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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Guide

10/29/25

Robo de Identidad: Qué hacer si alguien está usando su número de Seguro Social

Descubrir que alguien ha usado su número de Seguro Social (SSN) puede ser angustiante y abrumador. No estás solo. Este folleto explica los pasos clave que puede seguir, dependiendo de...

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Guide

10/29/25

Identity Theft: What To Do If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number

Finding out someone has used your Social Security number (SSN) can be upsetting and overwhelming. You are not alone. This handout explains the key steps you can take, depending on...

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Guide

09/26/25

Guía sobre cómo presentar y notificar una respuesta a una demanda no verificada

¿Cómo presento y notifico una respuesta a una demanda?

Learn More

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

Guide

10/29/25

Robo de Identidad: Qué hacer si alguien está usando su número de Seguro Social

Descubrir que alguien ha usado su número de Seguro Social (SSN) puede ser angustiante y abrumador. No estás solo. Este folleto explica los pasos clave que puede seguir, dependiendo de...

Learn More

Guide

10/29/25

Identity Theft: What To Do If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number

Finding out someone has used your Social Security number (SSN) can be upsetting and overwhelming. You are not alone. This handout explains the key steps you can take, depending on...

Learn More

Guide

09/26/25

Guía sobre cómo presentar y notificar una respuesta a una demanda no verificada

¿Cómo presento y notifico una respuesta a una demanda?

Learn More

Nonprofit Services & Capacity Building

Overview
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Community-based nonprofits provide food, shelter, housing, jobs, job training and other critical social services that are necessary for healthy, stable neighborhoods. Poverty, homelessness, and school or employment achievement are all linked to health, so we are particularly interested in providing assistance to nonprofits that strengthen the healthcare safety net. We equip nonprofit management and boards with legal and capacity-building assistance to maximize their effectiveness and impact. 

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project provides free legal assistance to nonprofits serving low-income people in Los Angeles in a number of substantive practice areas, including incorporation and obtaining tax exemption, employment law, reviewing contracts and leases, mergers, intellectual property, real estate, drafting governance policies, ongoing reporting and compliance obligations, and ensuring that nonprofit activities are allowable under IRS rules. We assist both established nonprofits and individuals and groups that want to create new nonprofits and need assistance with incorporation, tax-exemption applications, and establishing workable corporate structures and policies.

We provide free legal assistance to nonprofits serving low-income communities in Los Angeles in a number of substantive practice areas. See Get Help below to apply for support.

Publications

Public Counsel publications offer legal guidance and practical tools to support nonprofits serving low-income people in Los Angeles and beyond.

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The Latest

The latest stories featuring our efforts to support nonprofits serving low-income people in Los Angeles and beyond.

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Get Help

Online Intake

Need legal help for your nonprofit or planning to start one? We provide free legal assistance to both new and established nonprofits that serve low-income communities in Los Angeles—helping with incorporation, tax exemption, employment law, contracts and leases, real estate, intellectual property, compliance, and more. Complete our online application to determine eligibility for services.

Apply here or call (213) 385-2977 x200 for more information.