Attorney in Charge - PDD Lawrence

Overview

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is seeking to fill the Attorney-in-Charge position in the Lawrence Office. The PDD provides legal representation and zealous advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts.

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, 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 OVERVIEW

The PDD Lawrence Office is located inside of the historic and stately Union Mills building that harkens back and is reminiscent of an era of great industrious growth, for the city of Lawrence. The area also offers a variety of wonderful local shops, eateries, and sites of great historic interest.

Please take a moment and click on the link below for more information about the staff and the courthouses where we practice in the Public Defender Division Lawrence Office:

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Attorney-in-Charge of the Lawrence Office is expected to perform a multitude of functions and responsibilities that are unmistakably attendant to being the leader of a high functioning trial office within the agency.

The Attorney-in-Charge supervises and assists staff Trial Attorneys to ensure the zealous advocacy and effective representation of every assigned client entrusted to our legal care. The Attorney-in-Charge is responsible for managing the Supervising Staff Attorneys, along with all other defense team members assigned to the office, which is comprised of Social Service Advocates, Investigators, Staff Interpreters, and highly trained Administrative Assistants.

The Attorney-in-Charge is expected to maintain an active, albeit reduced caseload, and it is also incumbent upon the Attorney-in-Charge to provide the same fullness and excellent representation to assigned clients, no different than any other staff Trial Attorney, while…