The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking a full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Worcester Office.
The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.
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
Courage • 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.
OFFICE OVERVIEW
The Worcester Office is located in downtown Worcester, a five-time recipient of the All-American City Award. It is New England’s second largest city and combines the historic charm of a small town with the conveniences of a thriving metropolis. With more than 70 cultural venues, including world-class museums, concert halls, theaters, renowned breweries, and over 100 local restaurants, it also provides a central location from which to visit all of New England, located 45 minutes from both Boston and Rhode Island.
The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, and the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Mental Health Litigation Division (MHLD) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking a full-time Trial Attorney for civil commitment cases including trials and a limited number of appellate cases for its Worcester Office.
The Worcester Office is responsible for civil commitments filed in the Worcester District Court for individuals facing civil commitments to Worcester Recovery Center & Hospital (Dept. of Mental Health), UMass Memorial Inpatient Psychiatric Units, St. Vincent Hospital, the Hospital for Behavioral Medicine and other hospitals as assigned.
The Mental Health Litigation Division is committed to protecting the legal and constitutional rights of citizens facing civil commitment to a psychiatric facility, guardianship petitions, and involuntary treatment orders including the administration of antipsychotic medications. Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys receive training in issues relating to mental health and the statutory and constitutional rights of our clients.
Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Attorneys provide zealous representation in mental health cases, primarily to indigent persons in proceedings seeking the initial commitment to, continued confinement at, or authorization to treat by psychiatric facilities operated by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health (DMH) and private psychiatric facilities licensed by DMH. Attorneys will appear primarily in District Court sessions conducted at facilities for which the Office is responsible or in Superior Court divisions within the county in which the facilities are located but may be required to represent clients in proceedings emanating from other facilities and conducted in other courts of the Commonwealth. Trial Attorneys may also represent clients in appeals to the Appellate Divisions of the District and Municipal Courts.
Trial Attorneys will be supervised by, and report to, the Attorney in Charge.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties of MHLD Trial Attorneys include, but are not limited to:
- Visiting with and interviewing clients at the facilities;
- Conducting pre-trial investigation and discovery, including reviewing facility and other medical and psychiatric records, and interviewing facility staff;
- Working extensively with forensic psychiatric and psychological clinicians;
- Locating and interviewing witnesses and consulting with service providers;
- Conducting legal research and writing; and,
- Representing clients in pretrial proceedings, hearings, and interlocutory appeals.