Public Counsel

Public Counsel is the largest provider of pro bono legal services in the United States. Initially called the Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Foundation, it was the first bar-sponsored public interest law firm in the United States.

Public Counsel
TypePublic Interest
IndustryLegal
Founded1970
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Key people
Mónica Ramírez Almadani, President & CEO[1][2]
Revenue12,844,546 United States dollar (2017) Edit this on Wikidata
Number of employees
130+
Websitewww.publiccounsel.org

Background

Founded in 1970 by the Beverly Hills Bar Association,[3] Public Counsel delivers free legal and social services to abused and abandoned children, homeless families and veterans, senior citizens, victims of consumer fraud, and nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities.

Public Counsel works on Veterans Advocacy, Appellate Law and Federal Pro Se, Community Development, Early Care and Education Law, Homelessness Prevention Law, Children's Rights (including Adoptions and Guardianships), Consumer Law (including Bankruptcy), Immigrants' Rights, and Opportunity Under Law.[4]

It is the public interest law office of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations and the Southern California affiliate of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

According to the Legal Aid Association of California, "Public Counsel works with over 5,000 volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals that assist over 30,000 children, youth, families, and community organizations every year."[3]

History

In 1977, the name was changed to Public Counsel when the Los Angeles County Bar Association joined the Beverly Hills Bar Association as a sponsor of the Law Foundation. The foundation expanded on their existing involvement in public interest litigation to also work on pro bono efforts with the Los Angeles legal community to serve the poor.[5]

In 1995, Public Counsel represented over 7,000 clients.[6]

As of 2013, Public Counsel lacked resources to bring its resources to all communities in Los Angeles County often enough to meet needs.[7]

References
  1. "Leadership". Public Counsel.
  2. Ormseth, Matthew (2021-06-14). "Former DOJ official is new head of pro bono law firm Public Counsel". Los Angeles Times.
  3. "Public Counsel - The Legal Aid Association of California". www.laaconline.org. 2014-10-06.
  4. "Overview - About Us - Public Counsel". www.publiccounsel.org. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  5. Gene Blake, "Program of Free Legal Help for Poor Launched", The Los Angeles Times (June 14, 1978), Part II, p. 1, 5.
  6. Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1997: Testimony of members of Congress and other interested individuals and organizations. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1996. p. 385. ISBN 9780160527753.
  7. Roberts, Lauren; Winn, Michael (2013). "Justice Bus Project for Rural and Isolated Communities". Clearinghouse Review. National Clearinghouse for Legal Services. 46 (9–10): 423. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
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