Public
Counsel is dedicated to advancing equal justice under law by delivering
pro bono legal services to indigent and underrepresented children
and adults throughout Los Angeles County, ensuring that other community-based
organizations serving this population have legal support, and mobilizing
the pro bono resources of the community's attorneys and law students.
•
To
generate increased involvement of the Los Angeles legal community
in pro bono activity.
•
To marshal a variety of volunteer resources from outside the legal community.
•
To
undertake direct representation as co-counsel or amicus in selected
impact matters.
•
To
enhance the delivery of legal services through involvement in
public policy discussions and community education.
•
To
improve and secure Public Counsel's ability to deliver legal
services through cultivation of community resources and leaders.
History
Public
Counsel was founded by the Beverly Hills Bar Association in 1970. Initially
called the Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Foundation, it was the
first bar-sponsored public interest law firm in the country.
In
1977, the Los Angeles County Bar Association joined the Beverly Hills
Bar Association as a sponsor of the Law Foundation. This joint
endeavor resulted not only in a name change to Public Counsel, but
also in an expansion of the organization's purposes and goals. Direct
involvement in public interest litigation was coupled with a mandate
to mobilize and coordinate pro bono efforts of the Los Angeles legal
community to serve the poor.
