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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Community Education

Public Counsel promotes healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, providing trainings, legal resources, and practical guidance that help people understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and take informed action.

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Resource Library

Popular Resources

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Guide

10/19/26

Trauma-Informed Deposition Preparation Guide

The Trauma-Informed Deposition Guide integrates social work values into legal practices in an attempt to reduce negative impacts on youth clients during deposition. The intention of this guide is to...

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Guide

08/18/26

Navigating COVID-19 EIDL Loan Repayment

This FAQ is designed for small business owners and nonprofit organizations nationwide that received an SBA COVID-19 EIDL and are now navigating repayment, delinquency, or default. It covers program basics,...

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Guide

08/10/26

California Nonjudicial Foreclosure Process – Primary Mortgage

This guide provides an overview of the California judicial foreclosure process for primary (first lien) mortgages, covering the full timeline from pre-foreclosure through the foreclosure sale — a minimum of approximately...

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

Community Education

Public Counsel promotes healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, providing trainings, legal resources, and practical guidance that help people understand their rights, navigate complex systems, and take informed action.

Learn More

Popular Resources

See All

Guide

10/19/26

Trauma-Informed Deposition Preparation Guide

The Trauma-Informed Deposition Guide integrates social work values into legal practices in an attempt to reduce negative impacts on youth clients during deposition. The intention of this guide is to...

Learn More

Guide

08/18/26

Navigating COVID-19 EIDL Loan Repayment

This FAQ is designed for small business owners and nonprofit organizations nationwide that received an SBA COVID-19 EIDL and are now navigating repayment, delinquency, or default. It covers program basics,...

Learn More

Guide

08/10/26

California Nonjudicial Foreclosure Process – Primary Mortgage

This guide provides an overview of the California judicial foreclosure process for primary (first lien) mortgages, covering the full timeline from pre-foreclosure through the foreclosure sale — a minimum of approximately...

Learn More

Resources

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

FAQsGuide

12/08/21

Work For Hire Basics for Nonprofits [2016]

This guide provides nonprofits with an overview of the Work for Hire doctrine, which governs whether an organization that commissions work to be done or whether the person who created the work (e.g. an employee or independent contractor) owns the copyright in the work. It covers the following information: Copyright Basics, Works Made for Hire Overview, and Best Practices: Works for Hire.

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/08/21

Dissolution of a California Nonprofit Corporation

This guide is designed to assist directors and executive management staff of California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporations, as well as attorneys who are assisting such corporations on a pro bono basis, to understand the process of voluntary dissolution. The guide focuses on the procedures and requirements specified in the California Nonprofit Corporation Law.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Executive Compensation Policy

This sample Executive Compensation Policy for a California nonprofit public benefit corporation exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) was designed to assist nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt or amend such a governance policy and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. The form is annotated with explanatory endnotes, including citations to applicable laws, alternatives, and recommended practices.

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/08/21

Running a Successful Volunteer and Internship Program

This publication will discuss many of the common litigation risks and issues associated with volunteers and interns, including misclassification, compensation, discrimination and/or harassment, disciplinary actions, and injuries in the workplace.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Sample Gift Acceptance Policy

Sample of a Gift Acceptance Policy for a California nonprofit public benefit corporation exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) – it was designed to assist nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt or amend such a governance policy and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. The form is annotated with explanatory endnotes, including citations to applicable laws, alternatives, and recommended practices.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Sample Minutes, Resolutions, and Consents

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project has designed these annotated sample minutes, consents, and board resolutions to serve as a tool for non-membership California nonprofit public benefit corporations and pro bono…

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/08/21

Work Authorization FAQ for Employers

A heightened focus on immigration issues under the new administration has raised a number of questions for employers. Our new publication addresses some of the most common questions we are receiving in the area of employee hiring and Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) compliance.

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Nonprofits

Template/Sample Form

12/08/21

Board Orientation Manual (2019)

This Word document is a template that will help you develop an orientation manual tailored for new and existing directors of your organization. It also contains a sample appendix with a suggested list of documents that you should provide new directors to better acquaint them with your organization’s corporate structure, bylaws, and operating policies.

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

Guide

12/08/21

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.

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Nonprofits

Guide

12/08/21

Fiscal Sponsorship: An Alternative to Forming a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Corporation

Fiscal sponsorship is an alternative available to individuals or groups performing charitable services and wishing to give their donors the ability to take a charitable contribution deduction, but not wanting to spend a great amount of time and resources to comply with the extensive filing requirements, tax compliance, and other legal obligations associated with incorporation and tax exemption.

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