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), Monett or Ava (near Springfield), Jefferson City, Nevada, Rolla, or Kansas City.

Who We Are

Partners for Justice (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. PFJ partners with public defenders in 20 states nationwide through our Professional Fellowship program, advisory services, training, and communications.

About the Partners for Justice Professional Fellowship for Client Advocates

PFJ’s Professional Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change 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 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.

During your Professional Fellowship, 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 also supports Advocates with mental health and wellness programming and an Advocate Hardship Fund to address financial emergencies. PFJ also provides relocation assistance to fellows with financial need.

What You'll Do as a Client Advocate

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. 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 going on the record in legal proceedings. 

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 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.

Who We’re Looking For

Partners for Justice 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 written and verbal communication skills.
• 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.
• 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 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), Monett or Ava (near Springfield), Nevada, Rolla, or Kansas City.