Make a meaningful impact as a PFJ Advocate

Become an Advocate and work directly with clients in the criminal legal system.

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Why become an 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.

  • 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
Make a Difference

What is the impact?

Learn more about the impact of Partners for Justice in communities across the country.

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A day in the life

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

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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.

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Frequently Asked

How are host offices selected?
How can I get involved?
How can this work impact mass incarceration?
How does your program work?
What do we mean by “access to justice”?
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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.

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