Administrative Assistant - PDD Hampden County Conflict Advocacy Office

Overview

The Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, is excited to announce the opening of a new Conflict Advocacy Office in Hampden County. We are seeking an Administrative Assistant to support the Attorney-in-Charge running the day-to-day duties of a busy trial office. PDD provides legal representation to adults in criminal court cases, including District and Superior Court.

 

Staff who have worked in other CPCS Hampden County non-conflict offices within the past three years are not eligible to work in the Conflict Advocacy Office.

 

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 newly created Hampden County Conflict Advocacy Office (“CAO”) will be located at 1441 Main Street in Springfield. The CAO will represent clients throughout Hampden County in the District and Superior Courts and act as the Conflicts Office for the Public Defender Division when a conflict of interest prevents a PDD staff attorney from representing a client.

 

The CAO will be considered  a separate law firm from all other CPCS offices for conflict of interest purposes. To this end, the CAO will have a separate managerial system, separate physical offices and computer/technology systems, and other mechanisms in place to ensure its separation for conflicts purposes from other CPCS offices.  

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

 

The Public Defender Division for CPCS is seeking to fill a Senior Administrative Assistant position in the newly created Hampden County Conflict Advocacy Office to work with attorneys that provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent adults in criminal misdemeanor and concurrent felony cases in area courts. The Senior Administrative Assistant is a key member of CPCS trial office staff, supporting the Attorney-in-Charge in running the day-to-day duties of a fast-paced legal office environment.  The Senior Administrative Assistant must be able to provide excellent support for the staff in the office as well as coordinate communications with other CPCS units such as HR, Facilities, and IT.

 

The Senior Administrative Assistant reports to the Attorney-in-Charge.

 

This is a full-time (35 hours/week)