Breaking down barriers to health

The Health Justice Project is part of an interdisciplinary medical-legal partnership (“MLP”) between Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Legal Aid Chicago, the largest legal services program for people in poverty in the Chicago region, and Erie Family Health Center, a federally qualified health center providing health care services to people in poverty and other vulnerable populations in west and north Chicago and the northern suburbs. Together, lawyers, healthcare providers, and students identify and resolve the social and legal issues that negatively affect the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. 

As of February 1, 2021, the Health Justice Project extended its reach to the western Cook County suburbs through Loyola’s Maywood Medical-Legal Partnership (“Maywood MLP”). The Maywood MLP is an interdisciplinary partnership between the Health Justice Project, Loyola Medicine, and Stritch School of Medicine. The Maywood MLP collaborates with clinic providers and staff to address the health-harming legal needs of vulnerable patients and advocates for policies to combat systemic barriers to health. The Maywood MLP currently serves patients of: (i) the Loyola Center for Health on Roosevelt in Maywood; (ii) the Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park; (iii) MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn; and (iv) the School-Based Health Center at Proviso East High School.

Hands-on experience

Students enrolled in the Health Justice Project Clinic may be involved in a variety of ways including outreach and education for medical partners and their patients, developing resources for patients and providers, policy advocacy, and direct legal services to patients. Practice areas vary each semester depending on the issues identified by our health partners through referrals but may include public benefits, access to health care, disability, housing, utilities, medical debt, family law, education, and other areas of law which impact the health and well-being of Erie’s patients.  Students enrolled in the clinic will be the primary point of contact for their clients and will be responsible for all aspects of their client’s cases.  Students will learn critical lawyering skills through a combination of a seminar class, intensive case supervision, collaboration with HJPs partner organizations, and engagement in the practice of law.

Contact Us

Philip H. Corboy Law Center
25 E. Pearson St., Suite 714
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: 312.915.6470
Toll-Free: 1.800.424.4839
healthjustice@luc.edu

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