Spring 2026 Semester Intern

Job Description

About Company

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for fulfilling the constitutional and statutory mandate to provide legal representation to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. This critical service covers a wide array of legal areas, including criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction/post-judgment proceedings.

CPCS is deeply committed to equal justice and human dignity, striving to support its diverse client base in achieving their legal and life goals. The agency zealously advocates for individual rights and promotes just public policy.

Its core Values are encapsulated in the acronym CARE:
• Courage
• Accountability
• Respect
• Excellence

CPCS places a strong emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion. Its mission is to protect clients’ fundamental rights through zealous advocacy and excellent legal representation, acknowledging the diverse circumstances of each client. The agency is dedicated to building strong professional relationships and ensuring that its management and staff represent a broad range of human differences and experiences. It strives to provide a respectful work climate that supports success and promotes the dignity and well-being of all staff members, with a steadfast commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as core values. CPCS recognizes that its clients are diverse across every context imaginable, creating a critical need for staff to be culturally competent and able to work effectively with people from different backgrounds, including various races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and those with limited English proficiency.

CPCS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to non-discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Job Description: Spring 2026 Semester Intern – Fall River Public Defender Division

The Fall River Public Defender Division of CPCS is seeking law student interns for the Spring 2026 semester. In this office, interns will be involved in representing adults accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses, as well as low-income clients facing civil commitment due to mental illness or substance use.

This internship offers valuable training and a variety of experiences, with interns working closely with veteran attorneys, social workers, and investigators. The primary goal is to provide legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients in both District and Superior Courts.

Key Responsibilities for interns include:
• Conducting client interviews.
• Presenting arraignment and bail arguments.
• Performing legal research.
• Drafting pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda.
• Engaging in pretrial investigation, which may involve visiting alleged crime scenes and interviewing witnesses.
• Presenting pretrial motion arguments in court.
• Opportunities for second seating trials.
• All interns must agree to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all client representation information and work performed.

Qualifications and Skills:
• Required: Law students who have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in an evidence or trial practice class are eligible. With written approval from their Dean, such students may represent clients in court under the supervision of a staff public defender, as permitted by SJC Rule 3:03.
• Preferred:
• Law students who have already taken classes in evidence, criminal law, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy.
• Possession of SJC Rule 3.03 certification is highly preferred, as it allows for direct client representation under supervision.