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

Transition Age Youth

Overview
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Public Counsel’s Transition Age Youth (TAY) team provides holistic legal support to young people ages 16–26, primarily Black and Latinx youth, who have experienced foster care. Our work is geared toward addressing the collateral consequences of system involvement and helping clients successfully transition to adulthood. For youth who are expecting or parenting, we utilize a two-generation approach aimed at strengthening family stability and breaking the cycle of intergenerational involvement in child welfare systems.

Our direct services inform our policy and systems-change advocacy at local and state levels, challenging practices that perpetuate instability and trauma. Through landmark litigation such as Ocean S. v. L.A. County, we hold government agencies accountable to ensure young people in foster care receive the support and resources they need to thrive. Additionally, our team provides outreach, training, and educational resources to transition-age youth and the community organizations that serve them.

Litigation

We pursue litigation to protect the rights of transition age youth and ensure access to safe housing, essential resources, and supportive services.

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Ocean S. v. L.A. County

Foster CareHousing Justice

08/22/23

Videos

Check out stories highlighting Public Counsel’s advocacy for transition-age youth.

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Get Help

Services

Get Help

Public Counsel provides holistic legal services to youth ages 16–26 who have been impacted by the foster care system. We can provide advice to any youth with a legal issue in California and attend court for legal issues in Los Angeles County.  We provide advocacy in the following areas:

  • Adult Traffic Tickets
  • Benefits
  • Custody, Divorce, Visitation, Child Support, and Family Separation Issues
  • Housing Law
  • Name Change and/or Gender Marker Correction Petitions
  • Restraining Orders
  • Rights and Resources for Expectant and Parenting Youth
  • Sealing Juvenile Justice Records

If you need help and have been impacted by foster care or juvenile probation, please fill out our online intake form or call (213) 385-2977, ext. 500, and leave a message. A member of our team will contact you to discuss your legal needs.