Gallery 1 — The Frederick M. Nicholas Archive

Public Counsel

In 1968, Fred Nicholas was named by the president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Chairman of a Committee on the Future of the Bar. It was at this time that Ralph Nader was a guest speaker at a Beverly Hills Bar Association lunch and spoke about the responsibilities of lawyers to the community. He criticized the legal profession for “not giving back.”

This message hit a nerve with Nicholas and he suggested to members of his Committee that the Beverly Hills Bar Association sponsor a pro-bono law firm to provide free legal services to the poor and needy. After two years of debate, the Beverly Hills Bar Association in 1970 authorized the formation of a pro-bono law firm under the name of Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Foundation. The Bar donated $5000 to its formation and Fred Nicholas was the first president with a staff of Stanley Levy as the first director and Ann Dominique Snyder as assistant. The fledgling organization survived on a donation of $20,000 from Nicholas and small gifts from the large Beverly Hills law firms.

After the birth of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Law Foundation, the most important event in its history was the joining in 1975 of the Los Angeles County Bar Association in co-sponsoring the foundation and the changing of its name to Public Counsel.

Today Public Counsel is the largest pro-bono law organization in the World, helping more than 25,000 individuals and entities each year. The value of its yearly services is more than $45 million.

Nicholas was awarded the Founders Award in 1990 by Public Counsel, and the Lloyd C. Cutler Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in 2008.

40th Anniversary Video: Fred Nicholas and others reflect on the origins and impact of Public Counsel.

Founder’s Day 2023: Honoring Fred Nicholas’ 103rd Birthday.

Fred Nicholas founded Public Counsel in 1970—help us celebrate his impact this Founder's Day

With my grandfather, Fred Nicholas.

Every family has stories they pass down—formative moments, proud milestones, defining legacies. One of my family’s stories begins in 1970, in a modest one-room office where my grandfather, Frederick M. Nicholas, launched what would become Public Counsel. At the time, he simply wanted to create a place where lawyers could use their skills to help people in need. Fifty-five years later, that vision has grown into one of the largest pro bono law firms in the nation.
On May 30th, Fred will be celebrating his 105th birthday. I’m writing to you not only as his grandson, but as someone who is deeply committed to continuing what he began. I’m proud to share that I’ve joined Public Counsel’s Leadership Council—a step that feels both deeply personal and full of purpose.
My relationship with Public Counsel began long before I understood the full weight of its work. I was ten years old, standing in a garden newly named for my grandfather, hearing stories of lives changed and injustices challenged. Over the years, as I listened to him talk about the law, not as a career but as a calling, his passion became contagious.

With my sister, grandfather, and cousin at the Frederick M. Nicholas Garden of Hope naming ceremony at Public Counsel in 2010.

In college, I volunteered with Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project, where I saw that passion in action. Helping individuals navigate the bankruptcy process showed me how powerful legal advocacy could be—and how urgently it was needed. That experience shaped my decision to pursue law school and, eventually, become a bankruptcy attorney.
I returned to Public Counsel during law school as a summer law clerk, and I’ve carried those lessons with me into my practice today. Public Counsel has always been more than a professional inspiration to me—it’s a living legacy, a reminder of what’s possible when lawyers use their skills in service of justice.
Today, Public Counsel’s reach is extraordinary: over 160 staff members and thousands of volunteers serve more than 12,000 people, small businesses, and nonprofits every year. Their work ranges from direct legal services to policy advocacy and impact litigation—all grounded in a deep belief in community and equity.
My grandfather often says that Public Counsel is the work of which he is most proud. Even at 105, he remains connected to the mission and heartened by its continued growth and impact. In honor of his birthday and the legacy he created, I invite you to celebrate with us by making a gift of $105. Your support ensures Public Counsel will keep showing up for people when it matters most.

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