The Response

Recognizing the enormous potential for legal services to help health care providers respond to the social needs and deficiencies they see every day in their clinics, the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership works to create conditions in which all health organizations can leverage these services. Over the last decade, the National Center’s work has helped cultivate programs that do just that at 450 hospitals and health centers across the U.S.

Range of MLP Activities

At these medical-legal partnerships, lawyers become an important part of the health care workforce, embedding in various care settings just like any other specialist. When some of the most complex and intractable problems—like an illegal eviction—are detected, clinical staff can refer patients directly for legal services. And like other members of the health care team, legal staff are available to consult with clinical and non-clinical staff about system and policy barriers to care. A number of these partnerships go further, leveraging their considerable knowledge and expertise to advance local and state policies that lead to safer and healthier environments.

Increasing Support for Integrated, Patient-Centered Legal Services as Part of Care

Anecdotal and other early evidence from programs and early federal investments demonstrate the impact legal expertise and services can have on individual patients, and hint at the potential for health care and legal professionals to join forces to promote population health. But making these collaborative services a normative part of today’s health care system requires an enormous cultural shift. That’s where we come in.

The National Center’s Work

As the leading voice for leveraging legal services inside health organizations, the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership leads education, research, and technical assistance efforts to create conditions where all health organization in the United States can leverage legal services as a standard part of the way they respond to social needs. Read more about some of our recent initiatives.