Trial Attorney - CAFL Fall River

all applicants must apply directly through the cpcs icims website. If you apply through mass careers and do not complete the cpcs icims application, you will not be considered for this position. Please use the following link to apply (cut and paste into your browser if the embedded link does not work):

https://ca

the public defender agency for massachusetts is seeking an attorney to work in the children and family law division (cafl) fall river office.

cafl provides legal representation to children and indigent parents in family regulation cases, including care and protection (c&p) proceedings, children requiring assistance (cra) cases, actions to terminate parental rights, guardianship-of-a-minor cases, and other child custody proceedings where the department of children and families (dcf) is a party.

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.

• courage
• accountability
• respect
• excellence

cpcs is the state agency in massachusetts responsible for providing counsel when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford one. The agency represents clients in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as appeals and post‑conviction and post‑judgment proceedings related to those matters.

the clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This requires cpcs staff 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.

fall river is a city in bristol county, massachusetts, with a 2020 population of 94,000 making it the tenth‑largest city in the state. It is located along the eastern shore of mount hope bay at the mouth of the taunton river. The city has a rich history as a textile manufacturing center and is known for its many 19th‑century textile mills and battleship cove, home of the world's largest collection of world war ii naval vessels, including the uss massachusetts.

cafl’s legal advocacy plays a critical role in cases that affect families. A skilled cafl attorney can make the difference between family reunification and termination of parental rights, secure special education services, and secure a permanent home for siblings freed for adoption.

new trial attorneys begin their cpcs career with a nationally recognized, comprehensive, skills‑based training course and periodic continuing legal education to stay current.

• interview adult clients.
• visit and interview child clients.
• conduct legal research and writing.
• conduct pre‑72 hour hearing investigations including reviewing pleadings and exhibits, locating and interviewing witnesses, preparing witnesses, gathering facts from the dcf social worker and other collateral providers, consulting with other parties’ counsel, collecting and reviewing documentary evidence, identifying objections, and drafting appropriate motions.
• obtain the entire dcf file, review action plans, propose plan changes, advise client, meet with court investigator, prepare client, and prepare motions to strike inadmissible evidence in the court investigator report.
• prepare necessary motions regarding outstanding discovery, identify matters requiring further hearing, prepare pre‑trial memo, and develop trial strategy with client.
• prepare for foster care reviews.
• review dcf’s permanency plans and file objections, if necessary.
• investigate and represent client’s position in extraordinary medical treatment hearings.
• file motions challenging dcf decisions.
• conduct care and protection trials and termination of parental rights trials.
• represent clients in interlocutory proceedings.
• work with the legal…