Access to Justice
Everyone deserves equal access to justice, no matter who they are, where they’re from, or what they can afford.
“Equal justice under law” is one of America’s most firmly embedded legal principles, yet in practice, we have fallen woefully short of matching that ideal. It’s a sad reality that one’s economic status, skin color, nationality, or gender identity continue to stand as barriers to fair treatment. Just as troubling—especially today—technological inequality can function as a de facto barrier to accessing justice through imbalanced legal or court mechanisms. While the principle of ensuring equal access to justice underlies all of Public Counsel’s work, we have developed several innovative strategies to broaden access to justice and the courts. We host an array of community-based clinics designed to make our services more accessible and have created groundbreaking self-help clinics to make the court system easier to navigate.
Our Areas of Expertise
Our Approach
Navigating the civil legal system without a lawyer can be overwhelming, especially for people facing urgent needs, language barriers, or unfamiliar court processes. Public Counsel works to close the justice gap through a multi-faceted approach that empowers individuals to understand their rights and advocate for themselves. Our approach includes:
1
Equipping Self-Represented Litigants to Navigate the Courts
Through our Federal Pro Se Clinic and Appellate Clinic, we provide direct assistance, resources, guidance, and modern tools to individuals representing themselves in civil cases in federal court and on appeal. By demystifying court procedures and offering tailored support, we help self-represented litigants advocate effectively for themselves.
2
Providing Community-Based Legal Consultations
We offer one-on-one legal consultations on a wide range of civil legal issues—such as housing, immigration, workplace rights, and consumer matters. These clinics meet people where they are, providing practical, accessible advice that helps individuals resolve legal problems before they escalate.
3
Supporting Underserved Populations Through Targeted Clinics
We operate specialized clinics for communities that face systemic barriers to justice, including our Guardianship Clinic for family caregivers, Bankruptcy Assistance for those overwhelmed by debt, and our Workplace Rights Clinic for women and non-binary workers experiencing harassment or wage theft. These efforts ensure that those most impacted by injustice receive the support they need to protect their rights and well-being.
Quick Stats
1,747
Self-Represented Litigants
Served in 2024 in our court-based clinics
$800,000+
Debt Relief
Addressed in 2024 through our bankruptcy and debtor assistance programs
400+
Community Members
Served each year through our community-based legal clinics
Popular Resources
GuideToolkit
09/13/24
Guardianship of the Person: Attorney Manual
This manual serves as a step-by-step guide for practitioners on how to obtain a guardianship and Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings (SIJ findings) from the probate division of the California Superior…
Learn MoreGuide
12/16/21
Checklist for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
What you need to gather and prepare before filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Learn MoreGet Help
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