Partners for Justice
Website:
partnersforjustice.org
Job details:
Make a meaningful impact as a PFJ Client Advocate
Become a Client Advocate and work directly with clients in the criminal legal system.
Apply today, fill out our
interest form to hear about future opportunities, or
register for office hours to learn more.
Why become an Advocate
a DAY IN THE LIFE
how to apply
APPLICATION timeline
Join the PFJ Professional Fellowship
Why become a Client Advocate?
Advocates work directly to help clients avoid the devastating impacts of arrest and support clients to move forward from the criminal legal system with their future opportunities intact. Meanwhile, Advocates also receive first hand exposure to the criminal legal system and a life-changing public service experience.
Every day is different as an Advocate, whether you're working directly with a client, building awareness of your services in the community, or collaborating with a community partner. Read the job description to learn more!
- Substantial impact in communities
- Increased confidence in your ability to face new challenges
- Make a difference in individual lives
- Feel valued and part of a team
- Interested? Apply today or fill out our interest form to hear about future positions, or register for office hours to learn more.
more information
A day in the life
As a Partners for Justice Client Advocate, you’ll engage in a meaningful fellowship experience designed to make a concrete difference in clients’ lives. With training, mentorship, and ongoing support, Advocates are integrated as full-time employees within public defender offices across the country, offering real life exposure to the criminal legal system.
As a Client Advocate You Will:
- Connect with clients to learn more about the problems they are facing and their goals
- Depending on your clients’ needs, creatively assist with issues like clearing past criminal convictions, preparing for child services interventions, accessing public benefits, maintaining work licenses, finding and maintaining housing, and obtaining mental health counseling or substance use treatment
- Partner closely with attorneys to provide relevant information and documents for clients’ criminal case and other legal issues
- Build a network of local services, community organizations, and civil attorneys so that you can appropriately refer and advocate for clients
- Use your detailed knowledge of court processes and requirements to help your clients navigate these institutions
- Advocate for clients with service providers, attorneys, judges, landlords, employers, and others, telling your clients’ stories in a compelling way that gets results
- Collaborate with your teammates at your host office and nationwide to share knowledge, brainstorm solutions, and build a community
application process
How To Apply
To help applicants learn more about the PFJ program and prepare for our Advocate selection process, we offer office hours with our national team, along with resume and interview workshops.
Application:
Please complete the application to apply for the Partners for Justice Professional Fellowship Program.
Office Hours:
For those interested in becoming an Advocate, office hours are a great chance to learn more about the role and the PFJ program. This event is hosted by a PFJ national team member and is held on a drop-in basis in hour and a half blocks, depending on attendance this event may be one-on-one or in a group. Office hours are not part of our interview process and they are not evaluative, so we invite everyone to bring questions.
Learn more >
Resume Workshop:
This workshop helps attendees put their best foot forward when applying to be a PFJ Advocate or in any job they choose.
Learn more >
Advocate Panel:
Candidates who receive an interview will be invited to attend the Advocate Panel. This virtual panel provides candidates an opportunity to hear from current Client Advocates about their day-to-day experiences and ask any questions about the Advocate role or PFJ Program. More information will be provided to candidates with their interview invitation.
Supervisor Panel:
This panel is made available to candidates invited for a final interview. PFJ organizes panel discussions with the public defender supervisors from each office where we are currently placing Client Advocates. Candidates will have the opportunity to meet potential supervisors, learn more about the placement offices, and ask any questions. More information will be provided to candidates with their final interview invitation.
Tips On Applying:
Applying to any job can be intimidating, we know. So we asked a few current and former PFJ Client Advocates for their advice on how to ace the application process and be selected for PFJ's next class of Advocates. Here's what they had to say.
"Never lose your perspective. Think about why you’re drawn to this kind of work and what you would bring to the position. Ultimately, PFJ praises passion over pedigree, so the best thing you can do is show up to your interviews as your most authentic self."
