ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CPCS iCIMS WEBSITE. IF YOU APPLY THROUGH MASS CAREERS AND DO NOT COMPLETE THE CPCS iCIMS APPLICATION, YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO APPLY (CUT AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER IF THE EMBEDDED LINK DOES NOT WORK): https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/3270/trial-attorney---mhld-roxbury/job
The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking a full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Roxbury Commitment Unit. This office is responsible for civil commitments filed by Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, HRI Hospital in Brookline, and other facilities in the metro-Boston area.
This office is currently located at 75 Federal Street, Boston, until the Unit relocates to a permanent office location. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.
POSITION OVERVIEW The Mental Health Litigation Division is seeking an experienced, full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases, competency to make informed medical decisions, and substituted judgement determinations, including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Roxbury Commitment Unit. The Unit is responsible for civil commitments filed by Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center, HRI Hospital in Brookline, and other facilities in the metro-Boston area. This office is currently located at 75 Federal Street, Boston, until the Unit relocates to a permanent office location.
The Mental Health Litigation Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of citizens facing civil commitment to a psychiatric facility, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys receive training in issues relating to mental health and the statutory and constitutional rights of our clients.
Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking the initial commitment to, continued confinement at, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private psychiatric facilities licensed by DMH. Attorneys will appear primarily in District Court sessions conducted at facilities for which the Office is responsible or in Superior Court divisions within the county in which the facilities are located but may be required to represent clients in proceedings emanating from other facilities and conducted in other courts of the Commonwealth. Trial Attorneys may also represent clients in appeals to the Appellate Divisions of the District and Municipal Courts.
Trial Attorneys will be supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.
RESPONSIBILITIES Duties of MHLD Trial Attorneys include, but are not limited to:
- Visiting with and interviewing clients at the facilities;
- Conducting pre-trial investigation and discovery, including obtaining and reviewing facility and other medical and psychiatric records, and interviewing facility staff and other potential witnesses;
- Working extensively with forensic psychiatric, psychological, and other clinicians;
- Locating and interviewing witnesses and consulting with service providers;
- Conducting legal research and writing; and,
- Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.
Qualifications:MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS - Applicants 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 or as an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction who is covered by Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
- All Trial Attorney positions require travel; access to reliable transportation throughout the Commonwealth is necessary; and,
- Reliable home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS - Trial experience in mental health cases is preferred;
- Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
- Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively; and,
- Foreign language skills to support interaction with limited English proficient groups in the region are desirable
To apply, please submit a resume, a cover letter detailing your interest in the position, and a legal writing sample.ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CPCS iCIMS WEBSITE. IF YOU APPLY THROUGH MASS CAREERS AND DO NOT COMPLETE THE CPCS iCIMS APPLICATION, YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO APPLY (CUT AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER IF THE EMBEDDED LINK DOES NOT WORK): https://careers-publiccounsel.icims.com/jobs/3270/trial-attorney---mhld-roxbury/job
