HEALTH LAW PARTNERSHIP LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC
The clinic has recovered more than $1.2 million in benefits for our clients.
Founded in 2007, the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic has taught more than 270 students in an interdisciplinary environment. Clinic law students collaborate with medical students and residents, as well as graduate students of public health, social work and bioethics in a partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine. Future legal and health professionals work side-by-side to address the social determinants of health, by assisting clients in legal matters. Through the HeLP Legal Services Clinic, students serve our community and gain legal experience while working in an interdisciplinary context.
The clinic has recovered more than $1.2 million in benefits for our clients. Their cases include supplemental security income benefits, Medicaid, consumer issues, housing, education, and insurance, and free legal assistance to those who would otherwise be unable to pay for a lawyer. The clinic has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its innovative clinical education.
in benefits recovered for clients
students taught at the clinic
of legal services provided by students
for the 2019-20 academic year.
Client Information
To qualify for the HeLP Clinic’s services, a family must have a child who is receiving care from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is an annual salary of about $50,200 for a family of four. Many of HeLP’s families live below 100% of the federal poverty level, which is less than $25,100 per year for a family of four. Over 50% of children’s patient families qualify for HeLP’s services.
Cases for the HeLP Clinic are referred by the Health Law Partnership. Typical cases addressed by the HeLP Clinic include housing issues, medical and other benefits, special education and consumer issues.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please contact:
Health Law Partnership
975 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 360
Atlanta, GA 30342-1600
(404) 705-0000
Health Law Partnership
The Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic is a part of the Health Law Partnership among Georgia State College of Law, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Atlanta Legal Aid Society, as well as community partners, which include Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine.
HeLP’s Mission
Locations
Goals
- to provide legal services to low-income families whose children are treated by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta;
- to provide interdisciplinary education related to the legal and social issues facing HeLP’s clients;
- to promote advocacy on behalf of the health and well being of children; and
- to engage in on-going evaluation and research of HeLP’s operations and impact on the community so that it can serve as a model demonstration project for other health care institutions, legal services organizations, and law schools who wish to develop similar medical-legal partnerships.
– Whitney Woodward
Academic Information
Under the supervision of clinical faculty, students work on cases involving childhood disability, housing conditions, education, access to healthcare and the drafting of wills and advanced directives. Our clients are low-income residents of the Metro Atlanta area whose children are receiving care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Students will attend weekly class sessions that will cover substantive and procedural law, as well as discussions of specific case issues. Students work collaboratively with medical students, medical residents, and students from social work, public health, and other professions. Students meet weekly with their assigned supervisor to evaluate case progress.
Consistent with American Bar Association regulations, students are required to spend an average of 2 ½ – 3 hours per credit hour per week on clinic related activities. This includes seminar time, time spent reading and preparing for seminar, supervision meetings, and client or clinic related work.
LAW 6090: HeLP Clinic I
LAW 6091: HeLP Clinic II
Application
Requirements
Additional Requirements
Work in the clinic may require some travel to Children’s at Scottish Rite, Children’s at Egleston, Children’s at Hughes Spalding or Children’s Center for Advanced Pediatrics. To work inside the hospital, students must be tested and confirm vaccinations for certain diseases. Clinic students must attend a mandatory day-long orientation session and sign the HeLP Intern Agreement. Students will be notified of the date of the session upon registration.
Students Learn
- Client interviewing
- Counseling
- Legal research and writing
- Case management
- Oral advocacy
Faculty & Staff
CONTACT
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 4037
Atlanta, GA 30302-4037
Physical Address
85 Park Place NE
Atlanta, GA 30303