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

05/12/26

Have I Been Properly Served?

Service means that you have officially been given notice of the summons and complaint in a lawsuit against you.

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Guide

05/12/26

¿Me Han Notificado Correctamente?

La notificación suele realizarse de dos maneras: notificación personal o notificación sustitutiva.

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Guide

05/12/26

¿Necesito Presentar Una Respuesta A Una Demanda?

He Recibido Notificación De Una Demanda Contra Mí, ¿Y Ahora Qué?

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

05/12/26

Have I Been Properly Served?

Service means that you have officially been given notice of the summons and complaint in a lawsuit against you.

Learn More

Guide

05/12/26

¿Me Han Notificado Correctamente?

La notificación suele realizarse de dos maneras: notificación personal o notificación sustitutiva.

Learn More

Guide

05/12/26

¿Necesito Presentar Una Respuesta A Una Demanda?

He Recibido Notificación De Una Demanda Contra Mí, ¿Y Ahora Qué?

Learn More

Resources

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

Public Disclosure of Tax Documents for Nonprofit Organizations

This alert provides an overview of the legal requirement that tax-exempt organizations make federal exemption applications (e.g. Form 1023 or Form 1024-A) and annual informational tax returns (Form 990, Form

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

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.

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/10/21

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.

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/10/21

Loan Modifications [2009]

In this information sheet, the topic of loan modification options is explored through a series of questions addressing many common concerns of nonprofit organizations that are struggling to manage outstanding

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/10/21

Lease Modifications [2009]

In this information sheet, the topic of lease modifications is explored through a series of questions that address many of the common experiences and concerns of organizations leasing commercial real

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/10/21

Copyrights & Trademarks [2015]

This guide contains an overview of federal trademark and copyright laws. It covers the following information: What is a Trademark, Trademark Laws, Choosing a Trademark, Acquiring and Protecting Trademark Rights, and Copyrights.

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

Bankruptcy Information for Nonprofits [2009]

The topic of bankruptcy is explored through a series of questions addressing many common concerns of nonprofit organizations from both the perspective of debtor and creditor. The answers offer a starting point for a nonprofit to evaluate whether the remedy of bankruptcy can help it achieve a more sustainable economic future through a reorganization, or whether the time has come to “close with honor.”

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/10/21

Annotated IRS Form 990 [2011]

This guide is designed to assist California nonprofit public benefit corporations in collecting and disclosing information requested by the revised IRS Form 990. Selected portions of the revised core form, its schedules, and instructions are annotated with explanatory notes, including citations to applicable federal laws, filing tips, and recommended practices.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Annotated Form of Whistleblower Policy

This form is designed to assist nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt or amend a Whistleblower Policy and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. The form is annotated with explanatory

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Housing JusticeInclusive Community Development

Guide

12/08/21

Getting There Together: Tools to Advocate for Inclusive Development Near Transit [2012]

This guide is a Southern California housing advocates’ guide outlining legal tools for influencing affordable housing and land use and disposition policies in a new era of transit-oriented development and smart growth. It sets forth selected strategies that can be used by advocates at the regional, local, neighborhood, and project-specific levels to meaningfully participate in shaping the landscape of our neighborhoods.

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