Join Us In Transforming Justice
Careers
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is seeking individuals to join its staff in Dallas or Austin, Texas. LSJA is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system. We envision a justice system that uses developmentally-appropriate responses to behavior and treats youth and emerging adults with equity and dignity to promote resilience, conserve costs, and increase public safety.
Engagement Specialist
Position Title: Engagement Specialist
Reports To: Director of Workforce Programs
Job Status: Part -Time
Time Commitment: 30 hrs/week; some nights and weekends required
Benefits: Comprehensive employer subsidized health insurance for employee only (including dental and vision)
Lone Star Justice Alliance is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults (18-24) in the justice system. We envision a justice system that’s fair, humane, and tailored to young people—one that supports their growth, respects their dignity, and keeps communities safe, all while using resources wisely.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Engagement Specialist will be a part of a multidisciplinary program that serves justice-involved emerging adults (ages 18-24) in Dallas, TX. The Engagement Specialist will help with outreach and recruitment of participants into the program. They will also help plan, guide, and support participants through the workforce program and assist them in accessing education, employment, and stabilization services. They will work compassionately to help remove barriers that historically cause justice-involved emerging adults to be left out of the workforce. The Engagement Specialist will coordinate and provide support that is consistent, thoughtful, effective, equitable, and participant-centered. The Engagement Specialist will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to support participants.
RESPONSIBILTIES:
- Provide outreach and recruiting services to potential participants, provide information about the program, and assist them with enrollment
- Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations and businesses to market and recruit for the program.
- Conduct intake and assessment of participants and serve them while working on stabilization goals (e.g. obtaining basic needs, identification, resumes, etc.)
- Conduct soft skills trainings such as resume, job searching skills, communication, time management, etc. with participants
- Help participants set goals and establish a a plan that identifies short and long-term goals as well as needed resources to achieve goals
- Provide consistent support, including resource referral and interventions, to participants to ensure programmatic success.
- Maintain complete and accurate records of all clients through LSJA database systems and other required client tracking systems.
- Engage in team meetings to provide relevant updated on caseloads and student trends.
SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Ability to integrate principles of Trauma Informed Care and Trust Based Relationships into service delivery approach with clients
- Ability to clearly express ideas to individuals and groups in oral discussions and written communications
- Superb organizational and interpersonal skills (i.e. customer service, relationship, and team building)
- Excellent outreach and interpersonal skills
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate and empathize with individuals of diverse backgrounds
- Effective time management is essential along with the ability to stay on task and reach deadlines
- Business analytics, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Crisis Intervention Skills
- Proficient in MS Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
This rewarding position is part of a collaborative team that includes case managers, employers, and other team members. This position requires high capacity, strong boundaries, exceptional organization skills, and excellent de-escalation skills.
Other requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field – 4+ years of directly applicable experience may be substituted for education requirements at the discretion of LSJA
- Experience working with justice-involved youth and case management providers
- Experience working in under-resourced community
- Computer Literacy skills (MS Office, Database entry, case notes, etc.)
- Must have access to reliable transportation
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bi-lingual (Spanish)
- Prior experience in workforce development environment
- Directly impacted by the justice system
POSITION PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Sitting, Standing, Lifting, etc. Engagement Specialist may be mobile throughout most the day. This position may require walking or standing for long periods of time to meet with participants or employers. The hands are regularly used to write, and type. Weights of up to 5 pounds occur (i.e. laptop computer, carrying case or backpack for equipment and files.) Requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
HOW TO APPLY: To apply please send a letter of interest and a resume to Director of Workforce Programs, mclark@lsja.org. In the Subject line, type ‘Engagement Specialist–Last Name’ In your cover letter, answer the following questions: (1) What does justice reform mean to you? You should be detailed in your response, but don’t go over two paragraphs. (2) Why do you think you would be a good fit for this nonprofit.
Thank you for taking the time to read this entire ad, if you decide to apply and follow instructions, we look forward to following up with you. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. LSJA has a strong commitment to diversity and especially encourages people with lived experience of justice involvement to apply. We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Transition Coach
Position Title: Transition Coach
Reports To: Director of Workforce Programs
Job Status: Full-Time
Time Commitment: 40 hrs/week; some nights and weekends required
Benefits: Comprehensive employer subsidized health insurance for employee only (including dental and vision)
Lone Star Justice Alliance is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults (18-24) in the justice system. We envision a justice system that’s fair, humane, and tailored to young people—one that supports their growth, respects their dignity, and keeps communities safe, all while using resources wisely.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Transition Coach will be a part a multidisciplinary program that serves justice-involved emerging adults (ages 18-24) in Dallas, TX, responsible for guiding and supporting participants along an education and career pathway as they transition from screening to employment. The Transition Coach will help plan, guide, and support participants through the program and assist them in accessing education, employment, and stabilization services. They will work compassionately to help remove barriers that historically cause justice-involved emerging adults to be left out of the workforce. The Transition Coach will coordinate and provide support that is consistent, thoughtful, effective, equitable, and participant-centered. They will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to support participants.
