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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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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FAQsGuide

02/10/26

Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business

This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access to their facilities, including who may enter, when recording is prohibited, and how to respond...

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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

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

FAQsGuide

02/10/26

Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business

This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access to their facilities, including who may enter, when recording is prohibited, and how to respond...

Learn More

Our Cases

Public Counsel pursues groundbreaking legal strategies to advance civil rights and racial and economic justice, for low-income communities and communities of color across the nation.

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.

Our Cases

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Harris v. City of Los Angeles

Housing Justice

Filed on: 12/19/24

Harris v. City of Los Angeles

Defending the Constitutionality of Renters’ Rights

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Immigration Center for Women and Children v. Noem

Immigrants’ Rights

Filed on: 10/14/25

Immigration Center for Women and Children v. Noem

Holding ICE Accountable for Unlawfully Targeting Immigrant Survivors of Abuse, Exploitation, and Other Serious Crimes

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McKinleyville Union School District v. U.S. Department of Education

Education Equity

Filed on: 10/22/25

McKinleyville Union School District v. U.S. Department of Education

Challenging the Federal Government’s Unlawful Discontinuation of Critical School-Based Mental Health Grants

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United States v. County of Los Angeles

Filed on: 09/28/15

United States v. County of Los Angeles

Disrupting the Jail-to-Houselessness Cycle for People Living with Mental Disabilities

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Howard Jarvis & AAGLA v. City of Los Angeles

Housing Justice

Filed on: 02/15/23

Howard Jarvis & AAGLA v. City of Los Angeles

Fighting to Defend Measure ULA Against Lawsuits from Special Interest Groups

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People v. Dueñas & People v. Kopp

Economic Justice

Filed on: 11/07/17

People v. Dueñas & People v. Kopp

Fighting to End the Unjust Punishment of Court Fees

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A.C.R. v. Noem

Immigrants’ Rights

Filed on: 07/17/25

A.C.R. v. Noem

Challenging the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Termination of Protections for Immigrant Youth and Children

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IntegrateNYC v. New York

Education Equity

Filed on: 03/19/21

IntegrateNYC v. New York

Protecting New York City School Students’ Right to an Antiracist Education

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Ocean S. v. L.A. County

Foster Care, Housing Justice

Filed on: 08/22/23

Ocean S. v. L.A. County

Vindicating the Right to Safe, Stable Housing and Supportive Services for Young People in Los Angeles County’s Foster Care System

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Kerri K. v. State of California

Disability Rights, Education Equity

Filed on: 05/15/19

Kerri K. v. State of California

Ensuring that Children with Disabilities Attend Safe and Supportive Schools

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