Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Job Posting

Job Title: Legal Intern

Reports to: General Counsel

OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY AND THE POSITION

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:

Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers; Determining whether those standards have been met; Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement; Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements; Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.

The POST Commission is governed by, and enforces, Chapter 6E of the Massachusetts General Laws. Pursuant to that statute, the POST Commission collaborates with the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) in several areas of its work.

The POST Commission is looking for an individual to join its Legal Division as a part-time or temporary Legal Intern. To be eligible, the individual must be currently enrolled in law school. Working under the direction of the General Counsel or the General Counsel’s designee, the Legal Intern will contribute substantively to the POST Commission’s interesting legal and policy work. The Legal Intern will thus gain deep, practical work experience, and will play a meaningful role in building a new government agency with an important mission.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Legal Intern will work closely with other members of the Legal Division team to address a wide range of legal and policy matters for the POST Commission. The Legal Intern will be expected to adhere to applicable sources of law and serve the public ethically at all times.

While the needs of the POST Commission may change over time, it is presently expected that the Legal Intern may be asked to devote a substantial portion of the internship to a large-scale project. That project would involve conducting a comprehensive analysis of the statutes, regulations, policies, and practices of other jurisdictions with governmental bodies that are similar to the POST Commission and preparing recommendations for steps that could be taken in Massachusetts.

The Legal Intern may also be assigned to contribute to any of the following:

Providing analysis and guidance on legal and policy matters to Commission personnel; Developing and refining regulations, policies, standards, protocols, and manuals governing or guiding the POST Commission or members of law enforcement; Ensuring compliance with applicable sources of authority; Developing informational materials for POST Commission personnel, law enforcement, and members of the public; and Responding to public records requests and compulsory legal process;

The forms of work performed by the Legal Intern may include:

Conducting in-depth research and analysis, and preparing legal memoranda, concerning statutes, regulations, and case law governing the POST Commission, law enforcement departments and officers, and governmental agencies and officials generally; Drafting text for regulations, policies, standards, protocols, or manuals; Preparing presentations, informational materials, meeting materials, meeting minutes, or correspondence for review by POST Commission attorneys; Reviewing, editing, and commenting on documents drafted by others; Making recommendations on whether portions of documents or data are subject to a legal privilege, protection, or restriction on disclosure; Organizing meetings, trainings, or hearings; and Gathering information from, and other communicating with, other agencies and stakeholders.

WORK SCHEDULE

The Legal Intern will be expected to work between15 and 37.50 hours a week. Customized schedules may be worked out with approval of the General Counsel. The Legal Intern’s employment term may begin after January 6, 2025, and extends for a period of three months. Longer periods will be allowed at the discretion of the General Counsel. The Legal Intern must be able to travel to the Boston Office location a minimum of four times per month. The POST Commission will provide the selected candidate with a laptop.

COMPENSATION

The hourly rate for a Legal Intern is $20/hour.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

To be considered for the position, apply through MassCareers or by emailing Jeanine.L.Hopkins2@mass.gov, and include a cover letter, a resume, and at least one writing sample reflecting your own work. You are strongly encouraged to discuss or demonstrate any experience with the areas listed above in your application.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Commission is committed to building a diverse staff across its entire agency and at all levels. The Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

It is the policy of the Commission and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law. Females, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTICE OF REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECK – INCLUDING TAX COMPLIANCE

The POST Commission requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.

Candidates should be aware of this requirement but should also know that such a background check is not initiated until:

A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview; andThe candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.

This background check includes a check of Criminal Offender Record Information, Federal IRS, and Massachusetts Department of Revenue tax compliance on all prospective employees as a condition of their employment.

Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified. Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted while a full background and qualification check is completed.

Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Job Posting

Job Title: Legal Intern

Reports to: General Counsel

OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY AND THE POSITION

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:

Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers; Determining whether those standards have been met; Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement; Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements; Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.

The POST Commission is governed by, and enforces, Chapter 6E of the Massachusetts General Laws. Pursuant to that statute, the POST Commission collaborates with the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) in several areas of its work.

The POST Commission is looking for an individual to join its Legal Division as a part-time or temporary Legal Intern. To be eligible, the individual must be currently enrolled in law school. Working under the direction of the General Counsel or the General Counsel’s designee, the Legal Intern will contribute substantively to the POST Commission’s interesting legal and policy work. The Legal Intern will thus gain deep, practical work experience, and will play a meaningful role in building a new government agency with an important mission.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Legal Intern will work closely with other members of the Legal Division team to address a wide range of legal and policy matters for the POST Commission. The Legal Intern will be expected to adhere to applicable sources of law and serve the public ethically at all times.

While the needs of the POST Commission may change over time, it is presently expected that the Legal Intern may be asked to devote a substantial portion of the internship to a large-scale project. That project would involve conducting a comprehensive analysis of the statutes, regulations, policies, and practices of other jurisdictions with governmental bodies that are similar to the POST Commission and preparing recommendations for steps that could be taken in Massachusetts.

