Internship - CAFL Worcester - Fall 2024 - Committee for Public Counsel

The Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Worcester Office of CPCS is seeking applicants for Fall 2024 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 

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. 

POSITION OVERVIEW  

Interns will assist lawyers and work closely with social workers to represent children and parents in cases in which the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removes children from their homes because of claims of neglect or abuse.  This unit also provides lawyers to children and parents in child requiring assistance (CRA) cases, as well as contested adoptions, guardianship of minor proceedings, and sua sponte custody proceedings in the Probate and Family Court.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 

Interested candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.  

Candidates must also: 

• Have access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and, 
• Have access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely

APPLICATION INFORMATION 

Interested applicants should submit (1) Resume, (2) Personal Mission Statement (no more than two pages) detailing your interest in the internship, your personal qualities and background, and what draws you to this work, and (3) Writing Sample. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Interns will work directly with attorneys, investigators, and social service advocates on the following:

• Significant client contact through client interviews and home/placement visits 
• Case investigation to assist with trial preparation 
• Service advocacy on behalf of clients 
• Negotiation with opposing counsel 
• Legal research and writing in preparation for motion argument, custody hearings and termination of parental rights trials, or on novel legal issues before the Court 
• Reviewing pre-trial discovery and Department of Children and Families (DCF) case files 
• Attendance of and participation in education-related matters on behalf of clients, such as suspension hearings and IEP meetings 
• Appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of Child Requiring Assistance clients, if certified  

Interns must agree to keep confidential all information involving client representation, and the work they perform on behalf of our clients.

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 sdebow@publiccounsel.net