Public Counsel empowers communities and advances justice

Note from the CREDO Mobile team: This January, Public Counsel is among three amazing groups that will receive a share of our monthly grant. Funding from the CREDO Mobile community will help Public Counsel in its mission to advance civil rights and racial and economic justice, and to amplify the power of its clients through comprehensive legal advocacy.

Read this important blog post about Public Counsel’s critical work, then visit CREDODonations.com and cast your vote to help send funding to Public Counsel to support its efforts — and the efforts of our other outstanding January grantees.

Public Counsel, a nonprofit law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, has been at the forefront of advancing civil rights and fostering economic and racial justice for more than half a century. Our dedicated team of attorneys, social workers, paralegals, organizers and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure justice is not just a privilege for the few but instead is accessible to all.

Our approach to creating change is unique and multifaceted. We believe in the power of coordinated advocacy, where our one-on-one legal services inform — and are amplified by — our impact litigation, policy advocacy and community education. This synergy helps to ensure that we tackle the most pressing systemic injustices harming our communities.

For example, this past year, we won groundbreaking tenant protections for Los Angeles residents and stepped up to defend these protections in court. We also upheld the largest affordable housing ballot initiative passed in the city’s history, joining with community partners to ward off multiple legal challenges. In addition, we held the State of California accountable for mishandling its COVID-19 Rent Relief program, partnering with community groups to secure fair access to the program for tens of thousands of applicants.

Another crucial aspect of our work is power building. We align our legal advocacy with grassroots movements to enact change, challenge unjust laws and achieve lasting results. We also focus on being accountable to our clients, making sure our legal work prioritizes their needs, goals and personal expertise.

For example, for over a decade we have worked to amplify the power of street vendors to legalize sidewalk vending across California and, more recently, to challenge unlawful vending restrictions that criminalize and harm their livelihoods. Across California, we partner with community groups to advocate for a more equitable education system that leaves no student behind. This approach to our work helps uplift the agency, dignity and power of the communities we serve.

Finally, our organization was founded on a pro bono legal service model and volunteer mobilization is at our core. With the support of thousands of volunteers, Public Counsel can annually provide legal representation to more than 10,000 individuals, families, nonprofits and small businesses. For instance, at our most recent National Adoption Day — with the help of dozens of pro bono attorneys — we finalized nearly 60 adoptions and ensured that each of the children left the foster care system connected to the services they need to thrive.

Being selected by CREDO Mobile is a significant honor for us. It’s an opportunity to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Your vote and support can help us continue our critical work. Together, we can create an equitable society where justice is not just a promise but a lived reality for all.

Thank you for considering Public Counsel as your choice for CREDO’s monthly grant. Your support means the world to us and to the communities we serve.

You can learn more about our work at PublicCounsel.org.