients in interlocutory proceedings;Working with the legal team, including social workers and paralegals;Conducting post-judgment representation; and,Other duties as assigned.QualificationsMINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTSA Trial Attorney 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 state is necessary;Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.To apply, please submit a resume and personal mission statement of no more than two pages detailing your interest in the position, your personal qualities, background, and skills, and what you hope to achieve in your work.Qualifications/SkillsForeign language skills are desirable;Trial experience in termination of parental rights cases as counsel for a parent and/or as counsel for a child or children is preferred;A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in family regulation cases;Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.Official Title: Trial Attorney - CPCPrimary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Pittsfield-184 North StreetJob: Legal ServicesAgency: Committee for Pub Counsel SrvcSchedule: Full-timeShift: DayJob Posting: Sep 9, 2024, 7:29:21 PMNumber of Openings: 1Salary: 72,000.00 - 122,163.00 YearlyPotentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes

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