About Us

How We Work

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Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

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Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

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Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

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Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us to support clients, take on high-impact cases, and strengthen our advocacy efforts.

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Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

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Resource Library

Popular Resources

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Toolkit

04/03/26

Newcomer Student Education Rights

This toolkit is designed to inform advocates (attorneys and non-attorneys) about the education-related rights of newcomer and undocumented immigrant children, how to assert those rights, and what to do if...

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Guide

02/17/26

What is the Meeting of Creditors?

Once you file your bankruptcy, a Bankruptcy Trustee will be assigned to your case and a Meeting of Creditors will be scheduled. This guide will provide general information to help...

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FAQsGuide

02/10/26

Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business

This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access to their facilities, including who may enter, when recording is prohibited, and how to respond...

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How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Public Counsel provides free direct legal services and support or matches clients with pro bono advocates, ensuring they have a partner standing with them, their families, and our communities as they pursue justice.

Learn More

Policy Advocacy

Public Counsel addresses the root causes of inequities in our society by advocating for inclusive policy solutions in collaboration with grassroots coalitions and the communities most impacted by systemic oppression.

Learn More

Impact Litigation

Public Counsel files strategic impact litigation so entire communities get the justice they deserve. By setting legal precedents and challenging unjust laws, our cases spark large-scale change in our society.

Learn More

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us to support clients, take on high-impact cases, and strengthen our advocacy efforts.

Learn More

Social Work Integration

Public Counsel values an interdisciplinary approach to law and social work that strengthens trauma-informed legal advocacy and advances effective outcomes across its work. 

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

Toolkit

04/03/26

Newcomer Student Education Rights

This toolkit is designed to inform advocates (attorneys and non-attorneys) about the education-related rights of newcomer and undocumented immigrant children, how to assert those rights, and what to do if...

Learn More

Guide

02/17/26

What is the Meeting of Creditors?

Once you file your bankruptcy, a Bankruptcy Trustee will be assigned to your case and a Meeting of Creditors will be scheduled. This guide will provide general information to help...

Learn More

FAQsGuide

02/10/26

Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business

This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access to their facilities, including who may enter, when recording is prohibited, and how to respond...

Learn More

Resources

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/10/21

Copyrights & Trademarks [2015]

This guide contains an overview of federal trademark and copyright laws. It covers the following information: What is a Trademark, Trademark Laws, Choosing a Trademark, Acquiring and Protecting Trademark Rights, and Copyrights.

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

Bankruptcy Information for Nonprofits [2009]

The topic of bankruptcy is explored through a series of questions addressing many common concerns of nonprofit organizations from both the perspective of debtor and creditor. The answers offer a starting point for a nonprofit to evaluate whether the remedy of bankruptcy can help it achieve a more sustainable economic future through a reorganization, or whether the time has come to “close with honor.”

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

Annotated IRS Form 990 [2011]

This guide is designed to assist California nonprofit public benefit corporations in collecting and disclosing information requested by the revised IRS Form 990. Selected portions of the revised core form, its schedules, and instructions are annotated with explanatory notes, including citations to applicable federal laws, filing tips, and recommended practices.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Annotated Form of Whistleblower Policy

This form is designed to assist nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt or amend a Whistleblower Policy and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. The form is annotated with explanatory

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Housing JusticeInclusive Community Development

Guide

12/08/21

Getting There Together: Tools to Advocate for Inclusive Development Near Transit [2012]

This guide is a Southern California housing advocates’ guide outlining legal tools for influencing affordable housing and land use and disposition policies in a new era of transit-oriented development and smart growth. It sets forth selected strategies that can be used by advocates at the regional, local, neighborhood, and project-specific levels to meaningfully participate in shaping the landscape of our neighborhoods.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Annotated Bylaws for California Public Charter Schools

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project in collaboration with the California Charter Schools Association has designed this form to assist charter schools that have chosen to incorporate as nonprofit public benefit

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Annotated Form of Articles of Incorporation for California Public Charter Schools [Feb 2020]

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project in collaboration with the California Charter Schools Association has designed this form to assist charter schools that have chosen to incorporate as nonprofit public benefit

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Housing JusticeHousing Justice>Affordable Housing

Report

12/08/21

How Maturing Subsidized Mortgages Threaten Affordable Housing in Los Angeles [2012]

Much of LA’s affordable housing risks being lost in the next few years due to the maturity of subsidized mortgages. This report describes what’s at risk and what responses are

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Housing Justice

ReportToolkit

12/08/21

Reconsidering Redevelopment – Neighborhood Based Economic Development in Los Angeles

“Reconsidering Redevelopment” is a report co-authored by more than a dozen community-based groups that highlights the need to address economic development in Los Angeles’ poorest areas.

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Nonprofits

GuideTemplate/Sample Form

12/08/21

Annotated Business Associate Agreement [2015]

Under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, a HIPAA business associate agreement is a contract between a HIPAA-covered entity and a HIPAA business associate. The agreement protects personal health information in accordance with HIPAA requirements.

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