2027 Public Defender Division Trial Attorney - Statewide Positions

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal representation to indigent clients 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. The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts.

About the role

Trial Attorneys begin by representing clients charged with criminal offenses within the final jurisdiction of the District Court, including misdemeanors and felonies. After gaining experience, Public Defenders will represent clients in the Superior Courts and occasionally handle interlocutory appeals, civil commitments, and certain collateral matters. Experienced Public Defenders are also expected to act as informal mentors and advisors to other staff attorneys in the office.

New Trial Attorneys start with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills-based training course. Continuing legal education programs are held periodically to ensure attorneys remain current on the law and maintain the skills necessary for zealous representation.

Attorneys will be hired throughout 2026 and 2027 for immediate start dates as well as future start dates, including Spring and Fall 2027.

Mission and Values

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent legal representation. The agency embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values, striving to:

• Ensure management and staff represent a broad range of human differences and experience;
• Provide a respectful work climate that supports success; and
• Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members.

CPCS serves a culturally diverse, low-income population, requiring staff to be culturally competent and able to work effectively with individuals of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and limited English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Interviewing clients;
• Arraignment and bail advocacy;
• Legal research and writing;
• Pretrial investigation, including visiting crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, and collecting documentary evidence;
• Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda;
• Dispositional investigations and advocacy;
• Jury and bench trials of criminal cases;
• Representation of clients in interlocutory proceedings;
• Collaborating with private attorneys on cases assigned through the Private Counsel Division of CPCS; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Commitment to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population;
• Eligibility to practice law in Massachusetts (member of the Massachusetts bar, law school graduate under SJC Rule 3:03, or attorney licensed in another jurisdiction covered by SJC Rule 3:04);
• Recent law school graduates ineligible to practice under SJC Rule 3:03 may be hired as paralegals with promotion to Trial Attorney upon admission to the Massachusetts bar;
• Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations not easily accessible by public transportation; and
• Home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy for indigent persons in criminal cases;
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; and
• Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.