Jeree Thomas believes in doing whatever she can to help her clients live more successful lives. The attorney with the JustChildren program of the Legal Aid Justice Center in Richmond provides counsel for children and represents them at special education and public benefits hearings.

The program also works to increase parental involvement and student success by offering workshops across the state to parents, social services departments, foster care providers and other organizations working with children.

“I have done everything from going to court and making creative legal arguments to get kids home to their families, to testifying in front of legislators and boards,” said Mrs. Thomas, whose clients range from age 4 to 21.

In one case, Mrs. Thomas made an eight-hour, round-trip drive to a correctional facility to take home a released youth who otherwise would have spent additional time locked up because he lacked transportation home.

Mrs. Thomas’ work has not gone unnoticed. The 29-year-old attorney recently was named the inaugural recipient of the Youth Justice Emerging Leader Award, which honors an advocate for youth justice who embodies passion, boldness and perseverance.

The award, created by the National Juvenile Justice Network, also honors persons who are committed to lifting the voices, experiences and expertise of youths and people of color to ensure that those most directly impacted by injustice are at the forefront of the youth justice movement. Mrs. Thomas will receive the award July 26 during the NJJN’s Youth Justice Leadership Institute in Memphis, Tenn.

“Jeree’s the embodiment of an emerging leader in youth justice reform,” said Sarah Bryer, director of the NJJN. “In addition to her work representing individual youths caught up in the justice system, she helped create Performing Statistics, an innovative advocacy-through-art project, the first of its kind in Virginia, in which incarcerated youths create art in support of reform.”

Emerging Leader award nominees must have been engaged with youth justice advocacy for five years or less. Mrs. Thomas began her work with JustChildren in 2011 with a two-year award from the Skadden Fellowship Foundation. The foundation is also known as the “legal Peace Corps” because it attracts some of the brightest young lawyers in the country who begin their careers in public interest work.

Mrs. Thomas said she became interested in law as an undergraduate student at The College of William & Mary. Her intentions to become a screenwriter were abandoned after she took a course, “Blacks in American Society,” which required a service-learning component.

Mrs. Thomas worked with youths in an alternative school program and observed how situations of trauma affected some of the students. She decided then that child advocacy was her calling. From that point on, she directed her education and work experience toward meeting her goal.

Angela Ciolfi, JustChildren’s legal director, says Mrs. Thomas’ “calm and polite demeanor” shouldn’t be misinterpreted. “She is a true force to be reckoned with,” said Ms. Ciolfi. “When Jeree identifies an injustice impacting JustChildren’s young clients, she moves swiftly and steadily toward resolving it, and you can count on her to succeed in doing so. Jeree’s commitment to her individual clients, as well as to systemic reform as a whole, is powerful and inspiring.”

Mrs. Thomas considers herself “very, very blessed” to have obtained work with a nonprofit legal organization when she graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 2011. Her work with JustChildren will end in two weeks when she becomes the Campaign for Youth Justice policy director in Washington. She expects to travel throughout the nation in her new role focusing on keeping young people out of adult courts and adult prisons and jails. Meet this week’s Personality, child advocate Jeree Thomas.

Date and place of birth: Nov. 4 in Fort Jackson, S.C.

Current residence: Chesterfield County.

Family: Husband, Benjamin Thomas.

Alma maters: The College of William & Mary, bachelor’s degree in social justice and community advocacy. University of Virginia School of Law, juris doctorate.

My principal work as a lawyer: I directly represent youth and families experiencing issues in the education and juvenile justice systems. I spend a lot of time providing technical assistance to attorneys and organizers who are trying to support their clients and communities.  

Greatest challenge: As a lawyer, I am limited by the letter of the law. There are times when treatment is clearly unjust, but not illegal. That is, in part, why I enjoy doing policy work in addition to direct representation of clients. I can advocate for better policies for my clients. 

