Organization Description

The Public Law Center, Orange County's pro bono law firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low-income residents. Through volunteers and staff, the Public Law Center provides free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices. Founded in 1981, PLC works with over 1500 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, and law students from throughout the county who volunteer their time and expertise. PLC engages their volunteers in a wide variety of manners, including pro bono representation, staffing legal clinics, mentoring less experienced pro bono attorneys, and in-house volunteering.

Pro Bono Project Description:

Pro Bono Representation
PLC seeks volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance for specific cases contained on the PLC Case List (hover over "Volunteer").  The Case List offers volunteers a variety of substantive cases including consumer law, family law, housing, health law, immigration, transactional assistance for local non-profits and small businesses, and assisting veterans. By providing pro bono representation, volunteer attorneys gain valuable legal experience as their client's primary advocate from start to finish on a case.  PLC provides technical assistance for all our placed cases.  In addition, if interested and depending on the case, PLC may be able to co-counsel on a matter with a volunteer attorney.

Impact Litigation and Advocacy
PLC staff and volunteers participate in impact litigation and advocacy surrounding issues affecting low-income Orange County residents. Impact matters can come from any of the substantive areas of law we practice, but recently have involved Consumer Law, Immigration, Health, and development of affordable housing. PLC places particular emphasis on the affordable housing issue and is active in administrative advocacy and litigation seeking to develop a more favorable climate for affordable housing development.

Legal Clinics
PLC conducts various legal clinics throughout Orange County, both in-person at courts and community sites, as well as remotely.  Volunteers play a critical role at these clinics by conducting intakes, assessing clients' needs, and offering brief counsel and advice, when possible. By participation at a legal clinic, volunteers gain experience with direct client contact, issue-spotting, and client communication.  In addition, some of our clinics do not require experience allowing volunteers to learn a new area of law.

Mentorship/Trainings
Volunteers with expertise in a specific legal area can serve as Mentors for less experienced attorneys. Also, PLC conducts MCLE trainings and community education presentations and seeks volunteers to be Trainers. As a Mentor or Trainer, volunteers have the opportunity to educate and network with other Orange County attorneys.

In-House Volunteers
Depending on space and staff needs, a volunteer may be able to work remotely in-house, or possibly hybrid, with our organization. By working in-house, a volunteer has the opportunity to work closely with PLC staff attorneys to provide legal assistance to low income residents.

Research Projects
Depending on staff needs, volunteers can provide assistance by researching particular case issues or providing research on our advocacy projects. This research can be on a volunteer's own time. By volunteering to assist with research, a volunteer has the opportunity to hone their research skills and help provide legal assistance to low income residents.