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Office of the County Counsel
Office of the County Counsel
headshot of harjit kaur with scarf and black shirt

Harjit Kaur ( She/Her )

Deputy County Counsel

Overview

Harjit Kaur joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2023.  Harjit is a member of the Education Law Team, which advises the Santa Clara County Office of Education and certain local school districts on various legal issues.  Harjit has particular expertise in Title IX, civil rights, and racial, religious and gender discrimination, which she draws on to provide practical and solution-oriented advice to support access and effectiveness of programs.  

Prior to joining the Office, Harjit was the Direct Legal Services Manager at Equal Rights Advocates, where she created, trained, and led the nation’s first Title IX pro bono program for student survivors of sexual assault and harassment.  Her own pro bono practice emphasized civil rights, human rights, domestic violence, and survivors’ rights.  Harjit has also conducted numerous CLE accredited trainings on trauma-informed and culturally competent survivors’ advocacy.  She is also a former community college instructor and K-12 substitute teacher.   

In 2017, Harjit was honored with the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California’s Community Impact Award.  In 2016, Harjit was honored with the South Asian Bar Association’s Community Service Award.  In 2016, Assembly Member Jim Cooper honored Harjit with an Assembly Award for Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month.  Harjit’s professional expertise includes education law, civil rights law, and employment discrimination. 

Office practice areas
  • Education Law Team 
Education
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 2011 
    • International Legal Studies Certificate 
  • Sonoma State University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2005 
Professional association 
  • Commissioner on the Stanislaus County Equal Rights Commission (2022-2023) 
  • Commissioner on the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council (2015-2018) 
  • Instructional Materials Reviewer for the California State Board of Education (2017-2018) 
  • School Board Secretary for Sacramento Valley Charter School (2011-2015) 
  • Board Member for the Greater Sacramento Area Task Force on Hate Crimes (2012-2015) 
Prior experience
  • Direct Legal Services Manager at Equal Rights Advocates (2018-2023) 
  • Public Relations & Development Manager at Ensaaf (2017-2018) 
  • Senior Manager of California Strategy & Advocacy at The Sikh Coalition (2014-2017) 
  • Associate Trial Attorney at the Shergill Law Firm (2012-2014)