Sonja Trauss is the executive director of the California-based nonprofit YIMBY Law. YIMBY stands for “Yes In My Backyard”—a housing movement that began in California. For years, Sonja and her colleagues have sent letters praising or criticizing local policies and trying to hold cities accountable for their housing laws. She never imagined that writing a simple advocacy letter—something as American as apple pie—would prompt a government investigation into whether she was illegally engaged in the unlicensed practice of law (UPL).

The State Bar of California regulates attorney conduct, issues licenses, and handles daily complaints. Many complaints are dismissed outright. But that’s not what the Bar did when it got a complaint against Sonja, submitted by an ideological opponent who complained that a letter she’d sent to a city council said “grossly incorrect” things about housing laws. Instead of throwing the complaint in the dustbin, a Bar investigator sent Sonja a message, alerting her that a UPL investigation had been opened and demanding she answer a string of questions about herself and YIMBY Law.

Sonja isn’t a lawyer, and YIMBY Law isn’t a law firm. They don’t pretend to be. They also don’t need to be. They don’t represent clients in court; they simply write letters. The only thing you need before writing to government officials is an opinion—not a license from the state.

For Sonja and YIMBY Law, the investigation meant they were at risk every day. Even letters praising cities could have been considered the unlicensed practice of law under the Bar’s definition. 

When Sonja got in touch with IJ, we jumped into action—and secured one of our fastest victories. Sonja was notified of the investigation the day after Christmas. Less than a month later, we sent our own letter to the Bar. We made clear that we were prepared to vindicate Sonja’s and YIMBY Law’s First Amendment rights in court. And on February 6, 2026, the California Bar shut down the investigation and acknowledged that Sonja and her organization had not in fact violated the state’s lawyer-licensing law. 

In the February issue of Liberty & Law, we announced the launch of Counsel Unbound as part of IJ’s mission to defend free speech and to allow everyday people to speak out about what is important to them without fear of punishment. We are eager to build on Sonja’s victory through that campaign as we free ordinary Americans to participate in commonplace legal matters.

Riley Grace Borden is an IJ attorney.