About the role
Overview
The Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) of CPCS is seeking applicants for Summer 2027 internship positions across the Commonwealth. We are interested in law students (both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification), graduate students, and undergraduate students for opportunities in the Youth Advocacy Division.
We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.
Our Values
Courage • Accountability • Respect • Excellence
We stand with our Clients and the Community in the fight for Justice. We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff across the Commonwealth embodies a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. It is through these differences in age, ethnicity, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values, that we are able to best serve our clients. Through our internship program we seek to hire, develop, and hopefully retain talented people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS attorneys to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected
characteristics.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT
CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation. We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs. It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility each member of the CPCS community.
AGENCY OVERVIEW
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.
YOUTH ADVOCACY DIVISION OVERVIEW
Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) Trial Offices
Interns will work with lawyers committed to ensuring that every child in Massachusetts had access to zealous legal representation, which incorporates a Positive Youth Development approach, in delinquency and youthful offender cases. Interns will assist lawyers and work closely with social workers to represent juveniles. YAD provides effective representation in court as well as educational advocacy and individualized referrals to community-based resources. This unit will provide interns with a wide range of opportunities, including, but not limited to, legal research and writing, arraignment and bail advocacy, pretrial investigations including visiting crime scenes, and locating and interviewing witnesses.
Juvenile Appeals Unit
Interns will assist Youth Advocacy Division Appellate attorneys who oversee a panel of skilled and zealous private lawyers representing clients in two distinct types of assignments: direct appeals and screenings. These assignments arise from delinquency, youthful offender and juvenile murder cases. We collaborate with the adult Private Counsel Criminal Post Conviction and Appeals Unit on “emerging adult” cases, where individuals were between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time the offense was committed. Interns will have the opportunity to do legal research and writing, policy discussions, and assist in developing and implementing trainings.
Qualifications
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Interested candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
Candidates must also
Have access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
Have access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely;
APPLICATION INFORMATION
- Interested applicants should submit (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, and (3) Writing Sample (minimum of 10 pages).
- Applicants should specify preferred office locations for the Summer 2027 Internship Program.
- Applications received prior to January 10, 2027 will be given preference.
INTERNSHIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
CPCS has a limited number of paid internship opportunities for Summer 2027. In order to be considered, applicants may complete the following application: CPCS Intern Scholarship Application
For students who are not selected for a paid internship, CPCS can work with students to support the receipt of externship credit or outside funding.
Responsibilities
OVERVIEW OF REGIONS AND YAD OFFICE LOCATIONS
SOUTHEAST REGION
The Southeast Region is home to an ethnically, racially, and linguistically diverse population of immigrants dating back to the 19th century whaling industry. Brockton known as the “City of Champions” because it was home to former undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano, and middleweight boxing champion Marvin Hagler. Fall River was once the leading textile manufacturer center in the country and maintains the world’s largest collection of World War II naval vessels at Battleship Cove. New Bedford is home to the Whaling National Historic Park. Hyannis is known as the gateway to esteemed Cape Cod and is home to the iconic Kennedy family compound. The area offers beautiful sand beaches, numerous state parks, and quaint towns with picturesque harbors.
The Southeast Region of CPCS includes Youth Advocacy Division office locations in Hyannis and Fall River.
NORTHEAST REGION
The Northeast Region is filled with history. Lowell is known as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and is known for its textile manufacturing with many of these historic manufacturing sites preserved by the National Park Service. During the Cambodian genocide, the city took in an influx of refugees, leading to Lowell having the second largest Cambodian-American population in the country. During the American Revolution, the citizenry of Malden were heavily involved in the early resistance of the oppression of Britain and was the first town to petition the colonial government to withdraw from the British Empire. Malden is five miles northwest o