New national report on social housing available!
"Building Our Future: Grassroots Reflections on Social Housing" examines a growing movement to create permanently affordable housing that is publicly, collectively or non-profit owned and under community control.
Read the report
Governor Newsom releases the 2024-2025 state budget proposal revision
Click here to read through PA's analysis on what it gets right and what can be improved in terms of education, housing, and transit equity.
Read more
Public Advocates urges CA college leaders to protect the rights of students and engage in dialogue
"Student protests are a part of our country’s rich democratic history and have been integral to advancing social justice—on and off of college campuses. We call on university leaders to protect students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. Regardless of opinion, college administrators owe students an opportunity for expression and dialogue."
Read the full statement.
CalMatters: Shady business owners can hide behind LLCs. California should make their identities public
Op-ed by Senior Staff Attorney, Suzanne Dershowitz
Read more
Public Advocates demands state to end the state’s highly discriminatory system for funding school facilities.
The status quo is an unequal system in which students in low-wealth districts receive an education inferior to that of their peers in higher-wealth districts.
Read more
Public Advocates Files Complaint to Address Educator Staffing Concerns in West Contra Costa School District
Attorneys at Public Advocates have uncovered numerous teacher vacancies, and the illegal practice of using rolling substitute teachers instead of filling these vacancies with permanent educators.
Read more
A new report exposes how for-profit developers are exploiting a loophole in state law to impose exorbitant rent increases on low-income residents
Read more

News

From waging battles for affordable housing throughout the Bay Area to winning increased opportunities for a quality education in the courts, Public Advocates stays in the news. Here’s the latest…

By
In News
Posted

Telemundo 48 Área de la Bahía: Condiciones peligrosas provocan cierre de escuela primaria en Richmond

July 25, 2024—Telemundo 48 San Francisco Bay Area’s Pilar Niño spoke to Public Advocates’ Senior Policy Advocate Angelica Salazar on the recent closure of Stege Elementary school in Richmond due to “environmental hazards.” Stege was cited in Public Advocates’ July 2024 lawsuit against the West Contra Costa Unified School District due to facilities complaints [...]

0 Read More
By
In News
Posted

Univision 14 Area de la Bahía de San Francisco: Los desalojos aumentan en el condado de Santa Clara tras finalizar ayudas por la pandemia

July 25, 2024—Univision 14’s (San Francisco Bay) María Antonieta Mejía spoke with Public Advocates’ Senior Staff Attorney Suzanne Dershowitz about a rise in evictions in Santa Clara County after pandemic-related renter protections have expired. According to a recent report, 3,180 evictions were recorded in 2023, the highest number since 2014. The nonprofit organization Public Advocates [...]

0 Read More
By
In News
Posted

The Richmond Standard: WCCUSD to temporarily close Stege campus, relocate staff and students

July 24, 2024—The Richmond Standard reported about the recent closure of Stege Elementary for health and safety hazards—including reports of potential lead and asbestos—and how the disruption may impact students. Nearly a week ago, Public Advocates filed a lawsuit with co-counsel Munger, Tolles & Olsen on behalf of five petitioners (educators, parents and students) against […]

0 Read More

Our Work

We challenge the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transit equity and climate justice.

Quality Education & Financing

Striving to ensure children receive a quality education that will prepare them for college, careers and the future.

LEARN MORE

Housing
Justice

Advancing the right of families to live in communities jobs, schools and city services regardless of ethnicity or income.

LEARN MORE

TransportationJustice

Meeting the needs of low-income communities by fighting for more public transit and reduced or free fares for youth.

LEARN MORE

Climate
Justice

Targeting the needs of low-income communities; advancing  social equity through investments and opportunities.

LEARN MORE

Get Involved. Fight With Us for Social Justice

We’ve been called “the small but noisy law firm.” We take that as a compliment– as long as noisy means standing up for our clients, being willing to ruffle a few feathers and getting results way out of proportion to the size of our staff or budget.

Stay Informed

Sign up to receive a monthly update of what we’re working on, including ways you can get involved. Be the first to know about upcoming events and new opportunities at Public Advocates.

Receive Our Monthly eNews

Become a Volunteer

Join our stellar development or communications teams or spend your summer semester working with attorneys from one of California’s leading civil rights law firms.

Join Our Team

New Video -Public Advocates’ Story!

Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Not readable? Change text. captcha txt