Law Student Intern

Job Description

About Company

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing legal representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney, as required by state or federal constitutional provisions or state statutes.

Mission: CPCS is dedicated to fighting for equal justice and human dignity. They support clients in achieving their legal and life goals, zealously advocating for individual rights, and promoting just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Values (CARE):
• Courage
• Accountability
• Respect
• Excellence

Diversity and Inclusion Mission: CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of their assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent legal representation. They prioritize building strong professional relationships, accepting, listening to, and respecting the diverse circumstances of each client. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values, with a steadfast commitment to:
1. Ensuring CPCS management and staff represent a broad range of human differences and experience.
2. Providing a respectful and supportive work climate.
3. Promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members.
CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion, and its achievement is ultimately the responsibility of every CPCS community member.

Agency Overview: CPCS provides representation in a wide array of legal matters, including criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post-conviction proceedings. The clients served are incredibly diverse across every context, bringing unique cultural dimensions to their cases. This necessitates that CPCS staff are culturally competent and adept at working with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

Job Description: Spring 2026 Internship Positions (Lowell PDD Office)

Position Overview:
The CPCS Lowell PDD office offers law student interns a variety of experiences and assignments under the supervision of veteran attorneys, coupled with valuable training. Interns will work closely with lawyers, social workers, and investigators to provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. This internship provides a wide range of opportunities, including but not limited to:
• Legal research and writing
• Arraignment and bail advocacy
• Second seating trials (assisting lead counsel)
• Pretrial investigations, including visiting crime scenes
• Locating and interviewing witnesses

Qualifications/Skills:

Qualifications (Required):
• Law students who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in an evidence or trial practice class.
• Possession of written approval by their Dean to represent clients under the supervision of a staff public defender in court, as per SJC Rule 3:03.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Law students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy.
• SJC Rule 3:03 certification.

Responsibilities:
Interns will work directly with attorneys, investigators, and social service advocates on the following key tasks:
• Client interviews
• Arraignment and bail arguments
• Legal research
• Drafting pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda
• Pretrial investigation, including visiting the locations of alleged crimes and interviewing witnesses
• Pretrial Motion arguments

Interns are required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information involving client representation and the work performed on behalf of clients.

Application Information:
Interested applicants should submit the following documents:
1. Resume
2. Personal Mission Statement (no more than two pages) detailing your interest in the internship, your personal qualities and background, and what draws you to this work.
3. Writing Sample

EEO Statement:
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation, in compliance with federal and state statutes and organizational policies. Applicants seeking information on equal employment opportunity or needing reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net.