Activities include:
- Develop relationship with HR team and front-line supervisors within employer operations to provide support in meeting the needs of the participants, maintaining open and honest communication, and facilitating conflict resolution;
- Attend and fully participate in monthly and quarterly meetings scheduled for employers;
- Develop effective working relationships with employers and maintain regular contact in order to monitor employment satisfaction;
- Assess the staffing needs of businesses and track employment placement and retention outcomes for program participants;
- Coordinate and provide support that is consistent, thoughtful, effective, efficient, equitable, and participant-centered;
- Maintain detailed case notes and case files denoting all contact with participants, progress toward goals, and referrals for services and relevant correspondences;
- Guide participants in conflict resolution, negotiation, teamwork, and career planning.
- Maintain updated list of resources to address common barriers and unique issues that may arise;
- Gather, analyze and process program data;
- Create, maintain, and/or supervise an effective filing system to support programs and participant relations;
- Participate in professional development through appropriate conferences, workshops, seminars, or webinars;
- Participate in Trust-Based Relational Intervention training, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support training, and Race Equity Training
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
This rewarding position is part of a collaborative team that includes case managers, employers, and other team members. This position requires high capacity, strong boundaries, exceptional organization skills, and excellent de-escalation skills.
Other requirements include:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field – 4+ years of directly applicable experience may be substituted for education requirements at the discretion of LSJA
- Experience working with justice-involved youth and case management providers
- Experience working in under-resourced community
- Computer Literacy skills (MS Office, Database entry, case notes, etc.)
- Must have access to reliable transportation
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bi-lingual (Spanish)
- Prior experience in workforce development environment
- Directly impacted by the justice system
POSITION PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Sitting, Standing, Lifting, etc. Engagement Specialist may be mobile throughout most the day. This position may require walking or standing for long periods of time to meet with participants or employers. The hands are regularly used to write, and type. Weights of up to 5 pounds occur (i.e. laptop computer, carrying case or backpack for equipment and files.) Requirements may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
HOW TO APPLY: To apply please send a letter of interest and a resume to Director of Workforce Programs, mclark@lsja.org. In the Subject line, type ‘Transition Coach–Last Name’ In your cover letter, answer the following questions: (1) What does justice reform mean to you? You should be detailed in your response, but don’t go over two paragraphs. (2) Why do you think you would be a good fit for this nonprofit.
Thank you for taking the time to read this entire ad, if you decide to apply and follow instructions, we look forward to following up with you. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. LSJA has a strong commitment to diversity and especially encourages people with lived experience of justice involvement to apply. We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Internships
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is seeking interns in its Dallas and Austin offices for Summer 2026. LSJA is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system. We envision a justice system that uses developmentally-appropriate responses to behavior and treats youth and emerging adults with equity and dignity to promote resilience, conserve costs, and increase public safety.
STRATEGIC LITIGATION INTERN
The Lone Star Justice Alliance stands with young people to advocate for systems that treat them as children and allow them to thrive. We push for change through strategic litigation, appellate advocacy, amicus (friend of the court) briefs, and professional training and education. We challenge the laws and policies that send children to adult courts and fight for systemic changes that enforce constitutional rights to due process and access to counsel. Our Strategic Litigation Team works to ensure that laws and practices are informed by research, consistent with children’s developmental needs, and reflect best practices for thriving youth.
Our legal efforts focus on challenging unjust laws and practices, particularly those that criminalize and excessively punish young people. We work tirelessly to end the prosecution of youth in adult courts, ensuring they are treated as children with the capacity for growth and change. Our team files impactful challenges to extreme sentences in the form of lawsuits, appellate briefs, and amicus briefs. Our litigation seeks to protect the constitutional rights of youth, including access to counsel, due process, and age-appropriate rehabilitative opportunities.
Intern responsibilities are likely to include significant client contact, fact witness interviews, legal research, and the drafting of precedent setting briefs and other legal pleadings. Interns will be involved in strategic decision-making concerning the framing of litigation and will have access and input regarding any court filings and proceedings.
Duties:
- Legal Research and Writing
- Conduct thorough legal research on constitutional, civil rights, and criminal justice issues.
- Draft memoranda, motions, briefs, and other legal documents for strategic litigation efforts.
- Analyze legal precedents and provide recommendations for case strategies.
- Investigation and Client Interaction
- Support attorneys in client and witness interviews, fact-gathering, and narrative development for case strategy.
- Work closely with clients to ensure their voices are central to the litigation process.
- Conduct factual mitigation research on clients, witnesses, and other relevant actors to support litigation goals.
- Synthesize investigative materials—such as interview notes, timelines, and evidence—into summary formats (e.g., demonstratives, thematic charts, or narrative outlines) that help illuminate a case theory, highlight patterns, and support strategic decision-making.
