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 Process: 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...

Learn More

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 Process: 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

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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