Mental Health Litigation Division Fall 2026 Internship Positions – Civil Commitment Trials

Job Description

Internship – Fall 2026 – Mental Health Litigation Division | Committee for Public Counsel Services

The Tone:
This is an internship at Committee for Public Counsel Services, located in Brockton, Northampton, Worcester, and Boston, MA. CPCS is a state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing attorneys to individuals who cannot afford one, protecting fundamental constitutional and human rights across various legal matters. This role supports the Mental Health Litigation Division’s mission to zealously advocate for the rights of individuals facing involuntary civil commitment and other mental health-related legal proceedings, ensuring equal justice and human dignity for all clients.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Location: In-person, Brockton, MA; Northampton, MA; Worcester, MA; Boston, MA
• Team: Mental Health Litigation Division. Interns receive supervision from highly experienced attorneys.
• Mission: This person supports clients in achieving their legal and life goals by providing assistance with civil commitment defense and trial panel support.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Client Advocacy: Assist attorneys in civil commitment defense proceedings by conducting client interviews and ascertaining their positions on pending petitions.
• Legal Research: Conduct legal research on systemic and specific issues affecting clients with mental disabilities, supporting novel arguments and litigation.
• Document Preparation: Work with attorneys to prepare motions, review medical records, and develop arguments for court proceedings.
• Practice Development: Draft and edit practice materials for attorneys and contribute to the development and maintenance of training resources.
• Client Support: Handle intake calls from patients and clients in mental health facilities, providing information about their legal status, assignment of counsel, or referrals.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Entry-Level. Law students with a demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
• Experience: Completion of 1L year (for Trial Panel Support Unit) or 2L year (for Civil Commitment units, with eligibility for SJC Rule 3:03 Certification).
• Skills: Legal research, client interviewing and information gathering, and legal document preparation.
• Bonus: Access to reliable transportation or public transportation to travel to courts and hospitals, and a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.