Law Student Intern, Special Projects Unit
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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 mandated by state or federal constitution or statute. CPCS is dedicated to fighting for equal justice and human dignity by supporting clients in achieving their legal and life goals, zealously advocating for individual rights, and promoting just public policy.
The organization operates under core values of Courage, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE). CPCS has a strong Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement, emphasizing its commitment to protecting clients’ fundamental constitutional and human rights through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent legal representation. It embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values, striving to ensure staff diversity, provide a respectful work climate, and promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members.
CPCS provides representation across a wide range of legal areas, including criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction/post-judgment proceedings. Given the diverse backgrounds of its clients, CPCS stresses the critical need for its staff to be culturally competent and able to work effectively with people from various races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and language proficiencies.
This specific internship is within the Special Projects Unit (SPU), which is part of the Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit. The SPU focuses on post-conviction cases where legal developments have a widespread impact on CPCS post-conviction clients, potentially providing grounds for vacating convictions. The unit notifies clients and attorneys about these developments and, in some instances, directly litigates these issues.
Job Description
The Special Projects Unit (SPU) of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking law student interns for the Spring 2026 term, running from January 5 to May 8, 2026.
Position Overview:
Interns will primarily assist SPU attorneys in post-conviction case investigation and litigation. For Spring 2026, a significant focus will be on preparation for an anticipated evidentiary hearing related to forensic testing performed at the now-shuttered Hinton Drug Lab. Interns will also research state and federal constitutional issues pertinent to other post-conviction litigation and aid in preparing arguments for appellate courts. They may also handle inquiries from attorneys and others concerning SPU litigation. Interns are encouraged to observe court proceedings at both appellate and trial levels. The office is committed to preparing students to become excellent public defenders, providing trainings on the Massachusetts criminal court system and appellate practice. The office is easily accessible via public transportation, eliminating the need for a car.
Responsibilities:
Interns will work directly with two attorneys, an administrative assistant, and a paralegal, performing tasks such as:
• Case investigation and document review (both online and at the courthouse).
• Discovery review using electronic tools.
• Conducting legal research.
• Drafting legal memoranda.
• Strategizing about legal theories to pursue in ongoing litigation.
• Responding to client inquiries.
Qualifications/Skills:
Required Qualifications:
• Must be currently enrolled in law school.
• Must have completed their first year of law school by the start of the internship.
Preferred Qualifications:
• 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 people, and other underrepresented groups.
• Students who speak a foreign language.
Application Process:
Applicants must submit a resume and complete a required statement of interest. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and strong encouragement is given to applicants to submit their materials as soon as practically possible. The final deadline for submissions is November 28, 2025. For any questions, applicants may contact Tricia Muse at pmuse@publiccounsel.net.
