Private Attorney Outreach Partner

Overview

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is seeking candidates for a Private Attorney Outreach Partner to serve as a key ambassador for CPCS in our efforts to recruit private attorneys to contract with CPCS.

 

CPCS is considered one of the leading public defender agencies in the country. 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.  To accomplish its mission of zealously representing clients, CPCS employs staff attorneys and contracts with private attorneys to serve as public defenders.  Approximately 80% of cases are handled by private attorneys.  The agency is facing a critical shortage of private attorneys.

 

The Administrative Office is located in Boston but the office location for this position is negotiable and may be sited in any available CPCS office, depending on the needs of CPCS, the  candidate, and available space. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

 

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.

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

 

Private Attorney Outreach Partners are key ambassadors for CPCS in the search for attorneys to contract with the agency. The Private Attorney Outreach Partner will assess current recruiting efforts and will develop new and innovative recruitment strategies as well as developing and marketing CPCS’ brand through our web presence, print publications, and on social media platforms.

 

The Private Attorney Outreach Partner will collaborate with the HR Department and the Equity & Inclusion Director, all private panel units and other stakeholders to develop and support a wide range of strategic efforts including expanding and maintaining diverse candidate pools and talent pipelines, sourcing and engaging passive candidates, leading outreach activities at law firms, Bar Associations, affinity groups, Alumni Associations, and law schools, and collecting and assembling recruiting data.  This position will also work with the Communications Director to raise awareness about CPCS and our mission, raise CPCS’s profile in the legal comm