Internship - Alternative Commitment & Registration Support Unit - Spring 2025 - Committee for Public Counsel

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) Alternative Commitment & Registration Support Unit is currently seeking students for our Spring 2025 internship positions.

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 each member of the CPCS community.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (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, child welfare, 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. 

ACRSU OVERVIEW

The ACRSU is committed to ensuring that every indigent adult and youth in Massachusetts has access to zealous legal representation when facing sexually dangerous person civil commitment trials and sex offender registry board classification proceedings.  Emerging issues include disparate impact of proceedings on minorities, propriety of proceeding against individuals who are juveniles or were juveniles at the time of past crimes, and enforcement of due process guarantees.  

POSITION OVERVIEW

For Interns eligible for 3:03 certification, they will have the opportunity to fully litigate a client’s case from assignment through to the final administrative hearing before the Sex Offender Registry Board.  Interns will also help with legal research, observe Superior Court trials, visit incarcerated clients, review psychological and scientific studies, and assist with other projects.   

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

All students who will have completed their first year of law school by the start of their internship are eligible to apply.  

Preferred qualifications:  

• Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy  
• Students with experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBT people, and other underrepresented groups
• Students who speak a foreign language  

Candidates must also:

• Have access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely on at least a part-time basis.

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 Director of Human Resources Management, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net