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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Guide

04/27/26

Know Your Rights: Immigration Enforcement in Public Spaces

We all have constitutional rights and state law protections in California, regardless of immigration status. This guide outlines those rights and protections and steps you can take to prepare in...

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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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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

Guide

04/27/26

Know Your Rights: Immigration Enforcement in Public Spaces

We all have constitutional rights and state law protections in California, regardless of immigration status. This guide outlines those rights and protections and steps you can take to prepare in...

Learn More

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

Affirmative Litigation & Advocacy

Overview
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The Homelessness Prevention Law Project’s Affirmative Litigation team fights to vindicate the rights of tenants to live in safe, well-cared-for, secure housing, free of harassment and discrimination. The unit focuses on litigation addressing a range of housing-related injustices, including habitability concerns, illegal lockouts, constructive evictions, discriminatory housing practices, and tenant harassment.

In addition, our team identifies systemic barriers to stable housing and partners closely with community-based organizations, tenant groups, and government agencies to advocate for fair housing practices, rent control, habitability standards, and equitable access to housing subsidies and public benefits. By initiating affirmative litigation and policy advocacy at local, state, and national levels, we seek not only justice for individual tenants but lasting systemic change for our communities.

Litigation

We use a community lawyering approach to partner with community groups and tenants to pursue impact litigation and systems change.

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Apartment Association of Los Angeles County v. City of Los Angeles

Housing Justice

04/18/23

Mae M. v. Komrosky

Education Equity

08/02/23

L.T. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Immigrants’ Rights

01/26/26

J.O.P. v. DHS

Immigrants’ Rights

07/01/19

Publications

Our staff work with clients and partners to identify patterns of injustice that impact and harm the communities we serve. Through strategic litigation, we effect large-scale change and systems reform while amplifying the power of affected communities and advancing public discourse.

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The Latest

Updates and stories spotlighting Public Counsel’s affirmative advocacy for tenants

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Videos

Highlighting milestones, victories, and client stories.

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Get Help

Services

Stay Housed LA

Public Counsel is part of Stay Housed L.A., an initiative to provide the residents of L.A. County with information and resources to keep people in their homes. To determine if you are eligible for legal assistance, please click the “Get Started” and fill out the form on its website.

IMPORTANT: If you have received an eviction notice (Unlawful Detainer), you must respond within 10 days (Saturday and Sunday do not count toward the 5 days). Please do not allow this deadline to pass!