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

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.

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