Job Description

Overview

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applications for a Legislative Policy Counsel to work with the General Counsel in representing and advocating for the Agency before the Legislature and Executive Branch of the government.

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

C ourage • 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 of 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

The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for providing legal counsel to the Agency and representing and advocating for the Agency before the Legislature and Executive Branch of the government, which includes presenting oral and written testimony to legislative committees. The Office of the General Counsel also drafts, files, analyzes, and tracks legislation that affects the rights of CPCS clients and Agency operations.

The Legislative Policy Counsel will assist the General Counsel’s team in promoting the best laws and regulations that align with positive life outcomes for CPCS clients. The Legislative Policy Counsel will aid in building and maintaining relationships with legal and other associations, research, draft, and track legislation pertinent to our agency and clients, present written and oral testimony to the legislature and other CPCS stakeholders and generate policy memorandums and periodic reports.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Eligible to practice law in this jurisdiction 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 Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in state government or related field with experience working with the Massachusetts’ state legislature; and,
• Access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Knowledge of the legislative process and media relations;
• Strong leadership skills and qualities;
• Significant public sector experience, including public policy and budget advocacy;
• Understand and embrace the principles of zealous advocacy for indigent persons for whom there is a right to court-appointed counsel;
• Strong communication, analytical, interpersonal, negotiation and decision-making skills;
• Ability to work with courts, state administrators and agencies, and legislators;
• Experience working with organizations providing legal services to indigent persons; and,
• Ability to speak publicly and write speeches and presentations for others.

This position will remain open until filled.

Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific duties of the role:

• Building and maintaining relationships with legal and other associations to promote the welfare of CPCS clients;
• Researching, drafting and tracking legislation pertinent to the provision of legal services and the laws that affect our clients;
• Advocating for the interests of the agency and its clients to the Executive Branch, the Legislature, the Judiciary, and advocacy groups, as well as national, state, and community groups;
• Generating policy memorandums for distribution to policy makers and the general public;
• Assisting the General Counsel in representing and advocating on behalf of the agency before the legislative and executive branches;
• Drafting, filing and analyzing legislation that affects the rights of clients and agency operations;
• Presenting written and oral testimony before legislative committees, coalition meetings and conferences;
• Providing periodic reports to the General Counsel and Chief Counsel to be presented at the CPCS governing board;
• Establishing and maintaining a resources bank; 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 sdebow@publiccounsel.net

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