Public Law Center is a nonprofit legal services organization based in Orange County, California, that has provided free civil legal assistance to low-income and vulnerable residents since 1981. The organization concentrates its work on high-need civil matters including consumer law, family law, health and housing, immigration, veterans benefits, federal tax disputes, and legal support for small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

The organization combines a team of experienced staff attorneys with a large pro-bono network to deliver direct representation, brief advice clinics, community education, and strategic impact litigation and policy advocacy. PLC measures its impact in substantial volunteer hours and casework handled annually, and it is known in the region for coordinating pro-bono resources and training volunteer attorneys to expand access to justice.

Public Law Center structures client service around community-based clinics, targeted legal units, and coordinated pro-bono representation to meet the practical needs of clients - offering intake, multilingual assistance, technical representation in complex matters, and systemic advocacy when individual cases raise broader public interest issues. The organization emphasizes client-centered, trauma-informed approaches and partnerships with community organizations to reach the most vulnerable populations.

About Public Law Center

Founded in 1981

80 people in their team


Practice areas
Civil & Human Rights
Consumer Rights
Family
Immigration
Corporate & Commercial

Languages spoken
English

Social media

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Practice areas

Civil & Human Rights

Public Law Center pursues systemic remedies and policy advocacy in addition to individual representation, bringing impact litigation and coordinated advocacy to address discrimination, housing instability, access to benefits, and other civil-rights issues that affect low-income and vulnerable Orange County residents. PLC leverages its litigation experience and partnerships to challenge practices that produce broad community harm and to secure durable remedies for affected populations.
Civil Rights
Constitutional Law
Disability
Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability
Discrimination
Native People
Education Law
Military Law
Animal Law
Faith-Based Law
State, Local, and Municipal Law
Veterans Benefits

Consumer Rights

The Consumer Law Unit provides targeted assistance on debt, unfair business practices, elder consumer issues, and related matters through legal advice clinics, representation, and education; the unit works with volunteers and staff attorneys to resolve disputes, pursue debt relief and bankruptcy options when appropriate, and protect clients from predatory practices.
Auto Dealer Fraud
Civil Litigation
Consumer Protection
Legal Malpractice
Professional Malpractice

Family

PLC’s Family Law Unit delivers representation and clinic-based services for family law matters affecting low-income clients, including custody and guardianship issues, domestic violence-related protections, and Hague Convention matters, with staff attorneys handling both courtroom representation and community-based legal assistance.
Adoption
Child Abuse
Child Custody
Child Support
Child Visitation
Collaborative Law
Divorce & Separation
Domestic Violence
Father's Rights
Marriage
Military Divorce
Same Sex & LGBT
Annulment

Immigration

The Immigration Unit provides deportation defense, detained representation, affirmative immigration services, and technical assistance in complex immigration matters, combining direct client advocacy with collaboration across community partners to support families, asylum seekers, and detained individuals.
Asylum
Business Visa
Citizenship
Dependent Visa
Permanent Residency
Retirement Visa
Work Permit
Citizenship by Investment
Residence by Investment
Golden Visa

Corporate & Commercial

Through its Small Business and Nonprofit Project, PLC offers legal guidance to micro-enterprises and nonprofit organizations on formation, compliance, contracts, and transactional matters, helping community-based organizations and small businesses establish sound legal structures and navigate regulatory responsibilities.
Administrative
Admiralty & Maritime
Agriculture
Antitrust
Aviation
Business Registration
Contract
Due Diligence
Franchising
Gaming
Government Contract
Licensing
Merger & Acquisition
Transportation
Venture Capital
Cannabis Law
Nonprofit & Charitable Organizations
International Trade Law
Government Relations & Lobbying
Private Equity
Corporate Governance
Sanctions & Export Controls