Private Panel Support Attorney

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking an experienced attorney for a Private Panel Support Attorney position in the Criminal Trial Support Unit of the Private Counsel Division.  The Criminal Trial Support Unit is responsible for the oversight of attorneys who provide representation to indigent criminal defense clients with cases in the Massachusetts trial 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.

UNIT OVERVIEW

The Criminal Trial Support Unit (CTSU) is responsible for the support and oversight of 13 County Bar Advocate Programs (BAPs) and panel attorneys who provide representation to indigent clients in criminal cases.  One Director, five staff attorneys and three administrative staff currently comprise the unit.  The CTSU is responsible for the support and oversight of approximately 1,700 private attorneys taking approximately 100,000 trial level criminal case assignments through contracts with county BAPs. The CTSU also oversees 42 county Supervising Attorneys who provide direct support to attorneys taking cases in their county.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Private Panel Support Attorney works cooperatively with the County Bar Advocate Programs (BAPs) to ensure zealous representation of indigent clients by the bar advocate panel attorneys.  The Private Panel Support Attorney will work to ensure compliance with the contracts between CPCS and the BAPs and between CPCS and the county Supervising Attorneys.  The Private Panel Support Attorney will oversee the Supervising Attorneys and assist in the recruiting and selection of the Supervising Attorneys as well as assisting with the recruitment process for bar advocate panel attorneys. 

Private Panel Support Attorney respond to clients, judges, court personnel, and other stakeholders regarding assigned counsel performance and will refer complaints to the appropriate county Supervising Attorney for investigation. Private Panel Support Attorney will also review billing inquiries and determine whether adjustments should be made to billing limits or submissions.

The Private Panel Support Attorney will report to the Director of the Criminal Trial Support Unit.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Must be eligible to practice law in this jurisdiction as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or as an attorney in another jurisdiction who is eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• Must have a minimum of five years' experience as a criminal defense practitioner;
• Must have a valid driver's license and access to a motor vehicle; and,
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

The successful candidate will have experience in some of all of the following areas:

•  A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy and high quality representation for indigent persons;
• At least five years' experience as a Bar Advocate;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Self-starter and ability to take initiative;
• Experience interacting with people of various social, racial, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to effectively interact with members of the criminal trial support unit administrative and legal staff, criminal defendants, and panel attorneys;
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Power Point; and,
• Ability to analyze data and to present the analysis.

To apply, please provide a letter of interest, a resume, and a writing sample.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties of the Private Panel Support Attorney include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring compliance with the contracts between CPCS and the bar advocate programs and between CPCS and the county Supervising Attorneys and working cooperatively with the bar advocate programs' Boards of Directors and administrators;
• Interviewing, selecting, training, and overseeing the county Supervising Attorneys;
• Coordinating with the BAP Administrators to ensure that all duty days and cases in the county are covered, including assisting with locating counsel for unassigned cases and duty days;
• Reviewing Performance Assessment Reports submitted by Supervising Attorneys to determine whether to offer additional support and communicating with Supervising Attorneys to assess the functioning of the courts and panels;
• Reviewing Complaint Investigations and coordinating with the Director to determine responses;
• Reviewing Complex Case Reviews to determine whether to increase billing thresholds and whether to recommend releasing, reviewing, or rejecting billing submissions;
• Responding to calls regarding issues involving the appointment, assignment, and performance of private counsel and coordinating with the Director on responses;
• Reviewing applications to the Superior Court and Murder List panels, making recommendations to the Director, and facilitating the certification process for qualified panel members;
• Reviewing appellate decisions alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and other claims, consulting with appellate counsel about trial counsel's performance, and determining if any corrections or additional actions are needed;
• Providing regular updates to the Director and Deputy Chief Counsel regarding data and information such as the current number of attorneys taking cases in each county, the number of clients awaiting the appointment of counsel, and news from the local courts;
• Assisting the BAP Administrators and panel members with billing inquiries.
• Participating in BAP panel recruitment efforts; and,
• Other duties as required.

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 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.  Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang,