Public Law Center
Public Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pro bono law firm, founded in 1981 and based in Santa Ana, California, that provides free civil legal services to low-income Orange County residents across consumer, family, immigration, housing, health, tax, and veterans practice areas, supported by 50 staff and 1,500+ volunteer attorneys delivering roughly 75,000 hours of service annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersSanta Ana, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Public Law Center does
Public Law Center (PLC) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit pro bono law firm headquartered in Santa Ana, California, that provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County. Founded in 1981 (originally as Amicus Publico) through a 1989 merger with Orange County Public Interest Law Advocates and renamed to its current form in 1992, the organization operates specialized practice units covering consumer law, family law, immigration, housing and homelessness prevention, health law, federal tax disputes, veterans services, micro/small business assistance, and nonprofit legal aid (COLAP), plus the AIDS Legal Assistance Project. Service delivery combines direct representation, self-help clinics, community education, and impact litigation, supported by an in-house staff of roughly 50 (including 30+ attorneys) and a coordinated network of more than 1,500 volunteer attorneys from major law firms, corporate counsel, and solo practitioners. Annual operational scale is reported at 75,000+ hours of free legal services and roughly 3,800 cases, with an estimated dollar value of approximately $50 million in services delivered to low-income children, adults, and seniors.
The organization's business model is a charitable donation and grant-funded nonprofit rather than a revenue model: services are provided at no charge to clients, and funding is assembled from tax-deductible individual, corporate, and foundation donations, foundation grants (e.g., Blue Shield Foundation, Elder Abuse Prevention), cy pres residual class action awards (a regulatory channel unique to 501(c)(3) status), planned giving/bequests, and event-based fundraising (annual Volunteers for Justice Dinner). Go-to-market is direct-to-client through a Santa Ana headquarters with online intake (English/Spanish/Vietnamese), phone, walk-in, and community partner referrals; partner ecosystem includes roughly 15 community organizations serving immigrant, domestic violence, and Asian American constituencies. Leadership transitioned in 2022 from long-tenured Executive Director Ken Babcock (who grew the organization from 12 staff and a $720K budget to 50 staff and a $7M budget) to Monica Eav Glicken, with the recent 2024 addition of a Jones Day-trained Supervising Attorney for Impact Litigation and Policy Advocacy signaling a strategic deepening of systemic litigation capacity.
Public Law Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Public Law Center
- Legal name
- Public Law Center
- Website
- https://publiclawcenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Public Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pro bono law firm, founded in 1981 and based in Santa Ana, California, that provides free civil legal services to low-income Orange County residents across consumer, family, immigration, housing, health, tax, and veterans practice areas, supported by 50 staff and 1,500+ volunteer attorneys delivering roughly 75,000 hours of service annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Public Law Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pro Bono Legal Services / Civil Legal Aid
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (54111), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights) (EDAAAFAI)
Keywords
Where Public Law Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Ana
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Public Law Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting access to justice mission
- Cy Pres Awards: Residual funds from class action lawsuits, probate matters, and court cases awarded to PLC as appropriate nonprofit charitable organization under California law
- Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests, retirement assets, life insurance, and real estate gifts included in estate plans
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations such as Blue Shield Foundation and Elder Abuse Prevention Grant
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Public Law Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Public Law Center is a pro-bono law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County, California, through specialized units covering consumer law, family law, immigration, housing and homelessness prevention, health law, federal tax, veterans re-entry, and small business/nonprofit legal support. Services are delivered via direct representation, legal advice, community education, training seminars, and strategic impact litigation, coordinated with a network of over 1,500 volunteer attorneys.
Product overview
Public Law Center is a nonprofit pro-bono law firm that provides a comprehensive suite of free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County, California. The organization operates multiple specialized legal units including Consumer Law, Family Law, Immigration, Housing and Homelessness Prevention, Health Law, Federal Tax Clinic, and Veterans Services. Additional programs include the Small Business and Nonprofit Project and Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project (COLAP). Services range from individual legal representation and counseling to community education and strategic impact litigation. The organization delivers services through in-office consultations, pro-bono clinics, and an online intake application system available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Consumer Law Unit Provides free legal assistance to low-income Orange County residents facing consumer-related issues including bankruptcy, debt collection defense, wage garnishment, creditor harassment, identity theft, and consumer fraud.
- Family Law Unit
- Immigration Unit
- Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit
- Health Law Unit
- Federal Tax Clinic
- Operation Veterans Re-Entry
- Small Business and Nonprofit Project
Companies that use Public Law Center
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Public Law Center technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Public Law Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sheppard MullincoreLaw firm partner with 100% success rate in PLC's De Facto Parent and Dependency Adoption Clinic; finalized 115 adoptions since 2021; also handles impact litigation in Santa Ana vs. Mental Health Association case with over 1200 hours contributed in 2023
- UCI Law Criminal Justice CliniccoreLaw school clinic providing post-conviction relief for trafficking survivors; partnership with PLC Immigration Unit enables clients to create stable futures by clearing convictions
- WTLCcoreWomen's transitional living center; recognized as PLC's Community Partner of the Year 2022; provides services for domestic violence survivors
- Ready CaliforniaminorCollaborative effort to increase awareness of DACA-related services and assist eligible community members in Orange County
- OC Opportunity InitiativeminorProject of Orange County Community Foundation supporting PLC's immigrant legal aid efforts
- CARS (Charitable Auto Resources)minorCar donation partner making it easy for donors to contribute vehicles to PLC
- Haynes and BoonecoreLaw firm co-counsel on Costa Mesa Motor Inn affordable housing litigation representing displaced tenants; key partner in $3.5 million settlement victory
- The Kennedy CommissioncoreAffordable housing advocacy group; PLC client and partner in Huntington Beach housing element litigation; awarded $3.5 million in attorneys' fees for advocacy work
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Orange CountyminorCommunity partner working with Asian American communities served by PLC
- BPSOSminorCommunity partner organization serving Vietnamese American community in Orange County
- The Cambodian FamilyminorCommunity partner serving Cambodian immigrant community in Orange County
- Korean Community ServicesminorCommunity partner serving Korean American community in Orange County
- Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community AllianceminorRegional umbrella organization for API communities in Orange County
- VietRISEminorCommunity partner serving Vietnamese American community through advocacy and organizing
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Public Law Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Public Law Center social profiles
Digital presencePublic Law Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Public Law Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Public Law Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Public Law Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Public Law Center
What does Public Law Center do?
Public Law Center is a pro-bono law firm providing free civil legal services to low-income residents of Orange County, California, through specialized units covering consumer law, family law, immigration, housing and homelessness prevention, health law, federal tax, veterans re-entry, and small business/nonprofit legal support. Services are delivered via direct representation, legal advice, community education, training seminars, and strategic impact litigation, coordinated with a network of over 1,500 volunteer attorneys.
Is Public Law Center a public or private company?
Public Law Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Public Law Center founded?
Public Law Center was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Public Law Center based?
Public Law Center is headquartered in Santa Ana, United States, in the North America region.
How does Public Law Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are cy Pres Awards, planned Giving and Legacy Gifts and foundation Grants.
Does Public Law Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Public Law Center.
What industry is Public Law Center in?
Public Law Center's product category is Pro Bono Legal Services / Civil Legal Aid. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAM, Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAA, Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 54111 and its SIC code is 8111.