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

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Series – Fundraising Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample fundraising policy for California nonprofits to ensure that the solicitation of donations complies with relevant state and federal laws, as well as a discussion of

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Nonprofits

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Series – Document Retention Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample document retention and destruction policy for tax-exempt organizations, as well as a discussion of the legal rationale and background for the policy and considerations for

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Nonprofits

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Policy Series – Conservation Easement Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample policy for tax-exempt organizations to ensure compliance with federal laws governing acceptance of conservation easements, as well as a discussion of the legal rationale and

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Nonprofits

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Policy Series – Conflict of Interest Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample Conflict of Interest Policy for California nonprofit public benefit corporations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as a discussion of

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Nonprofits

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Policy Series – Executive Compensation Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample policy for the review and approval of compensation of nonprofit officers and executives, as well as a discussion of the legal rationale and background for

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Nonprofits

Form 990 Policy and Memo

08/02/22

Form 990 Policy Series – Form 990 Distribution and Review Policy and Memorandum

This memorandum includes a sample policy creating a process for the preparation, review, and distribution of the Form 990, as well as a discussion of the legal rationale and background

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Disability Rights

Report

05/25/22

Examining Racial and Ethnic Inequities Among Children Served Under California’s Developmental Services System: Where Things Currently Stand

Inequitable access to developmental services through California’s regional center system continues to plague communities of color. Despite California investing $66 million in the past six years on programs intended to

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Covid-19 InfoSmall Businesses

GuideSpanish

05/20/22

Descripción general de las protecciones de COVID-19 para inquilinos comerciales de pequeñas empresas en el Condado de Los Ángeles

Esta alerta proporciona una descripción general de las protecciones de COVID-19 para los inquilinos comerciales de pequeñas empresas en el Condado de Los Ángeles. Para obtener información sobre las protecciones

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Housing JusticeHousing Justice>Affordable HousingInclusive Community Development

Report

03/25/22

Priced Out, Pushed Out, Locked Out: How Permanent Tenant Protections Can Help Communities Prevent Homelessness & Resist Displacement in LA County

For decades, hundreds of thousands of tenants in unincorporated Los Angeles County had virtually no protection against exorbitant rent increases or unfair evictions, fundamentally undermining their housing stability. This is

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NonprofitsSmall Businesses

GuideSpanish

01/20/22

AB5: Clasificación adecuada de empleado vs. contratista independiente

Al contratar trabajadores, clasificarlos adecuadamente como empleados o contratistas independientes tiene una importancia considerable tanto para los trabajadores como para las empresas, incluidas las organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Este

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