Staff Counsel - YAD EdLaw Western MA

About the Role

The Youth Advocacy Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking a Staff Counsel for its EdLaw Project, a dynamic team working to shut down the school-to-prison pipeline. This position will be based in Western Massachusetts with available CPCS office space and is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct representation in education advocacy, including school-based meetings, special education team meetings, discipline hearings, appeals, and state complaints.
• Conduct intake interviews and meet with clients.
• Support delinquency and child welfare attorneys through case advisories, assistance requests, and regional training.
• Represent clients in administrative hearings before the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.
• Maintain relationships with Juvenile Court, Probation, DYS, DCF, DESE, community agencies, and stakeholders.
• Participate in state and local coalitions for education policy reform.
• Stay updated on practice issues and laws, and assist with training materials, legal outlines, and practice guides.
• Conduct legal research and writing, including papers for national conferences.
• Mentor attorneys from law firms on pro bono education matters.
• Work on projects to improve legal representation for court-involved children.
• Assist with annual plans for education advocacy training programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of relevant legal experience, including education advocacy.
• Experience with the juvenile court and child welfare systems.
• Familiarity with state agencies such as DCF, DMH, and DDS.
• Ability to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent representation.
• Commitment to justice and working with diverse children and young people.
• Knowledge of state and local resources for children and young people.
• Understanding of juvenile legal practice and policy issues.
• Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian-Creole strongly preferred.

Requirements

• Eligibility to practice law in Massachusetts or under SJC Rule 3:04.
• Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and schools.
• Access to home internet for remote work.

Agency and Project Overview

CPCS is the Massachusetts state agency providing legal representation to those unable to afford it. The EdLaw Project is a multi-disciplinary unit offering direct representation, mentorship, and policy advocacy at the intersection of school and court systems. The team includes attorneys, social workers, an intake coordinator, and an administrative assistant with offices in Boston, Roxbury, Salem, and Springfield.

CPCS is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.