Job Description
Overview The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking an attorney to work in the Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Lowell Office. CAFL provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation matters, including care and protection (C&P) proceedings, children requiring assistance (CRA) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and any other child custody proceeding where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a party or where the court is considering granting custody to DCF. 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 • A *ccountability • R *espect • E *xcellence 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. OFFICE OVERVIEW The CAFL Lowell Trial Office is a dedicated team of advocates committed to protecting the rights of children and families and to ensuring equity within the child welfare legal system. Our work is grounded in the fundamental belief that high-quality legal representation and strong community connection are essential to achieving just outcomes. Attorneys and staff collaborate closely with one another and with community partners to support clients as they navigate complex and often overwhelming legal challenges. We are committed to advancing racial justice and addressing the systemic inequities that disproportionately impact the families we represent. Conveniently located in the heart of Lowell, the office is within walking distance of the newly built and modernized courthouse, allowing for seamless access to the courts we serve. Often described as the “cradle of the American Industrial Revolution,” Lowell is a city defined by resilience, history, and diversity. Its communities reflect a wide range of cultures, languages, and experiences—shaping both the challenges our clients face and the strength they bring to their cases. Lowell is also the birthplace of notable figures including Jack Kerouac, Bette Davis, Olympia Dukakis, and Micky Ward. POSITION OVERVIEW CAFL’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. For a parent involved in a C&P case, having a skilled CAFL lawyer may mean the difference between the family’s reunification and the termination of parental rights – the “death penalty of family law.” For a teenager who is the subject of a truancy CRA case, CAFL’s advocacy may secure the special education services that enable the client t