Staff Counsel Rotation Position - Private Counsel Division, Parole Advocacy Unit

Committee for Public Counsel Services (Commonwealth of Massachusetts); Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) welcomes a Parole Advocacy Staff Counsel rotation in Massachusetts. This two-year program serves as a lateral transfer within the Private Counsel Division, focusing on parole and medical parole representation, training, and policy development.

The Staff Counsel will operate from their current office, travel statewide, and work closely with the Director of Parole Advocacy, private panel attorneys, and support staff to improve representation and

Qualifications

• At least three years as an attorney in criminal defense.
• Experience with parole or post-conviction matters is preferred.
• Commitment to zealous advocacy for diverse, low-income clients.
• Ability to communicate clearly with clients, staff, and other attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Carry a significant caseload of parole matters and develop best practice models.
• Provide guidance and information to prisoners, families, staff attorneys, and private counsel.
• Facilitate trainings and draft practice advisories on parole issues.
• Address racial, ethnic, and disability disparities within parole and reentry contexts.

Skills

Criminal defense

Parole advocacy

Legal research

Written/verbal communication

Job description

Overview

The Private Counsel Division, Parole Advocacy Unit seeks to fill a Parole Advocacy Staff Counsel rotation position. This rotation will last for two years and is considered a lateral transfer. The needs of the relevant trial office and Division will be factored into the decision of who is selected for the rotation.

While the Parole Advocacy Unit is based in Boston, the Staff Counsel rotation position will presumptively remain assigned to their current office location and will be expected to travel throughout the state as needed.

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.

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, equityand 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

CPCSis 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.

DIVISION OVERVIEW

The Private Counsel Division delivers legal services to indigent clients through assigned private attorneys in criminal defense trial and post-conviction cases as well as commitment and registration cases for persons convicted of sex offenses and parole and medical parole representation. The Division’s mission is to provide excellent legal services to each and every client by assuring that all assigned attorneys possess the skills they need through experience or training, meet high standards of performance, and have ready access to mentoring, supervision, and continuing legal education.

UNIT OVERVIEW

The Parole Advocacy Unit (PAU) of the Private Counsel Division provides representation to people who require access to counsel for parole and medical parole. The unit assists people sentenced to life for crimes when they were young, people with disabilities that require the accommodation of counsel, people seeking compassionate release, and people facing parole revocation. In doing so, the unit certifies, trains, and supports specialized counsel, providing oversight and assistance to over 100 panel attorneys. The PAU also serves as a point of contact for prisoners, their loved ones, and staff and private attorneys in related fields—particularly criminal defense and postconviction—with questions about parole and collateral issues. Entering its sixth year, the unit assists counsel in ensuring that the practice area of parole remains dynamic, innovative, and evolving.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Staff Counsel works as part of the team including the Director of Parole Advocacy, a Private Panel Support Attorney, and the Administrative Assistant. Bringing their own expertise from their current position, the attorney will serve a key role in the unit as both a case-taking attorney and a resource to others. The rotating attorney is responsible for: (1) carrying a significant caseload of parole cases with a focus on innovating representation and informing the development of best practice models; (2) providing support and information on parole matters to prisoners and their loved ones, as well as to staff attorneys and private counsel across the Commonwealth; (3) facilitating and presenting trainings and drafting practice advisories; and (4) examining and addressing racial, ethnic, and disability disparities that affect the parole and incarceration experience. At the conclusion of the rotation, the attorney will return to their staff office with a deep understanding of parole, medical parole, administrative advocacy, and issues of incarceration and reentry, able to serve as a resource to their home office on all related matters.

The Staff Counsel reports to the Director of Parole Advocacy.

The rotation will last for two years. This term may be extended depending on interest, the needs of the rotation attorney’s current office, and the needs of the Parole Advocacy Unit. The needs of the relevant trial office and division will be factored into the decision of who is selected for the rotation.

This rotation is considered a lateral transfer and the salary will be based on the current pay scales.

The Parole Advocacy Director is located in Boston but the Staff Counsel rotation position will presumptively remain assigned to their current office location and will be expected to travel throughout the state as needed.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Must be eligible to practice law either 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 SJC Rule 3:04;
• Must have a minimum of three years of experience as an attorney;
• Must have access to reliable transportation for traveling across the state, and willingness to travel regularly to correctional facilities; and,
• Must have home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Eligibility for your application must be approved by your Managing Director pursuant to the Rotation Process Guidance. Staff must work for CPCS for two years prior to being eligible for a rotation position.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

The applicant should:

• Preferably have at least three years of experience as a juvenile or adult criminal defense trial attorney;
• Maintain a commitment to promoting zealous advocacy on behalf of a culturally and geographically diverse, low-income population;
• Possess excellent and versatile communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Have the capacity to pay close attention to detail across various platforms while working in a fast-paced environment and handling multiple tasks and projects;
• Maintain focus and positivity in unpredictable and intense situations; and,
• Work effectively in a variety of environments, including independently, as part of a close, mission-driven team, and in partnership with other organizations.

Applications will be strengthened by:

• Experience working with, and accessing services for, people with serious disabilities;
• Experience assisting incarcerated, sentenced individuals;
• Experience with parole advocacy;
• Knowledge of sentencing law;
• Knowledge of administrative law;
• Experience in juvenile or criminal law;
• Experience with reentry advocacy; and,
• Experience in appellate and civil litigation.

Responsibilities

Duties of the Staff Counsel include, but are not limited to:

• Building an expertise in parole, medical parole, and incarceration issues through representation of clients in parole, medical parole, and prison disciplinary matters, with a focus on clients serving determinate sentences;
• Serving as a resource to criminal trial, postconviction, and other attorneys with questions about their incarcerated clients, particularly within the intersection of criminal law;
• Developing and delivering training programs in collaboration with local experts;
• Participating in and at times facilitating monthly practice meetings;
• Creating practice advisories and other resources; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

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, at [e-mail]