Who We Are

Public Counsel is the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the world. Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is dedicated to advancing equal justice under law by delivering free legal and social services to the most vulnerable members of our community, including abused and abandoned children, homeless families and veterans, senior citizens, victims of consumer fraud and nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities.

We are the public interest law office of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations and the Southern California affiliate of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Our staff of 42 attorneys and 3 social workers, along with thousands of volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals assist over 29,000 low income children, youth, adults and families, as well as eligible community organizations each year. The value of free legal services provided during 2009 is conservatively estimated at over $87 million.

Mission Statement & Goals

What's New

• Public Counsel President & CEO Hernán D. Vera Confirmed by US Senate to the State Justice Institute Board
• 2010 William O. Douglas Award Dinner - June 16, 2010
• New Publication: A Guide for Non-Parent Caregivers in Los Angeles County
• Important DIR/Floortime Settlement Documents - order - settlement agreement
• Public Counsel and partners release findings from report on Redefining Dignity in Our Schools - press release
• Disabled Costa Mesa man released from ICE custody : The Orange County Register
• CNN: Special Report on Teacher Layoff Case by Public Counsel, ACLU, and Morrison & Foerster
• "Run For Justice" at the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon
• Five Part Webinar Series For Nonprofits – Trademarks, Copyrights and Proprietary Information
• Press Release: Landmark Federal Class-Action Lawsuit Targets Los Angeles County for Failure to Educate Youth in Probation Camps
• New Publication: Copyright & Fair Use FAQs for Nonprofits
• Nonprofit Resources – The New Form 990 Explained: Annotated Form 990 and Annotated Forms of Conflict of Interest, Whistleblower and Records Management and Retention Policies for California Public Benefit Nonprofit Corporations
• New Download: Adoption Project White Paper
• Turning the Tide: Economic Crisis Resources For Individuals, Nonprofits and Small Businesses
• Consumer Education: What You Need to Know About Possible Auto Dealership Fraud
• Public Counsel Internship Opportunities

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Employment Opportunities

• Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps Attorney - Homelessness Prevention

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VA Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth
2010 William O. Douglas Award Honoree

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Turning The Tide: A Public Counsel Response to the Economic Crisis