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.

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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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FAQsGuide

01/13/26

Medical and Dental Credit Cards—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Do you need medical or dental care but can’t afford it? Are you thinking about making payments or signing up for credit? Be careful! Medical or dental credit cards can...

Learn More

Guide

01/08/26

What courses must I take to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

All individuals who file a chapter 7 bankruptcy must take two courses to receive a discharge of their debts: Credit Counseling and Personal Financial Management. This guide will help you...

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Template

01/08/26

Pleading Paper Caption Page

If there isn’t a court form for what you need to file in your bankruptcy case, you will need to write your own court papers on pleading paper. The first...

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

FAQsGuide

01/13/26

Medical and Dental Credit Cards—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Do you need medical or dental care but can’t afford it? Are you thinking about making payments or signing up for credit? Be careful! Medical or dental credit cards can...

Learn More

Guide

01/08/26

What courses must I take to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

All individuals who file a chapter 7 bankruptcy must take two courses to receive a discharge of their debts: Credit Counseling and Personal Financial Management. This guide will help you...

Learn More

Template

01/08/26

Pleading Paper Caption Page

If there isn’t a court form for what you need to file in your bankruptcy case, you will need to write your own court papers on pleading paper. The first...

Learn More

Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project

Overview
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Overview

Our Experts

In 2017, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure H, generating significant annual funding to combat homelessness. With this support, Public Counsel launched an innovative program providing comprehensive, trauma-informed legal services designed to prevent homelessness and remove barriers to stable housing.

In partnership with local homeless service providers, we serve youth, families, and single adults across LA County’s Service Planning Area (SPA) 6. Our team provides legal support in areas including eviction prevention, landlord disputes, accessing government benefits, worker compensation and unemployment, debt resolution, professional licenses and identification, and expungement of criminal records. In November 2024, voters approved Measure A, replacing Measure H with a permanent funding stream dedicated to affordable housing and homeless services, ensuring continued and expanded support for these critical programs.

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

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.

See All

Get Help

Services

Public Counsel is part of the Lawyers Preventing and Ending Homelessness program in L.A. County. Contact our partner organization, HOPICS, to conduct an intake appointment to determine if you are eligible for services.

Contact HOPICS

If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, you may be eligible for assistance with legal issues, including: eviction prevention, landlord dispute resolution, government benefits, workers’ compensation/unemployment benefits, clearing financial debt, professional licenses and identification, and expungement of criminal records.

PLEASE NOTE: This program is location-based and Public Counsel only serves people who live or stay within L.A. County’s Service Planning Area (SPA) 6 – an area that covers South L.A., Watts, Lynwood, and Compton. Other legal nonprofits serve the rest of L.A. County.

If you are located within the boundaries of this map (SPA 6) and would like legal assistance, you must first contact our partner organization, HOPICS, to conduct an intake appointment to determine if you are eligible for services.

If you are not located within our service area, please call 211 to determine where to go for local services at a Coordinated Entry System (CES) agency.

More info here