Supervising Attorney

About the Mission

The Public Defender Division of CPCS, the Massachusetts public defender agency, fights for equal justice and human dignity. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all. Our core values are Courage, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.

CPCS is the state agency responsible for providing an attorney when the constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of counsel for those who cannot afford one. We provide representation in criminal, delinquency, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, and other proceedings. Our clients are diverse across every context imaginable, bringing unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and limited English proficiency.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are dedicated to building strong professional relationships while striving to accept, listen to, and respect the diverse circumstances of each client. We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values, ensuring that management and staff represent a broad range of human differences. We strive to provide a work climate that is respectful, supports success, and promotes the dignity and well-being of all staff members.

About the Role

The Lowell Office is seeking a Supervising Attorney to assist in the supervision of Trial Attorneys while maintaining a reduced personal caseload. Under the direction of the office's Attorney in Charge, you will supervise Trial Attorneys handling District and Superior Court cases, including new attorneys and those practicing in complex felony matters.

A Day in the Life

Your work will balance direct client representation with leadership duties. You will conduct client interviews, handle arraignment and bail advocacy, and perform pretrial investigations including visiting crime scenes and interviewing witnesses. You will prepare and argue motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda, and represent clients in jury and bench trials.

In your supervisory capacity, you will hold regular one-on-one and group meetings to review case files and performance. You will provide in-court supervision, including second-seating trials and significant pretrial hearings, and prepare annual performance evaluations. You will also present in-office training sessions and oversee other staff, such as investigators and student interns, as delegated.

About the Office

Lowell is the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts, located 30 minutes north of Boston. Known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution, the city has a rich history of immigration. During the Cambodian genocide, Lowell became home to a large Cambodian-American population, and today the city includes significant communities from China, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil.

The office is located minutes away from the new Lowell Justice Center and is accessible via the Gallagher Transportation Terminal, which services MBTA Commuter Rail lines from Boston as well as bus lines.

Hiring Process

Application Instructions: All applicants must apply directly through the CPCS iCIMS website. Applications submitted through Mass Careers without completing the CPCS iCIMS application will not be considered.

Please use the following link to apply: careers-publiccounsel.icims.com

Equal Opportunity

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. Applicants with questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net.