Spring 2026 Internship Positions

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 when required by the state or federal constitution or a state statute.

Their Mission and Values:
CPCS fights for equal justice and human dignity, supporting clients in achieving their legal and life goals through zealous advocacy and promoting just public policy. Their core values are Courage, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE).

Diversity and Inclusion:
CPCS is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. They aim to:
• Ensure management and staff represent a broad range of human differences and experience.
• Provide a respectful work climate that supports success.
• Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members.
Given their diverse client base, cultural competence is crucial for CPCS staff, enabling them to work effectively with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency.

Areas of Practice:
CPCS provides representation in a wide array of legal areas, including:
• Criminal cases
• Delinquency and youthful offender cases
• Family regulation cases
• Guardianship
• Mental health cases
• Sexually dangerous person cases
• Sex offender registry cases
• Appeals and post-conviction/post-judgment proceedings related to these matters.

EEO Statement:
CPCS is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Job Description

Position Title: Spring 2026 Internship Positions

Office/Division: Children and Family Law Division (CAFL) Hyannis Office

Overview:
This internship provides an opportunity to assist lawyers and work closely with social workers in the CAFL division. The primary focus is representing children and parents in cases where the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removes children from their homes due to claims of neglect or abuse. The unit also provides legal support in Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases, contested adoptions, guardianship of minor proceedings, and *sua sponte• custody proceedings in the Probate and Family Court.

Responsibilities:
Interns will be involved in a variety of tasks, including:
• Significant client contact through interviews and home/placement visits.
• Case investigation to support trial preparation.
• Service advocacy on behalf of clients.
• Negotiation with opposing counsel.
• Legal research and writing for motion arguments, custody hearings, termination of parental rights trials, or novel legal issues.
• Reviewing pre-trial discovery and DCF case files.
• Attendance and participation in education-related matters for clients, such as suspension hearings and IEP meetings.
• Appearances in Juvenile Court on behalf of Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) clients, if certified.
Interns are required to keep all information related to client representation and their work strictly confidential.

Qualifications (Minimum Entrance Requirements):
Interested candidates must meet the following criteria:
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
• Access to reliable transportation to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that may not be easily accessible by public transportation.
• Access to a personal computer with sufficient home internet access for remote work.

Application Information:
To apply, interested applicants should submit:
1. Resume
2. Personal Mission Statement (no more than two pages), detailing their interest in the internship, personal qualities and background, and what draws them to this work.
3. Writing Sample