Public Defender Client Advocate

Partners for Justice (PFJ) is seeking a Client Advocate to be placed at the Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD). Through their placement in the PFJ Professional Fellowship Program, the Client Advocate will be actively involved with defense center clients throughout the legal process. This includes helping to identify client priorities, connect clients with community social services, and assess potential enmeshed penalties of legal system contact. Possible placement locations at MSPD include the public defender offices in Farmington, Hillsboro (outside St. Louis), Jackson, Monett or Ava (near Springfield), Nevada, Rolla, or Saint Joseph.

Who We Are

PFJ was founded to transform public defense at scale, diminishing the effect of race and wealth on legal outcomes. This means empowering public defenders to assist clients with the underlying drivers of arrest and achieve better legal and non-legal outcomes, ensuring people can walk away from the criminal legal system with their rights, lives, and future intact. As a national nonprofit organization, PFJ partners with public defenders in 20 states nationwide through our Professional Fellowship program, advisory services, training, and communications.

About PFJ’s Professional Fellowship Program for Client Advocates

PFJ’s Professional Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to create an impact while gaining hands-on experience within the criminal legal system. As a Client Advocate, you’ll engage in a meaningful fellowship experience designed to make a concrete difference in the lives of the people you work with. With training, mentorship, and ongoing support, Advocates are integrated as full-time employees within public defender offices across the country. 

During your fellowship placement, you’ll become part of a carefully selected national cohort of fellows with aligned passions and goals. Throughout your time, you’ll cultivate negotiation, problem-solving, and storytelling skills that will equip you for opportunities beyond your placement. The PFJ Professional Fellowship also offers access to professional development support, funding, mentorship, and assistance in professional and academic applications. Acknowledging the challenges of working inside the criminal legal system, PFJ supports Advocates with mental health and wellness programming and an Advocate Hardship Fund to address financial emergencies.

What You’ll Do as a Client Advocate

As a Client Advocate, you'll serve as a full-time employee within a public defender office for up to two years. Advocates play a pivotal role by providing client-led direct service to people facing criminal charges. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities, from direct engagement with clients to collaboration with community partners to participating in legal proceedings.

Client Advocate responsibilities include:

• Conduct client interviews and build relationships with clients to understand their priorities, identify potential enmeshed penalties of arrest, and assess barriers to the client accessing desired services.
• Refer clients to community programs and social services based on their priorities, including but not limited to: housing, employment, social and medical benefits, and treatment.
• Identify potential civil, family, and immigration legal needs with a nexus to the client’s criminal case and refer clients to legal partners for consultation and representation.
• Build partnerships with local community organizations and government agencies to maintain knowledge about available services and facilitate access for clients.
• Develop and maintain a resource guide of available social and legal services in the local community and in the county more broadly.
• Advocate for clients by engaging with service providers, landlords, employers, and others, conveying clients' stories and needs in a compelling way that gets results.
• In coordination with attorneys, write persuasive narratives and recommendations to be used in court proceedings.
• Coordinate with legal and social service teams to facilitate collaboration and communication on client cases. 
• Maintain detailed knowledge of court processes and requirements; share information with clients and their families about the criminal legal process and assist them in overcoming barriers to meeting court requirements.
• Collect and report data about your work and achievements.
• Actively participate in the Partners for Justice Professional Fellowship program.

Who We’re Looking For

PFJ is committed to equity and inclusion in our Advocate selection process. We urge people who have been impacted by the criminal legal system or who share lived experiences with public defender clients to apply for PFJ placements. 

As a potential Client Advocate, you will need:

• A demonstrated interest in public service or social justice.
• Strong relationship management skills or customer support experience.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to draft professional written narratives suitable for submission in court proceedings.
• Comfort in working with minimal oversight and the ability to independently structure your own work.
• Past work or volunteer experience within a public defender office, a legal office serving low-income people, or in social service delivery is preferred.
• Experience bringing trauma-informed approaches to direct service work or enthusiasm for learning how to engage in trauma-informed advocacy.
• Reliable transportation.
• Professional-level Spanish language skills are highly valued. Spanish-speaking Advocates in some offices are eligible for a pay increase.

You should be an early-career professional or be willing to accept an entry-level position. Please note that Advocates cannot offer legal advice or clinical support, and we are unable to place licensed social workers or candidates with JDs.

You must be interested in working in one of the public defender offices where placement with MSPD is available. These include: Farmington, Hillsboro (outside St. Louis), Jackson, Monett or Ava (near Springfield), Nevada, Rolla, or Saint Joseph.

Compensation and Benefits

Client Advocates in this placement will be compensated at $19.23 / hour or $40,000 annually, with an increase to $20.43 / hour or $42,500 annually possible in the second year of placement. Advocates receive a competitive benefits package, including employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as generous paid time off. As part of the PFJ Professional Fellowship, you will also have access to the benefits described above, such as career support, mental health programming, and ongoing training and mentorship.

Application and Selection Process

To apply, visit www.partnersforjustice.org/apply. Applications not made through PFJ's website will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we encourage interested candidates to apply sooner rather than later! 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 with a sufficiently lengthy response so that your writing skills can be evaluated. While an unofficial academic transcript is optional, it is encouraged if applicable.  

The fellowship selection process consists of three stages: a pre-recorded first-round interview, a virtual final interview with a PFJ staff person, and a meeting for final placement approval with public defender staff. Additional information on our selection process and timeframe can be found on our website. For any questions, feel free to contact us at apply@partnersforjustice.org.