Law Student Intern

Job Description

About the 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 law. Its core mission is to fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting clients in achieving their legal and and life goals, zealously advocating for individual rights, and promoting just public policy.

CPCS handles a diverse range of cases including:
• Criminal
• Delinquency
• Youthful offender
• Child welfare
• Guardianship
• Mental health
• Sexually dangerous person
• Sex offender registry cases
• Appeals and post-conviction/post-judgment proceedings related to these matters.

The agency operates under the core values of Courage, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE).

CPCS is deeply committed to Diversity and Inclusion, emphasizing that its staff must be culturally competent and able to work effectively with clients from all backgrounds, including diverse races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and limited English proficiency. Their mission highlights a steadfast commitment to ensuring diverse management and staff, providing a respectful work climate, and promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on protected characteristics.

Job Description, Detailed

This position is for a Law Student Internship within the Special Projects Unit (SPU), which is part of the Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit at CPCS.

• Internship Period: The Spring 2026 internship will run from January 5 to May 8, 2026.
• Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted by November 28, 2025. Given that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible.
• Contact: For any questions, Tricia Muse can be reached at pmuse@publiccounsel.net.

The Special Projects Unit (SPU):
The SPU focuses on criminal post-conviction cases where new legal developments have a widespread impact on CPCS clients. The unit’s functions include:
• Notifying clients and attorneys about these developments.
• In some instances, directly litigating these issues.
• The unit’s work is critical in potentially vacating convictions based on new legal grounds.

Intern Responsibilities:
Interns will work directly with attorneys, an administrative assistant, and a paralegal on a variety of tasks, including:
• Case Investigation: Reviewing case files and court dockets, both online and at the court.
• Discovery Review: Utilizing electronic discovery tools to manage and review case materials.
• Legal Research: Conducting thorough research on relevant legal issues.
• Legal Drafting: Preparing legal memoranda and other documents.
• Strategy Development: Participating in discussions to strategize legal theories for ongoing litigation.
• Client Communication: Responding to inquiries from clients.
• Specific Focus for Spring 2026: Interns will primarily assist attorneys in preparing for an anticipated evidentiary hearing related to forensic testing performed at the now shuttered Hinton Drug Lab.
• Litigation Support: Researching state and federal constitutional issues pertinent to other post-conviction litigation and assisting in the preparation of arguments for appellate courts.
• Inquiry Management: Potentially fielding questions from attorneys and others regarding SPU litigation.
• Court Observation: Interns are encouraged to attend court to observe motions and arguments in appellate courts, as well as hearings and trials in the trial court.

Training and Professional Development:
CPCS is committed to preparing interns to become excellent public defenders. All interns will participate in trainings focused on the Massachusetts criminal court system and appellate practice.

Logistics:
The office is conveniently accessible via public transportation, eliminating the need for interns to have a car.

Qualifications:
• Required: All eligible applicants must be enrolled in law school and have completed their first year of law school by the start of the internship.
• Preferred: Candidates with the following qualifications are preferred:
• Students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy.
• Students with experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBT individuals, and other underrepresented groups.
• Students who speak a foreign language.