Assignment Coordinator - Private Counsel - Criminal Appeals Unit

Overview

The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a full‑time Assignment Coordinator to support the work of the Private Counsel Division Criminal Appeals Unit. The Assignment Coordinator communicates with clients, attorneys, and other community members and ensures that essential information regarding case assignments and other information is entered into the appropriate databases.

The Private Counsel Division is seeking candidates for an Assignment Coordinator position in the Criminal Appeals Unit (CAU) to support the work of the CAU. The Assignment Coordinator is a key member of the Criminal Appeals Unit and works in concert with the director, unit attorneys, paralegals and other administrative staff. The Assignment Coordinator communicates with clients, attorneys, and other community members and ensures that essential information regarding case assignments and other information is entered into the appropriate databases.

The Assignment Coordinator is expected to maintain a professional demeanor while working in a high‑paced work environment and maintain confidentiality. The Assignment Coordinator is also responsible for associated administrative and clerical duties as needed. This is a full‑time (35 hours/week) position and reports to the Director of Criminal Appeals. This position will be based in Boston and is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of two days in the office required.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a person who is both highly organized and detail-oriented and enjoys interacting with people in a friendly work environment and will take satisfaction from working in an agency which is committed to protecting the fundamental legal rights of indigent persons.

• Two years of full‑time, or equivalent part‑time, experience in administrative work; and,
• Access to a home internet access sufficient to work remotely.

Substitutions:

• A bachelor’s or higher degree may be substituted for two years of the required experience. Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

Qualifications / Skills

Applications will be strengthened by the following:

• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and deliver high‑quality work;
• Excellent written and verbal communication;
• Strong organizational and detail skills;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to exercise considerable judgment and discretion;
• Previous administrative assistant or similar experience and knowledge of general office procedures (e.g., correspondence, scheduling, filing);
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint);
  Microsoft One Drive and ;
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and to work as part of a team; and,
• Good problem‑solving skills

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Answering the unit’s phone and monitoring and tracking incoming communications from clients, attorneys, and other community members to ensure a prompt and comprehensive response to all inquiries;
• Coordinating time‑sensitive case assignments, including entering assignment information into databases, and emailing records of assignments to appropriate parties;
• Maintaining electronic files, databases, and spreadsheets, including, but not limited to incoming communications, CLE records, complaint databases, case administrative documents and filed briefs; client complaints, and others as needed;
• Communicating with clients, attorneys, and courts via telephone, email, and mail correspondence;
• Providing administrative support, including word and data processing, spreadsheet maintenance, filing, copying, scanning, and handling correspondence as needed;
• Assisting with front desk coverage as needed, including all receptionist responsibilities;
• Assisting with other projects to improve the quality of legal representation and to enhance client services; and,
• Other duties as assigned.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies.

Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at