— Audrey, California “While your story and lived experiences relating to this work do matter in the context of why you are here, it is not all that matters. Whether or not you have a history involving the Criminal Court system, you have chosen to apply to this job for a reason. Lean into your compassion for others, desire for true justice, and the aspects of your background and personality that make you a trustworthy support person.” — Brookyln, Montana "Start early. Waiting until close to the due date to submit makes it less likely you will have time to check and truly submit the best version of yourself to the PFJ team. This is a competitive fellowship, and the application is just the first of many opportunities an applicant has to illustrate attention to detail and genuine interest in the position.” — Shanai, Mississippi "Rely on lived experiences and share your story – the journey matters. Be open to learn, educate, and grow. Ask thoughtful questions during your interviews and office hours to make sure this role is a good fit for you.” — Tracy, Missouri
important dates
The timelines below are for PFJ's standard Spring and Fall recruiting cycles for the Client Advocate Professional Fellowship.
Spring Timeline
Applications open
January 8
Applications close
March 22
Applications submitted by
February 16
March 22
First round invites
February 19
March 25
First round interviews
February 20 - 25
March 26 - April 1
Second round invites
March 6
April 10
Second round interviews
March 9 - 13
April 13 - 17
Placement offers
End of April
End of April
Start date
July 13
Fall Timeline
Applications open
September 9
Applications close
October 11
First round invites
October 14
First round interviews
October 14 - 20
Second round invites
October 29
Second round interviews
November 2 - 6
Placement offers
Early December
Job starts
January 11
EVERY SINGLE DAY
How We Work
CHANGING LIVES
Advocates in action
One of our Advocates had a client who was a retired veteran with severe and chronic PTSD. He had gotten into an argument with his landlord and was being held in jail when our Advocate met him. Based on information the Advocate shared about the client’s background, the prosecutor agreed to drop the charges down to misdemeanors and let the client out of jail—if he had a place to go. The Advocate didn’t just call a housing program for veterans. She refused to take “no” for an answer and worked her way to the program’s Executive Director, impressing him with her client’s story and convincing him to offer the client a bed the next day. To secure the agreement, the Advocate promised to personally drive her client from the jail to his new housing. As a result, the prosecutor gave this client a favorable disposition and a veteran has a new home.
Learn more about becoming an Advocate ›
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Client Advocate do?
As a Client Advocate Fellow, you'll serve as a full-time, in-person, entry-level employee within a public defender office for up to two years. Opportunities for employment beyond the fellowship's duration are at the discretion of the public defender's office. Advocates play a pivotal role in providing client-led direct service to people facing criminal charges. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities, from direct engagement with clients to collaborative efforts with community partners.
As a Client Advocate You Will:
- Build relationships with and interview clients to understand their challenges and priorities, as well as identify potential consequences of an arrest.
- Provide clients with streamlined access to wraparound services, including but not limited to housing, employment, social and medical benefits, and treatment needs.
- Advocate for clients by engaging with service providers, landlords, employers, prosecutors, judges, and others, conveying clients' stories and needs in a compelling way that gets results.
- Coordinate with legal and social service teams to support to facilitate collaboration and communication on client cases.
- Partner with attorneys to compose persuasive narrative reports, support arguments, and provide relevant information and records.
- Maintain detailed knowledge of court processes and requirements.
- Collect and report data about work and your achievements.
- Actively participate in the Partners for Justice Professional Fellowship program.
Where are offices located?
We have offices across the United States. You can learn more about our locations here.
Placement as a Client Advocate in any particular location is based on need and availability.
How do I apply?
You can apply to become a Client Advocate here.
If we aren't currently accepting applications, you can sign up to receive information here.
What does the application and selection process look like?
The application consists of a resume and several short answer questions (3-6 sentences). Short answer responses will be used to assess your writing ability in addition to the substance of your responses. Please be sure to fully complete these questions. While an unofficial transcript is optional, it is encouraged if applicable. The PFJ selection process consists of two stages: a pre-recorded first-round interview and a virtual final interview with a PFJ hiring manager.
I have questions, where should I reach out?
If you have questions, you can reach out to our team at apply@partnersforjustice.org.
View All FAQs
Get in touch
Have questions about PFJ, what our Advocates do, or the application process? Reach out to our team and we will get back to you.
Send us an email
apply@partnersforjustice.org
Send us some mail
Partners for Justice
244 Fifth Avenue, Suite R277
New York, NY 10001
USA
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