- Professional Development
- Participate in mentorship opportunities with experienced litigators.
- Present research findings or case updates during team meetings.
- Engage in peer-to-peer learning through intern-led collaborative projects.
- Attend workshops, hearings, and other professional events to broaden your understanding of the legal system.
- Receive feedback on written work and oral advocacy to strengthen legal skills.
What You’ll Gain:
- Practical experience in high-stakes civil rights and criminal reform litigation.
- A deeper understanding of how strategic litigation drives systemic change.
- Mentorship from skilled attorneys committed to professional and personal growth.
- A network of like-minded peers and professionals dedicated to advancing justice.
This internship is ideal for law students with a passion for strategic litigation, a commitment to justice, and the drive to make a tangible impact. Apply now and join us in using the power of the law to create lasting change.
Please submit resume, cover letter, and writing sample to internships@lsja.org.
Supervisor: Elizabeth Henneke
ADVOCACY INTERN
The Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) stands with young people to advocate for systems that treat them as children and allow them to thrive. We push for change through policy reform, legislative advocacy, professional training and education, and research-driven initiatives. We work to transform the systems that entangle youth and emerging adults, ensuring laws and policies are grounded in developmental science, best practices, and a commitment to rehabilitation over punishment.
Our Policy Program focuses on identifying and challenging laws and policies that disproportionately harm youth and emerging adults, particularly those that criminalize and excessively punish young people of color. Through research, data analysis, policy advocacy, and coalition-building, we seek to support policies that foster second chances and promote pathways to education, employment, and healing. LSJA works to elevate the voices of directly impacted youth in all aspects of our advocacy, ensuring that reforms are shaped by their lived experiences.
Intern responsibilities will center on supporting the policy team’s work to research systemic issues, analyze past legislative efforts, track trends in juvenile and criminal justice policy, and identify opportunities for reform. Interns will gain hands-on experience in policy research, data analysis, and advocacy strategy development.
Duties
Policy Research and Analysis
- Conduct research on local, state, and federal laws, policies, and practices impacting justice-involved youth and emerging adults.
- Analyze existing policies and their impact on youth justice outcomes, with a focus on racial and socioeconomic disparities.
- Assist in tracking national and state-level trends in juvenile and emerging adult justice policy.
Data Review and Analysis
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from past legislative sessions to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of prior youth justice policies and initiatives.
- Assist in compiling and synthesizing research and data into internal reports and briefing materials for LSJA’s policy team.
Policy Development and Advocacy Support
- Support the development of policy proposals and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for justice-involved youth.
- Assist in preparing presentations, reports, and educational materials for stakeholders, including policymakers, community organizations, and advocacy coalitions.
- Contribute to stakeholder outreach and coalition coordination to advance LSJA’s policy goals.
Collaborative Projects
- Work alongside a multidisciplinary team of policy experts, attorneys, and community advocates to connect legal strategies with policy reform efforts.
- Assist in developing training and educational materials to equip attorneys, advocates, and community members with policy knowledge.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated interest in public interest policy, juvenile justice reform, and social justice.
- Strong organizational and research skills.
- Excellent writing and analysis skills.
- Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn new platforms and tools.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Open to both Graduate and Undergraduate students, with coursework or experience in public policy, political science, criminal justice, social work, or related fields.
How to Apply
Submit a resume, brief cover letter, and writing sample (legal or policy-related preferred) to internships@lsja.org with the subject line Advocacy Intern Application – [Your Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
COMMUNICATIONS, RESEARCH AND WRITING
The Communications, Writing & Research Intern will support Lone Star Justice Alliance’s communications strategy through writing, editing, research, and media support. This role is well-suited for an intern interested in public relations, nonprofit communications, policy storytelling, and research-informed messaging.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in drafting and editing internal and external communications materials, including newsletters, press releases, blog posts, and web content.
- Conduct research to support communications planning, storytelling, and strategic initiatives.
- Monitor media outlets for articles LSJA was featured in or quoted in.
- Maintain and update media lists, communications databases, and archives.
- Support the planning and execution of organizational events, including webinars, conferences, and fundraising events (e.g., Sweet Taste of Justice).
- Assist with internal communications and documentation as needed.
- Provide general administrative support to the ReImagine Justice department as needed.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree program in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, or a related field.
- Excellent writing, editing, and research skills.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Knowledge of AP style is desirable but not required.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Prior internship experience in communications or research is a plus.
Benefits
- Hands-on experience in nonprofit communications, research, and public relations.
- Opportunities to contribute to high-impact storytelling and media efforts.
- Portfolio-building writing and research experience.
Duration
3-month internship, with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs.
How to Apply
Submit a resume, brief cover letter, and writing sample to internships@lsja.org with the subject line Communications: R&W Intern Application – [Your Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.