In her role as supervising staff attorney with the Consumer Rights and Economic Justice Project at Public Counsel, EmmaElizabeth Gonzalez (JD 2009) focuses on areas of consumer rights and oversees PC’s Debtor Assistance Project, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and bankruptcy reaffirmation clinics for unrepresented individuals.

Through her consumer work, Gonzalez litigates debt collection defense cases, student loan matters, elder financial abuse matters and various civil matters involving unfair business practices and fraud. Through her bankruptcy work, she prepares and files Chapter 7 bankruptcies for low-income debtors, and worked with pro bono counsel to litigate and obtain a published decision in Rivera v. Orange Cnty. Prob. Dep’t (In re Rivera) (9th Cir. 2016) 832 F.3d 1103,1104, which held that a debt arising out of the involuntary incarceration of a debtor’s minor child was not a domestic support obligation and thus was not excepted from discharge.

Prior to joining PC, Gonzalez spent nine years at Public Law Center in Orange County. Before that, Gonzalez practiced labor and employment litigation at Loeb & Loeb LLP for three years. While at Loeb & Loeb, Gonzalez was a member of the team that was awarded the State Bar of California’s 2011 President’s Pro Bono Service Award for their work securing asylum for several clients.

At USC Gould, Gonzalez was involved with PILF, LAAB, LLSA, and the Immigration Clinic. Since graduating, Gonzalez has been involved with PILF and Gould’s C. David Molina First Generation Professionals Program.

Before attending law school, Gonzalez spent five years working in development at the ACLU of Southern California and Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City, and two years working as a community organizer with Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. Gonzalez earned undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theater from the University of Southern California, where she was a member of the USC Trojan Marching Band and a McNair Scholar.