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.

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

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

Our People

Department

Education Equity

Issue Areas

Education Equity

Mayra Lira

Senior Supervising Attorney

Mayra is the Senior Supervising Attorney for Public Counsel’s Education Rights Project. She oversees the Education team’s state and local policy and direct service work and participates in various policy efforts in the area of education, including exclusionary discipline, school policing, the rights of immigrant students, and juvenile justice. She represents families in all stages of special education advocacy, including IEP advocacy, state compliance, and due process complaints. She also represents students facing expulsion and other forms of school pushout. While at Public Counsel, Mayra has also worked with the Adoptions team and represented families in advocacy efforts with the Regional Center. Prior to joining Public Counsel, Mayra worked at an immigration nonprofit representing individuals applying for immigration relief. Mayra graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.A. in Sociology and a Minor in Political Science. She obtained her J.D. from Loyola Law School.