The Legal Intern may also be assigned to contribute to any of the following:

Providing analysis and guidance on legal and policy matters to Commission personnel; Developing and refining regulations, policies, standards, protocols, and manuals governing or guiding the POST Commission or members of law enforcement; Ensuring compliance with applicable sources of authority; Developing informational materials for POST Commission personnel, law enforcement, and members of the public; and Responding to public records requests and compulsory legal process;

The forms of work performed by the Legal Intern may include:

Conducting in-depth research and analysis, and preparing legal memoranda, concerning statutes, regulations, and case law governing the POST Commission, law enforcement departments and officers, and governmental agencies and officials generally; Drafting text for regulations, policies, standards, protocols, or manuals; Preparing presentations, informational materials, meeting materials, meeting minutes, or correspondence for review by POST Commission attorneys; Reviewing, editing, and commenting on documents drafted by others; Making recommendations on whether portions of documents or data are subject to a legal privilege, protection, or restriction on disclosure; Organizing meetings, trainings, or hearings; and Gathering information from, and other communicating with, other agencies and stakeholders.

WORK SCHEDULE

The Legal Intern will be expected to work between15 and 37.50 hours a week. Customized schedules may be worked out with approval of the General Counsel. The Legal Intern’s employment term may begin after January 6, 2025, and extends for a period of three months. Longer periods will be allowed at the discretion of the General Counsel. The Legal Intern must be able to travel to the Boston Office location a minimum of four times per month. The POST Commission will provide the selected candidate with a laptop.

COMPENSATION

The hourly rate for a Legal Intern is $20/hour.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

To be considered for the position, apply through MassCareers or by emailing Jeanine.L.Hopkins2@mass.gov, and include a cover letter, a resume, and at least one writing sample reflecting your own work. You are strongly encouraged to discuss or demonstrate any experience with the areas listed above in your application.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Commission is committed to building a diverse staff across its entire agency and at all levels. The Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

It is the policy of the Commission and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law. Females, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTICE OF REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECK – INCLUDING TAX COMPLIANCE

The POST Commission requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.

Candidates should be aware of this requirement but should also know that such a background check is not initiated until:

A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview; andThe candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.

This background check includes a check of Criminal Offender Record Information, Federal IRS, and Massachusetts Department of Revenue tax compliance on all prospective employees as a condition of their employment.

Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified. Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted while a full background and qualification check is completed.

DESIRED QUALITIES

The POST Commission is looking for an individual who will demonstrate the following qualities while serving as a Legal Intern:

An appreciation for the mission of the POST Commission, and an interest in the development of policies governing the POST Commission and law enforcement;Strong skills in written and verbal communication; and in legal research, analysis, and advocacy;Strong organizational skills, and attention to detail;The ability to prioritize and complete multiple projects under time constraints and with available resources;The ability to work independently, productively, and creatively in an evolving environment;A commitment to practicing ethically;A strong work ethic and dedication to producing work at the highest levels of quality;An appreciation for teamwork and collegiality; and an ability to interact well with people at all levels within the POST Commission, stakeholders, outside counsel, outside vendors, and members of the public;An appreciation of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of interacting respectfully and sensitively with people of different backgrounds;A willingness to perform routine administrative duties;Proficiency with computers and the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); a working knowledge of reference and related sources available for legal research, including Westlaw; and a willingness to learn state-and POST Commission-specific electronic systems;A commitment to handling confidential and sensitive information in accordance with privacy and security protocols, and with discretion; andA willingness and ability to report to work in the Commission’s Boston office when called upon to do so.

OTHER VALUED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

The POST Commission also values experience or familiarity with the following:

The work of, and law governing, public agencies, particularly those in Massachusetts;Labor and employment law;The maintenance and disclosure of public records and discoverable documents; Data privacy and security; and Policy development and analysis.

DESIRED QUALITIES

The POST Commission is looking for an individual who will demonstrate the following qualities while serving as a Legal Intern:

An appreciation for the mission of the POST Commission, and an interest in the development of policies governing the POST Commission and law enforcement;Strong skills in written and verbal communication; and in legal research, analysis, and advocacy;Strong organizational skills, and attention to detail;The ability to prioritize and complete multiple projects under time constraints and with available resources;The ability to work independently, productively, and creatively in an evolving environment;A commitment to practicing ethically;A strong work ethic and dedication to producing work at the highest levels of quality;An appreciation for teamwork and collegiality; and an ability to interact well with people at all levels within the POST Commission, stakeholders, outside counsel, outside vendors, and members of the public;An appreciation of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of interacting respectfully and sensitively with people of different backgrounds;A willingness to perform routine administrative duties;Proficiency with computers and the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); a working knowledge of reference and related sources available for legal research, including Westlaw; and a willingness to learn state-and POST Commission-specific electronic systems;A commitment to handling confidential and sensitive information in accordance with privacy and security protocols, and with discretion; andA willingness and ability to report to work in the Commission’s Boston office when called upon to do so.

OTHER VALUED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

The POST Commission also values experience or familiarity with the following:

The work of, and law governing, public agencies, particularly those in Massachusetts;Labor and employment law;The maintenance and disclosure of public records and discoverable documents; Data privacy and security; and Policy development and analysis.