About Us

How We Work

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Direct Services

Our team 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

We address 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

Our team 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

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon the generous donation of pro bono services from lawyers, legal professionals, and law students as the keystone for our model of delivering free legal services to low-income communities.

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Resource Library

Popular Resources

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FAQsGuide

01/13/26

Medical and Dental Credit Cards—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Do you need medical or dental care but can’t afford it? Are you thinking about making payments or signing up for credit? Be careful! Medical or dental credit cards can...

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Guide

01/08/26

What courses must I take to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

All individuals who file a chapter 7 bankruptcy must take two courses to receive a discharge of their debts: Credit Counseling and Personal Financial Management. This guide will help you...

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Template

01/08/26

Pleading Paper Caption Page

If there isn’t a court form for what you need to file in your bankruptcy case, you will need to write your own court papers on pleading paper. The first...

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How We Work

See All

Direct Services

Our team 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

We address 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

Our team 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

Pro Bono Partnerships

Since its inception, Public Counsel has relied upon the generous donation of pro bono services from lawyers, legal professionals, and law students as the keystone for our model of delivering free legal services to low-income communities.

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

FAQsGuide

01/13/26

Medical and Dental Credit Cards—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Do you need medical or dental care but can’t afford it? Are you thinking about making payments or signing up for credit? Be careful! Medical or dental credit cards can...

Learn More

Guide

01/08/26

What courses must I take to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

All individuals who file a chapter 7 bankruptcy must take two courses to receive a discharge of their debts: Credit Counseling and Personal Financial Management. This guide will help you...

Learn More

Template

01/08/26

Pleading Paper Caption Page

If there isn’t a court form for what you need to file in your bankruptcy case, you will need to write your own court papers on pleading paper. The first...

Learn More

Events

03/01/24

Celebrating Champions of Change at Public Counsel’s William O. Douglas Award Dinner

This past weekend marked Public Counsel’s most special night of the year—that of the William O. Douglas Award Dinner. It was an evening dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary achievements of our honorees and the innovative work of Public Counsel. As always, it was deeply inspiring to come together in community and reaffirm our dedication to building a more just future.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addresses the audience after receiving the William O. Douglas Award.

This year, we had the honor of recognizing Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi with the William O. Douglas Award for her extraordinary career in public service and leadership in passing generation-defining legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act and the American Rescue Plan. We celebrated the pro bono commitment of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP with the Law Firm Pro Bono Award, including its recent case filed in collaboration with Public Counsel to vindicate the rights of transition age youth in L.A. County’s foster care system. We recognized Mattel, Inc. with the Corporate Achievement Award for its commitment to sustainable design and development, responsible sourcing and production, and thriving and inclusive communities.

We also celebrated Public Counsel’s banner achievements over the past year, uplifting our bold efforts to pursue our vision of an equitable society where all people thrive, with systems and laws delivering the promise of justice to all. We showcased three videos of key victories: an immigrant survivor’s decade-long fight for security, a campaign by street vendors to rewrite California’s retail food code and legalize food vending, and a family’s groundbreaking settlement to create safer schools for students with disabilities.

As we reflect on this memorable evening, we are filled with gratitude for the generosity and dedication of our supporters.  The William O. Douglas Award Dinner is Public Counsel’s flagship fundraiser, annually bringing in much-needed funds to sustain our vital work. We are so grateful to have such loyal contributors who make this work possible! Click here for the list of event sponsors.

The Latest

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Supporting Recovery and Resilience

Community Development Project

01/05/26

Supporting Recovery and Resilience

Federal Court Orders Sweeping Action to End Veteran Homelessness

Veterans Rights

12/24/25

Federal Court Orders Sweeping Action to End Veteran Homelessness

Cancer Justice Program Finds a New Home at Public Counsel

Cancer JusticeConsumer Rights & Economic Justice

12/18/25

Cancer Justice Program Finds a New Home at Public Counsel