Greatest satisfaction: When my clients tell me, no matter the outcome, that they are satisfied that someone fought for them. Also, the random great moments, like a client asking me to attend his high school graduation or getting to take two former clients, who are now budding advocates, to the White House for Youth Justice Awareness Month last year.  

JustChildren is: A program of the Legal Aid Justice Center that serves youths and families experiencing issues in the education and juvenile justice systems through direct representation, policy advocacy and community organizing. 

Services provided: JustChildren attorneys represent clients who have special education or school discipline-related needs. We also represent youths who are incarcerated in their serious offender review hearings, and with their education, treatment and re-entry.  

How I got news about the award:  I was on a train coming back to Richmond, and the email about the award actually went to my junk folder because my email account didn’t recognize the sender. I received a number of emails congratulating me, and I didn’t know what for until one of my colleagues said, “Jeree check your email, check your junk folder!”

Reaction: I was really overwhelmed by the news. It is truly an honor to be recognized in this way. 

Meaning of award to me: I recently participated in a Youth Justice Leadership Institute with nine other incredible advocates from across the country. I’ve been so blessed to get to know them.  I know the talent, drive and passion that is out there to change things for the better for kids. To be recognized as an emerging leader in youth justice is truly an honor.  

When I knew law was for me:  About 10 years ago, I decided while volunteering at an alternative program for youths who were suspended and expelled from their traditional schools that I wanted to be a child advocate. I remember coming to that revelation while crying in my car over a traumatic event that one of the students was experiencing. 

Status of justice for youths in Virginia: There is a lot of movement around juvenile justice reform in Virginia. The 2015 the Center for Public Integrity report identifying Virginia as No.1 in referring students from school to the police really amplified the need for reform. To the credit of the governor, the director of the state Department of Juvenile Justice, and members of the General Assembly, there is now more of an interest and funding to support more youths in their communities. A greater investment in building capacity to serve justice-involved youths in their homes and communities will result in better outcomes for kids and their families.

Advice to young people considering a law career: Going to law school is an important decision and investment in your future. I went into law school knowing what type of law I wanted to practice, and I think that made the experience more gratifying.  It also allowed me to be strategic about where I attended law school, what classes I took, and how I spent my summers. 

What makes a good leader: A good leader grows leaders. In my experience, the most important thing that I can do as an advocate is help others learn how to advocate for themselves and their communities. There aren’t enough legal aid attorneys to go around, but if I can help grow leadership in volunteers, students, younger colleagues, my clients, and community members, then together we can make things more just.  

Three words that best describe me: Organized, outgoing and open.

How I start the day: Optimistic. Every day is a new opportunity to start fresh.

A perfect evening: Relaxing with my husband, preferably at the beach. But any time to relax with him is perfect.

I place top value on: Relationships.

Hobby: When I have the opportunity, I love to sing — not well, but just for fun. I try to sing karaoke whenever I get the chance. 

Best late-night snack: Pie — any and all types of fruit pies. 

Prized possession: I recently bought a house.  As a child of an Army officer, I grew up in many, many homes, but I never got to paint the walls or decorate them. So buying a home and getting to make it my own has been exciting.

Nobody knows I’m: A goofball. I do pretty serious work, but whenever I have the opportunity, I want to find a way to laugh.  

The best thing my parents ever taught me was: To serve. Do what you can to help other people. 

The one thing I can’t stand: Indifference to how one’s actions impact other people. 

The person who influenced me the most: My parents. They both poured into me a strong sense of love and caring for other people.  

Book that influenced me the most: I believe I was in middle school when I read “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. It was the first adult non-fiction book that I had ever read, and I remember being drawn to her story and really being hungry to read more after it.

What I’m reading now: “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools” by Monique W. Morris.

Next goal: I am transitioning to the policy director position with the Campaign for Youth Justice. I am looking forward to remaining connected to advocacy in my community, while also working with advocates all across the country on youth justice issues.