The CFJ Difference
An innovative approach to the delivery of legal services.
Mission and Vision
The Rhode Island Center for Justice is a non-profit public interest law center that partners with community groups to strengthen existing advocacy and service provision with legal representation and strategy. Our legal practice areas—including housing, immigration, workers’ rights, criminal justice, education, and utility shutoffs—reflect the most pressing needs of low-income people in our state.
At the core of our model is a partnership with Roger Williams University School of Law, which includes a post-graduate fellowship program, collaboration with pro bono and experiential education, and a joint commitment to building the next generation of public interest attorneys in Rhode Island. The Center brings together new lawyers, supervising legal staff, community groups, mentoring attorneys, and law students to make legal protection a reality where need is greatest.
Partnerships with Community Groups
The Center for Justice provides legal representation exclusively through partnerships with community groups. This model of legal service delivery allows the Center to ensure that the legal representation of individuals supports efforts to advance social and economic justice through collective action and empowerment.
Engaging the Private Bar
The Center works closely with the private bar to engage attorneys in private practice as mentors, advisors, or co-counselors, leveraging the expertise and resources of these individuals to benefit low-income Rhode Islanders and community groups.