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

Pro Bono

10/22/24

National Pro Bono Week: Building a Better Los Angeles Starts with Us

Cynthia Sadowski (right), longtime pro bono attorney and a coordinator of Disney’s Pro Bono Adoption Program, at National Adoption Day 2023 after helping a family finalize their adoption.

As we celebrate National Pro Bono Week, we want to express our deepest gratitude to all of our pro bono attorneys. Your dedication ensures that justice is accessible to those who need it most. At Public Counsel, we know that pro bono work isn’t just about giving legal expertise—it’s about coming together to transform our communities and ensure that justice is accessible to everyone. This week, we reflect on how the passion and commitment of our volunteers make a difference in the lives of our clients and in building a better world.

Every time a pro bono attorney steps up to advocate for a client, they aren’t just addressing a legal need—they are partnering in someone’s journey toward justice and positive change.   One powerful example is Disney in-house attorney Cynthia Sadowski, who several years back volunteered to assist in finalizing the adoption of her first foster youth through Public Counsel’s Adoptions Program. This experience launched her life-long dedication to pro bono service that today has helped numerous children find permanence and healing with loving adoptive families.   

Whether it’s representing tenants facing eviction, supporting small businesses, or fighting for the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers, our pro bono attorneys bring their passion for helping others and connect with individuals and communities striving to overcome challenges and build a brighter future. If you’ve ever considered giving back through pro bono work, there’s no better time to start. The need for legal support is greater than ever, and your skills can make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.

We offer a wide range of matters to fit your schedule. Whether you’re able to take on a long-term case, a short-term project, or provide ongoing expertise at one of our clinics, we work with you to find the right fit. Plus, when you take on a Public Counsel case, you are never alone. Our team provides technical expertise, guidance, and the tools you need to succeed, ensuring that both you and your client are fully supported.

This week, we are notifying our 2024 Pro Bono Award recipients of their selection, and we look forward to announcing and celebrating the winners at our awards ceremony in early December. Through the Pro Bono Awards, Public Counsel honors a select group of attorneys who have gone above and beyond in providing outstanding and impactful service to our clients. We simply could not achieve our mission without the hundreds of talented legal professionals who volunteer their time each year.

Together, through our collective efforts, we are building a stronger, more just Los Angeles. It all starts with us. Thank you for being an essential part of Public Counsel’s pro bono family.

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