The Committee for Public Counsel Services is seeking an experience attorney to be the Director of the Criminal Trial Support Unit in the Private Counsel Division. The Director provides leadership, oversight, and support to the state-wide criminal private counsel trial panel (approximately 1,700 attorneys, taking about 120,000 trial court assignments/year).

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of its clients by providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and excellent representation.  In fulfilling its mission, CPCS is committed to fostering diversity at all levels of the agency.  We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs.  In striving always to achieve those goals, CPCS embraces diversity and inclusion as core values and is steadfast in our commitment to:  (1) ensuring that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human difference and experience; (2) providing a work climate that is respectful and that supports success; and (3) promoting the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS's leadership is responsible for ensuring excellence, diversity, and inclusion. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of the Criminal Trial Support Unit (Director) provides leadership, oversight, and support to the state-wide criminal private counsel trial panel (approximately 1,700 attorneys, taking about 120,000 trial court assignments/year).  The Director ensures panel attorney compliance with the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct and the CPCS Performance Standards of Practice (Performance Guidelines) pursuant to the Assigned Counsel Manual (ACM) policies and procedures.  The Director works closely with the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Private Counsel Division (Deputy Chief Counsel) to ensure Division goals are accomplished. The Director also directly supervises a unit of approximately 8 staff members.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership, supervision, and support to the Criminal Trial Support Unit staff attorneys and administrative professionals, including completing annual staff performance evaluations, in-house trainings, and the promotion of staff professional development;
• Oversee the certification and any subsequent recertification processes for the criminal private counsel panels (District Court, Superior Court, and the Murder List);
• Oversee the assignment of counsel policies and procedures for criminal District Court, Superior Court, and murder matters;
• Responsible for coordinating the oversight of 13 state-wide Bar Advocate Programs (BAPs), including the review and approval of budget, expense, and contract modification requests, as well as substantive oversight of approximately 38 private counsel supervising attorneys;
• Monitor the private counsel trial panel’s compliance and investigate complaints of attorneys’ failure to comply with the CPCS Performance Guidelines pursuant to the ACM. Following investigations, make disciplinary recommendations to the Deputy Chief Counsel;
• Oversee the pre-payment review of bills submitted by private counsel which reach or surpass the established threshold;
• Hire, train, and supervise the staff responsible for the 24-hour murder hotline. Oversee the assignment of pre-arraignment counsel in murder cases;
• Collaborate with and support the Deputy Chief Counsel to further the goals and objectives of the Private Counsel Division;
• Collaborate with other CPCS Trial Panel Directors to ensure agency wide consistency in working with private assigned counsel;
• Collaborate with other CPCS Divisions and Units such as the Public Defender Division, the training Department, Finance, Information Technology, Audit and Oversight and Human Resources as appropriate to fulfill responsibilities;
• Respond to questions and concerns from clients, courts, judges, clerks, probation officers, Department of Correction and Sheriff Officials and others; and,
• Other duties as assigned.