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...

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 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

Community Development Project

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Our Publications

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Guide

Guidance on New Statewide Laws for Street Vendors (2025)

This guide discusses recent state vending laws and local permits needed to vend.

Guide

Guide For Reinstatement of Good Standing With Corporate and Tax Regulatory Agencies For California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporations

This publication provides an overview of how to bring a California nonprofit public benefit corporation exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code and Section 23701d of the California Revenue and Taxation Code into compliance with the California Secretary of State, California Attorney General, California Franchise Tax Board, and Internal Revenue Service.

Guide

Guide to Commercial Leases

Our Guide to Commercial Leases provides a general introduction to the typical provisions found in a commercial lease and discusses key issues that nonprofits and small businesses should consider before entering into a lease. This Guide will be useful to organizations considering a proposed lease as well as those who want to better understand the terms of a current lease.

Guide

Guide to Forming A Charitable, Tax-Exempt, Nonprofit Organization

This guide provides a basic overview of the process, and a discussion of some of the issues to consider in determining whether to form a nonprofit tax-exempt organization.

Guide

Guidelines for Releasing Children

As a child care provider, you have a legal obligation to protect and care for each child in your care. This obligation encompasses who you release a child in your care to and under what circumstances you release a child. Releasing a child to an unauthorized individual could pose legal problems for a child care provider and result in revocation of a provider’s child care license.

Report

How Maturing Subsidized Mortgages Threaten Affordable Housing in Los Angeles [2012]

Much of LA’s affordable housing risks being lost in the next few years due to …

Guide

Immunization: Overview of issues that child care providers should be aware of

Before admitting a child into a child care program, generally a child care provider must request proof that the child has been immunized against diseases. However, there are certain exceptions to this proof of immunization requirement. Further, a new law effective September 1, 2016, added requirements for the licensee of a family child care, employees and volunteers.

Guide, Spanish

Inmunización

Este folleto le proporcionara informacion general de los problemas de inmunizacion que los proveedores de cuidado infantil deben tener en cuenta, ya que esta relacionado a los ninos, empleados y voluntarios.

FAQs, Guide

Intellectual Property Licensing Basics for Nonprofits [2016]

In pursuit of achieving their mission and conducting charitable activities, nonprofit organizations often develop advertising and marketing literature, design logos, names and programs, and create products or written works. All of these things constitute intellectual property. If intellectual property is not managed well, a nonprofit organization may dilute or damage its rights to its own intellectual property and possibly infringe on the rights of others.

Guide

Jury Duty for Family Child Care Providers

State law does not automatically exempt a person from jury duty by reason of occupational …

FAQs, Guide

Know Your Rights as a Child Care Business

This Know Your Rights guide explains California child care providers’ legal authority to control access …

Guide, Spanish

La Importancia de Buenas Relaciones Comunitarias Para Tener una Guarderia Exitosa

Como alguien que cuida profesionalmente a los niños, usted no sólo es dueño de un negocio sino también un miembro importante en su comunidad. Esto significa que debería tener buenas relaciones con los padres, vecinos, caseros y los empleados responsables de aprobar la licencia que usted utiliza en su profesión. De hecho, la mayoría de los problemas legales se puede evitar si uno mantiene buenas relaciones con los demás miembros de su comunidad.

Guide

Landlord Tenant Family Childcare Provider Guide [July 2021]

Landlords and tenants may have some concerns regarding the operation of a family child care …

Guide

Lease Modifications [2009]

In this information sheet, the topic of lease modifications is explored through a series of …

Guide

Legislative Alert — SB 972

SB 972 is a California law that makes it easier for sidewalk vendors who sell …

Legislative Alert

LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SB 635 – The Street Vendor Business Protection Act

California Senate Bill 635 (“SB 635”) makes important changes to state law to provide protections …

Guide

License Exempt Child Care

License-exempt child care is child care that can operate legally without a license. While certain child care arrangements may qualify as license-exempt child care, there are policies and procedures that a license-exempt child care provider should follow in order to ensure the successful operation of his/her child care business and avoid potential legal problems.

Guide

List of Initial Filing Fees for Setting Up a California Tax-Exempt Corporation [2022]

This guide lists the initial fees to set up a tax-exempt corporation in California.

Guide

Loan Modifications [2009]

In this information sheet, the topic of loan modification options is explored through a series …

Guide, Spanish

Mediacion vs. Derecho Procesal

Como el dueno y operador de un negocio de cuidado infantil, es probable que un …

Guide

Mediation vs Litigation: Things for Child Care Providers to Consider Before Going to Court [2016]

Mediation is a private process where a neutral third person called a mediator facilitates a discussion of the issues at hand and helps you and the other party to potentially resolve the dispute through negotiation. Both you and the other party have an opportunity to describe the issues, discuss your interests and provide each other with information that may help to resolve the dispute.

Guide

Mediation vs Litigation: Things to Consider Before Going to Court [2016]

This document defines mediation as a private process where a neutral third person called a mediator facilitates a discussion of the issues at hand and helps you and the other party to potentially resolve the dispute through negotiation; describes several advantages of the process, and provides a list of some local organizations that may be helpful.

Guide

Mutual Directorships [2004]

This alert highlights some issues a director of multiple nonprofit organizations may encounter when presented with a business opportunity that creates a potential conflict of loyalties.

Guide

Naming your Family Child Care Business

California State law requires individuals, partnerships and corporations to register a “Fictitious Business Name” (commonly known as a DBA – “doing business as”) if they operate a business and/or collect money under a name different from their legal surname(s) or corporation names.

FAQs, Guide

Navigating Copyright Infringement for Nonprofits

This guide is designed to help nonprofit organizations avoid copyright infringement. The guide compiles frequently …

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