Trial Attorney - PDD Pittsfield

Position OverviewThe Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking two Trial Attorneys to provide criminal defense representation in the Pittsfield Office. Public Defender Division offices provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. Public Defenders begin their work by representing clients who are charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, including misdemeanors and felonies, see G.L. c.218, § 26, and some serious sexual offenses, and occasionally handle initial commitment proceedings under G.L. c.123, §§ 12(e), 35. After gaining experience on cases within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, it is expected that Public Defenders will represent clients in the Superior Courts consistent with our unification guidelines and occasionally represent clients on interlocutory appeals, civil commitments, and certain collateral matters as permitted by a supervisor. It is also expected that Public Defenders, as they gain experience, will act as informal mentors and advisors to other staff attorneys in the office.Attorneys of all experience levels are encouraged to apply to this position.ResponsibilitiesThe duties of a Trial Attorney include, but are not limited to : Interviewing clients;Arraignment and bail advocacy;Legal research and writing;Pretrial investigation including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence;Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda;Dispositional investigations and advocacy;Jury and bench trials of criminal cases;Representation of clients in interlocutory proceedings;Where appropriate, working collaboratively with private attorneys on cases assigned through the Private Counsel Division of CPCS; and,Other duties as assigned.Minimum 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 in good standing, or as the member of the bar of another jurisdiction eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3 : 04;Access to an automobile in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation;Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.Qualifications / SkillsCandidates should possess the following attributes for the position of Trial Attorney : Spanish-speaking abilities and past experience working with the Latinx community preferred;Demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in criminal cases;Commitment to working with a culturally diverse, low-income population;Commitment to our organizational values;Commitment to continuing legal training;Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; and,Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.To apply, please submit a resume and a 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 this work.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. Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net.#J-18808-Ljbffr