Supervising Attorney - PDD Roxbury

Overview

The Public Defender Division of a Massachusetts state public defender agency is seeking two Supervising Attorneys for its Roxbury Defender’s Unit. 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 assigned to Municipal, District, and Superior Court cases while maintaining a reduced caseload. Responsibilities include:

• Supervising new and experienced Trial Attorneys, particularly in serious felony or complex cases
• Conducting client interviews
• Arraignment and bail advocacy
• Legal research and writing
• Pretrial investigation, including visiting crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing evidence
• Preparing and arguing pretrial motions, affidavits, and legal memoranda
• Dispositional investigations and advocacy
• Conducting jury and bench trials
• Representing clients in interlocutory proceedings
• Regular one-on-one and group meetings with supervisees to review case files and performance
• 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
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Eligibility to practice law in Massachusetts as a member in good standing or eligible for limited practice under Supreme Court Rule 3:04
• Minimum of five years of criminal defense experience in District and Superior Courts
• Access to an automobile for travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations
• Access to home internet sufficient 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 the Attorney in Charge and supervisees
• Demonstrated commitment to zealous advocacy for indigent criminal defense clients
• 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 position is based in the Roxbury Defenders’ Office located at 10 Malcolm X Boulevard in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The office serves clients in Suffolk Superior Court and the Roxbury, Dorchester, and West Roxbury Divisions of the Boston Municipal Court.

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.