About Us

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

We pursue groundbreaking legal strategies that promote economic and social justice for low-income communities and communities of color across the nation.

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

Resource Library

Popular Resources

See All

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

Report

01/28/26

Who Has The Power: Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth

Los Angeles County officials often dismiss concerns raised by and on behalf of young people, claiming that the education-related issues for detained youth are not systemic. This report seeks to...

Learn More

GuideToolkit

01/24/26

Ensuring Family Connection: A Guide to Representing Parents in Probate Guardianships

Probate guardianships are often treated as private custody disputes, yet in practice they can resemble quasi-dependency cases—with serious and lasting consequences for parents, including suspension of parental rights and loss...

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

We pursue groundbreaking legal strategies that promote economic and social justice for low-income communities and communities of color across the nation.

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

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

Report

01/28/26

Who Has The Power: Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth

Los Angeles County officials often dismiss concerns raised by and on behalf of young people, claiming that the education-related issues for detained youth are not systemic. This report seeks to...

Learn More

GuideToolkit

01/24/26

Ensuring Family Connection: A Guide to Representing Parents in Probate Guardianships

Probate guardianships are often treated as private custody disputes, yet in practice they can resemble quasi-dependency cases—with serious and lasting consequences for parents, including suspension of parental rights and loss...

Learn More

NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

10/23/23

Navigating State and Federal Disability Laws as a Small Business

Download as PDF

These publications provide guidance to small businesses navigating the Americans Disability Act (ADA) and California laws that protect people with disabilities. The publications are:

  1. A reference guide for small business owners on physical barrier accommodations they may need to make in order to comply with the ADA, the California Unruh Civil Rights Act (Unruh Act), and the California Disabled Person’s Act. These laws apply to all businesses open to the public, regardless of their size or the number of employees. This guide was updated in October 2023.
  2.  An interactive reference guide for assessing whether you small business has ADA violations. This guide was updated in May 2025.
  3. One page overview on what to do if your small business has been served by an ADA lawsuit.

Similar Resources

See All

Consumer RightsDisaster ResourcesHousing JusticeSmall BusinessesWildfire Resources

FAQ

01/05/26

Rent Problems? Where to Go for Help

Nonprofit legal services organizations (‘legal aid’) offer free help to those who are eligible for services, depending on the specifics of their case and the organization’s capacity.

Learn More

Immigrants' RightsSmall Businesses

Legislative Alert

12/18/25

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 for sidewalk vendors. The law prevents local jurisdictions, including any nonpublic entity contracted by the...

Learn More

EmploymentNonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

07/28/25

Background Checks in the Hiring Process: A Guide for California Nonprofits and Small Businesses

This guide discusses legal issues that might arise when performing background checks for new hires. Topics include negligent hiring, avoiding discrimination, state and local fair chance laws, background checks required...

Learn More