Advocacy Jobs: A Guide to Human Rights Careers

If you’re interested in an advocacy career in human rights developments, you may be wondering where to start. The thought of spending years in school for human rights law is often daunting, but you may still want to expand your career as a social worker.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to build a career as an advocate so you can support yourself while making a difference for others. This article delves into advocacy work that empowers you to give a voice to marginalized communities, helping them achieve equality.

Many advocacy career paths allow you to make an impact and fight for social change.

According to Treatment Action Group, an American organization prominent in the realm of HIV/AIDS activism, “The goal of policy advocacy, as the name suggests, is to change official policies, laws, and practices. It is different from the work of educating individuals or communities; rather than advocating for broad community understanding or behavioral change, with policy advocacy we are specifically looking for people in positions of power to change, eliminate, or create policies that will better support our efforts.”¹

In policy advocacy, you work with decision-makers, institutions and other social influencers to affect changes to rules and processes. You may, for example, work with local lawmakers on pay equity regulation or build a career as a policy strategist for a government or a private company. You may also work as a policy coordinator or manager in your area of expertise—such as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or sustainability. Many policy advocates also work as executive directors for non-profit human rights organizations.

If you’re not interested in lobbying at a high level to influence decision-makers, you can get involved in grassroots social advocacy.² Community advocacy work involves addressing civil and political rights and combating human rights violations locally to bring about positive social change.

As a community advocate, you might educate local residents about issues that affect them—such as taxes, education, or finance. This job involves motivating people to vote and starting petitions for various legislative initiatives. In your community advocacy career, you might serve as a victims’ advocate through a local law enforcement agency or a community engagement and outreach specialist for a non-profit organization or local government. Additionally, you could collaborate with international organizations such as the United Nations to address global issues that impact your community.” 

Writing in 2023 for the legal support company One Legal, paralegal and author Jan Hill noted, “Legal advocates play a pivotal role in upholding justice, ensuring fair representation, and advocating for the human rights and interests of individuals within the legal system. With their expertise spanning diverse fields, legal advocates serve as crucial mediators, negotiators, and advisors, guiding clients through legal challenges and safeguarding their rights.”³

As a legal advocate, you may work in support of people who can’t speak for themselves, including children, people with disabilities, prisoners and people experiencing poverty. You might negotiate on behalf of your clients or provide advice to guide them through the legal system. On a broader level, you could work to raise awareness of systemic injustices and affect changes in the legal system.

This aspect of advocacy involves coordinating media and communication campaigns to disseminate information about your cause and inspire others to take action.⁴ In this field, you would use mass media strategically to heighten awareness of issues and how they affect the broader community. Your role might be limited to developing media strategies, or you could become the spokesperson and face of your organization.

Jobs in this field include managing social media and marketing, working as a public relations or communication manager for a local government or international human rights law organization, or working as a content manager for these agencies.

The specific skills and qualifications you need for a career in advocacy differ based on your intended role. However, some universal skills apply to each aspect of advocacy.⁵

Any advocacy career requires excellent communication skills. If you’re working with individual clients as a social worker or advocate, you need to know how to listen actively and understand their needs so you can help them.

You need strong cultural awareness and sensitivity in order to advocate effectively for people from diverse backgrounds. Advocacy requires thorough research and analytical skills to develop your in-depth understanding of what you’re striving to change. Relationship-building and networking proficiency are essential, as they help you attract more people to your cause and offer resources to those in need.

 If you want to be involved in the legal aspect of advocacy, you need a law degree and to pass the bar exam in your state. For other advocacy careers, most positions only mandate a bachelor’s degree, but you can improve your earnings and your chances of career progression with a master’s degree in social work.⁶

Once you’ve entered the field, you will likely attend multiple continuing education sessions to keep up with how certain issues affect your clients and what you can do to bring about change.

Finding an entry-level advocacy career or moving up in your existing career involves similar plans of action.

You can start using your networking skills before setting foot on the job during your career search. Join professional civil rights and political rights organizations such as National Humanities Alliance or the National Council for the Social Studies.⁷ These organizations host networking events at which you can make new connections in your field and stay in touch when you’re looking for a job. Many of them also provide job boards, and broader online job boards in your area may include opportunities you’ll want to pursue.

If you’re wondering how to start getting into advocacy work, the answer is often to start small. While you’re earning your degree, take advantage of internships and volunteer opportunities. As an intern, you can earn school credit while learning the ropes of your chosen advocacy career. Check with your institution to find available internships in your area. If you’re not in school, call local organizations to find volunteer opportunities. These activities help you build a network while honing your advocacy skills.

You’ll start your career in an entry-level role. If you’re working as a legal professional, you may start out as a legal assistant or public defender. If you’re a social or community health worker, you may start as an intern or volunteer.

As you gain experience and licensure, and obtain additional degrees or certifications, you’ll be prepared to move into senior-level roles that allow you to make a greater impact. As a social worker or victims’ advocate, this is where you can work with your own clients. As a media specialist, you’ll be able to start developing and executing communication strategies with a team reporting to you.

As is true of any field, advocacy is always changing. New issues emerge all the time, and technology changes how people are victimized along with how you advocate. For example, a person who entered the field of child protection in the early 2000s would not likely have foreseen how social media and other technology now contribute to catching human traffickers.

Workshops, conferences, and continuing education courses keep you current on issues affecting your area of expertise. They also help you learn new ways to effect change.

The Wurzweiler School of Social Work offers one of the nation's top online MSW programs, consistently recognized as a leader in the field of health education. By joining this program, you will learn from the best and build a top-notch professional network.

Our exceptional placement opportunities at multiple sites provide you with valuable experience, preparing you for an exciting career in advocacy. Talk to an admissions outreach advisor today.