Supervising Attorney - PDD Malden

Overview

The Public Defender Division of a Massachusetts state public defender agency is seeking two Supervising Attorneys for its Malden Office. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of criminal defense experience with sufficient trial experience in Municipal, District, and Superior Courts to supervise all Trial Attorney staff.

Responsibilities

Supervising Attorneys will oversee Trial Attorneys handling cases in Municipal, District, and Superior Courts while maintaining a reduced personal caseload. Responsibilities include:

• Supervising new and experienced Trial Attorneys, particularly in serious felony and complex cases
• Conducting client interviews
• Arraignment and bail advocacy
• Legal research and writing
• Pretrial investigation, including visiting crime scenes and interviewing witnesses
• Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda
• Dispositional investigations and advocacy
• Conducting jury and bench trials
• Representing clients in interlocutory proceedings
• Holding regular one-on-one and group meetings to review case files and performance
• Providing in-court supervision, including second-seating trials and significant pretrial hearings
• Preparing annual performance evaluations
• Presenting in-office training sessions
• Supervising other staff such as investigators and student interns as delegated
• Performing other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Eligibility to practice law in Massachusetts as a member in good standing or under limited practice rules
• Minimum of five years of criminal defense experience in District and Superior Courts
• Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation sites
• Access to sufficient home internet for remote work

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant jury trial experience as lead counsel in criminal cases, including Superior Court
• Commitment to working with culturally diverse, low-income populations
• Ability to work collaboratively with supervisors and supervisees
• Demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy for indigent criminal defendants
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in community and defense-oriented roles
• Foreign language skills, particularly Spanish, are desirable

Location

The Malden Office is located in Middlesex County, approximately four miles from downtown Boston. It is centrally situated in the Malden civic center with excellent highway access (Routes 93, 28, and 60) and proximity to the Malden Square MBTA train station and bus stop.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity organization and 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 in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.