Public Counsel

“Public counsel has two members: the los angeles county bar association (lacba) and the beverly hills bar association (bhba).”

“Form 990 is prepared by an independent cpa, reviewed and approved by management and the audit committee, and submitted to board of directors executive committee for final approval. A copy of the final form 990 is then sent electronically to all board members prior to it being filed.”

“A conflict of interest policy has been approved by the board of directors. A conflict of interest disclosure statement is furnished annually to each director, officer, and key employee. The forms are reviewed and signed with any conflicts noted and returned to a staff member who handles board affairs.”

“The compensation of the organization's ceo, other compensated officers and key employees is approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors, after review of a survey of comparable salaries paid by similarly situated organizations. The compensation committee is made up of independent board members and its decisions are contemporaneously documented.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policies, and financial statements are available to executive staff and the board of directors. Upon request from the general public, public counsel will provide access to these documents as required by law.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Consumer Law: Public Counsel staff attorneys and volunteers provide direct legal representation and education to indigent clients in consumer law matters including homeowners defrauded by home equity scam artists, predatory lenders and foreclosure consultants; victims of car scams and door-to-door sales scams; and debtors suffering from collection agency harassment. Public Counsel's debtor assistance project (DAP) provides legal assistance to low-income debtors confronting various legal bankruptcy issues and concerns, and operates a bankruptcy self help center and clinic at the bankruptcy court. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Community Development: Public Counsel staff and volunteers provide comprehensive legal and capacity building services (including transactional legal services such as contracts, tax and corporate compliance, employment law and intellectual property, land use, and formation of nonprofit corporations) for nonprofits that assist lower income people and neighborhoods and for small businesses and low income entrepreneurs located in, and employing residents of, low income neighborhoods, including child care providers who care for low income children. Our Housing Opportunities, Preservation and Enforcement unit uses advocacy, litigation and land use tools to support the development and preservation of affordable housing for lower income persons. Our Early Care and Education law unit works to support greater access to quality early care and education by helping to expand child care centers, providing education and support to those who want to start a childcare business, and working with state and local agencies to improve the quality and availability of child care. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Appellate Law: Public Counsel staff attorneys provide assistance at a self-help clinic to unrepresented, indigent litigants with civil matters pending in the appellate courts, and place selected civil appellate matters with pro bono attorneys for representation. Public Counsel staff and volunteers also operate a self-help clinic for unrepresented indigent litigants in the Federal District Court, educate litigants about federal court procedures, and provide direct representation to indigent litigants in federal court through staff attorneys and pro bono attorneys. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Veterans Benefits: Public Counsel's veterans project (the Center for Veterans Advancement) works to overcome homelessness, poverty, and loss of quality of life among veterans. Public Counsel staff and volunteers provide legal representation to veterans and their caregivers to help them secure the government benefits earned through their service, and overcome barriers to employment, housing, medical care and/or supportive services. Public Counsel's staff and volunteers represent veterans in state courts, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 8: Impact Litigation Project: Public Counsels impact litigation team (Opportunity Under Law) builds on Public Counsel's longstanding economic justice practice. Public Counsel Opportunity Under Law brings suit in federal and state courts to combat economic injustice through litigation and other means. The lawsuits this project initiates affect large groups within Public Counsel's service focus. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 9: Statewide Education Rights: Public Counsels Statewide Education Rights team unites litigation, legislative and policy change, direct legal services and community partnerships to address issues of educational opportunity that affect youth throughout the state of California. Our education rights attorneys work through education, litigation and direct legal representation to ensure that youth and families receive supports they need to succeed and works to keep kids in school and reduce out-of-school suspensions and expulsions in order to improve student learning and graduation rates and stop the”