If you have a passion for human rights and social justice then you may want to consider some of the following social justice careers as options.
Lawyer
Lawyers specializing in social justice careers issues advocate on behalf of victims of political and other persecution, civil rights violations, abuse and other human rights violations. They usually work for non-profit organizations in national and international arenas as well as private practice law firms and international organizations, among others. People seeking this type of career usually specialize in civil and human rights law when studying for their law degree.
A law degree is a pre-requisite for this career, possibly with a specialization in human rights, as well as completing the required certification requirements to practice law in the country they operate.
Researcher
Researchers work on gathering information, statistics and academic work that relate to issues such as racial justice, poverty, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice reform, indigenous people’s rights and gender inequality, among others. Working for non-profit organizations and government bodies, they help to gather statistics and other information to support government programs, policy decisions and to disseminate information to the general public.
Researchers are usually required to have completed at least a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline and sometimes a PhD qualification. They should possess strong skills in management, statistics, budgeting and program design and development.
Social Service Worker
A social service worker help to achieve social justice and human rights goals at a hands-on level. They work directly with the people affected by social justice issues and help them to connect with resources they need to help their communities through social and other development programs. Social service workers must have good inter-personal skills and have a passion for helping people at a practical and personal level.
These jobs usually require a four year degree in a related discipline though they often require Masters degree qualifications as well as certifications in fields relevant to the work they are performing.
Advocate / Lobbyist
Advocates work to advance the causes of victims and marginalized populations in their search for rights and justice. They seek to lobby on behalf of policies and laws that will advance the causes of human and civil rights. While not necessarily lawyers, advocates should have a good understanding of the legal issues surrounding the causes they lobby for.
Advocate qualifications can be wide-ranging depending on exactly who (or what) they lobby for. A degree in social work, sociology, public policy or social work, among others, is typical for people in such careers.
