Founder’s Day Celebration: Honoring Fred Nicholas’ Legacy
Public Counsel’s Founder’s Day Celebration
Welcome to Public Counsel’s first-ever Founder’s Day celebration! This year, we are thrilled to honor the remarkable life and legacy of our founder, Fred Nicholas, as he turns 103 years old on Mayo 30th.
Fred Nicholas is a visionary leader who recognized the responsibility of lawyers to give back to their community. His passion for justice and commitment to providing free legal services to those in need led to the formation of Public Counsel in 1970. From its humble beginnings in a tiny one-room office in Beverly Hills, Public Counsel has grown to become the largest provider of pro bono legal services in the nation.
To honor Fred Nicholas’ incredible legacy, we invite you to join us in celebrating our first-ever Founder’s Day by making a donation of $103. Your gift will help us continue our work of pursuing justice, hope, and opportunity for all. Make your donation using the form below.
Fred Nicholas’ vision continues to guide Public Counsel’s work today, as our dedicated staff and volunteers provide life-changing direct legal services to thousands of Angelenos each year, while utilizing education and outreach to build healthy and resilient communities. Through innovative impact litigation and policy advocacy, we support community-led initiatives to transform unjust systems in Los Angeles and beyond, working to create an equitable society where all people can thrive and access justice.
Join us in celebrating Fred Nicholas’ 103rd birthday by making a donation of $103 to Public Counsel. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve and honor the extraordinary accomplishments of our founder. We invite you to include a heartfelt birthday message with your gift, expressing your gratitude and support for Fred Nicholas’s enduring commitment to delivering justice for all.
Make your donation below. ⬇
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About Fred Nicholas
En 1968, Fred Nicholas era presidente del Colegio de Abogados de Beverly Hills y presidente de un comité sobre el futuro del Colegio. Ese año, asistió a un discurso de un joven abogado y activista llamado Ralph Nader, que habló de las responsabilidades de los abogados con la comunidad. Criticó a la profesión jurídica por "no devolver nada".
Este mensaje tocó la fibra sensible de Nicholas. Sugirió a los miembros de su Comité que el Colegio de Abogados de Beverly Hills patrocinara un bufete de abogados pro bono para prestar servicios jurídicos gratuitos a las personas en situación de pobreza y a los hogares con menores ingresos. Tras dos años de debate, el Colegio de Abogados de Beverly Hills autorizó la formación de un bufete de abogados pro bono bajo el nombre de Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Foundation y donó 5.000 dólares para su formación.
En 1970, en una diminuta oficina de una sola habitación en Beverly Drive, la organización abrió sus puertas con Fred Nicholas como primer presidente, Stanley Levy como director y Ann Dominique Snyder como asistente. La incipiente organización sobrevivió gracias a una donación de 20.000 dólares de Nicholas y a pequeñas donaciones de los grandes bufetes de abogados de Beverly Hills. En 1975, el Colegio de Abogados del Condado de Los Ángeles se unió al Colegio de Abogados de Beverly Hills para copatrocinar la organización, y ésta cambió su nombre por el de Public Counsel.
En la actualidad, Public Counsel es el mayor proveedor de servicios legales pro bono del país, con más de 140 empleados que trabajan anualmente con miles de voluntarios para proporcionar servicios legales gratuitos a decenas de miles de personas, pequeñas empresas y organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro.
Make your donation below. ⬇
Prefer to mail a check? Click here for instructions.
Video of Fred Nicholas
In this 2011 video to commemorate Public Counsel’s 40th Anniversary, Fred Nicholas and others reflect on the founding of Public Counsel and the enduring impact it has made in advancing justice and transforming lives.
Make your donation below. ⬇
Prefer to mail a check? Click here for instructions.
Make a Gift
Make your donation below. ⬇
Prefer to mail a check? Click here for instructions.
Make a Gift Here
Prefer to Mail a Check?
Please address the check to “Public Counsel” and send to the following address:
Consejo Público
Attn: Cheyanne Picone – Founder’s Day
610 S. Ardmore Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90005
