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 on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening 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

06/12/26

Navigating the Title IX: A Guide for Student Survivors of Sexual Violence in College Settings

Navigating the Title IX complaint process can be both emotionally taxing and empowering. This guide aims to make that process more navigable and less daunting. You can use this guide...

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Guide

06/10/26

Eligiendo La Entidad Juridica De Su Negocio

Al comenzar un negocio, es común tener preguntas como cómo proteger sus activos personales (por ejemplo, su hogar), cómo paga impuestos el negocio y cómo obtener dinero para hacer crecer...

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Report

06/05/26

Combating Notario Fraud in California: A Call to Action

Notario fraud, or the unauthorized practice of immigration law, causes grave harm to countless immigrants and is pervasive across California and the U.S. Too often, individuals who are not authorized...

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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 on pro bono attorneys, law students, paralegals, and other legal professionals to partner with us in supporting clients, taking on high-impact cases, and strengthening 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

06/12/26

Navigating the Title IX: A Guide for Student Survivors of Sexual Violence in College Settings

Navigating the Title IX complaint process can be both emotionally taxing and empowering. This guide aims to make that process more navigable and less daunting. You can use this guide...

Learn More

Guide

06/10/26

Eligiendo La Entidad Juridica De Su Negocio

Al comenzar un negocio, es común tener preguntas como cómo proteger sus activos personales (por ejemplo, su hogar), cómo paga impuestos el negocio y cómo obtener dinero para hacer crecer...

Learn More

Report

06/05/26

Combating Notario Fraud in California: A Call to Action

Notario fraud, or the unauthorized practice of immigration law, causes grave harm to countless immigrants and is pervasive across California and the U.S. Too often, individuals who are not authorized...

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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J.O.P. v. DHS

Immigrants’ Rights

07/01/19

Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice v. City of Fontana

Economic Justice

08/11/25

Immigration Center for Women and Children v. Mullin

Immigrants’ Rights

10/14/25

Ocean S. v. L.A. County

Foster CareHousing Justice

08/22/23

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!