AmeriCorps & Partner Opportunities

MSPD HOLISTIC DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT VISTAS

Want to make a real impact while gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of law, social work, and public policy? Join the Missouri State Public Defender (MSPD) as a Holistic Defense Development VISTA and be a part of the transformative shift toward holistic public defense. Many MSPD clients face criminal charges stemming from circumstances caused by poverty and unmet behavioral health needs. Once they enter the criminal legal system, these issues are only exacerbated. Holistic defense seeks to address these clients’ underlying needs beyond traditional legal representation, working to break the cycle of criminalization. Although this is a great opportunity for those considering law school, no law degree is required, just a passion for social justice and a commitment to learning. The VISTAs’ primary goal will be to collaborate with attorneys, social workers, AmeriCorps Holistic Advocates, and MSPD leadership to build up the holistic practices at MSPD by increasing MSPD’s capacity to address client needs, improving the wellbeing and economic opportunity of clients, and winning better case outcomes. VISTAs will develop skills in data collection and analysis, grant writing and reporting, communications and design, resource mapping, and developing community partnerships while building a network of professional contacts in the legal and advocacy fields.

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Specifically, VISTA members will:

  • Develop an understanding of criminal law/public defense and the problems afflicting MSPD clients
  • Build up the Holistic Defense Services unit to increase service offerings and enhance best practices
  • Maintain and build upon existing program partnerships, resources, guides and manuals
  • Develop a framework for maintaining and expanding grant funding, training initiatives, and volunteer networks related to the holistic representation of MSPD clients, and more

Qualified candidates will be inquisitive, collaborative, resourceful, open-minded, effective at expressing complex concepts, and passionate about public service. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated interest in social work, the law, criminal justice, or psychology and have strong computer skills. A one-year commitment is required, and volunteers will begin their service term in the summer of 2025. Full-time VISTA members will receive a living allowance of $24,894 for the duration of their service and a choice between an end-of-service-stipend ($1,800) or an AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395). For a more comprehensive look at AmeriCorps State benefits, visit AmeriCorps Member Benefits. Many universities offer scholarships, application fee waivers, and other benefits to AmeriCorps members. You can find school-specific details on the Schools of National Service list. Potential Placement Locations VISTAs may serve in Kansas City, St. Louis, or Columbia. St. Louis and Kansas City are preferred.

APPLY TODAY!

Applications are now open. Please submit your application through the AmeriCorps Listing.

BECOME A CLIENT ADVOCATE WITH PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE

MSPD has enlisted the services of the national organization Partners for Justice to help us bring on advocates who will provide our clients with holistic defense services. About Partners for Justice  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. About the Partners for Justice Professional Fellowship for Client Advocates Our Professional Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change while gaining hands-on experience within the criminal legal system. 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. During your Professional Fellowship, you will become part of a carefully selected nationwide cohort of fellows with aligned passions and goals. Throughout your time, you’ll cultivate negotiation, persuasion, and storytelling skills that will prepare you for professional and academic opportunities beyond your placement. In preparation for future opportunities, the PFJ Professional Fellowship offers access to professional development support, funding, training, coaching, mentorship, and assistance in professional and academic applications. Acknowledging the challenges of working inside the criminal legal system, Partners for Justice also supports Advocates with mental health and wellness programming, funding to support access to mental health services, and an Advocate Hardship Fund to address financial emergencies. PFJ also provides relocation assistance to fellows who indicate 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. 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.

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.
  • Interested in working within a public defender’s office in the

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. Possible Placement Locations Farmington Hillsboro (near St. Louis) Jackson Monett or Ava (near Springfield) Nevada Rolla 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 for the summer 2024 cohort, please visit https://www.partnersforjustice.org/apply. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we encourage interested candidates to apply sooner rather than later!

Questions?

Reach out to Alex Lubbe, Holistic Defense Services Coordinator, at alex.lubbe@mspd.mo.gov or 314-340-7625 ext. 247.