Description:

Duties:
A Massachusetts State Agency has immediate openings for staff attorneys (Counsel II) in its Boston Legal Office. The attorney in this position will be responsible for defending correctional employees in civil rights litigation in the state and federal courts involving constitutional issues, conditions of confinement, medical care, class actions and systems litigation, and will provide in-house counsel on a variety of matters as required. Litigation duties include travel to state correctional facilities and state and federal courts located throughout the Commonwealth.

The attorney will be responsible for conducting jury and non-jury trials, as well as oral arguments before the Commonwealth's state trial courts, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, Federal District Courts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals, with the majority of cases filed in Boston or in contiguous counties. The attorney is also responsible for interviewing witnesses at 13 state correctional institutions and obtaining relevant institutional records; consulting with other DOC staff and parties involved; reviewing case files; defending clients at depositions; responding to discovery and conducting legal research; and preparing motions, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs. The attorney is also responsible for providing legal advice as in-house counsel to all DOC employees, including the interpretation of applicable laws, regulations and case decisions impacting DOC. Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the position will be an experienced litigation attorney. Candidates should have excellent academic backgrounds, and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Experience in criminal justice issues strongly preferred.

Qualifications:
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements: Applicants must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, admission to the Massachusetts Bar and (A) at least three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law.

Incumbents may be required to have a current and valid Motor Vehicle Drivers License at a Class level specific to assignment.