what we do
LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), provides onsite free legal services at hospitals and community-based health organizations in New York. We have a staff of more than 55 lawyers and paraprofessionals.
Our Medical-Legal Partnership Model
Attorneys work alongside healthcare professionals to provide a wide range of legal services to inpatient and ambulatory clients. Each new patient appointment begins with a comprehensive legal intake which affords the patient an opportunity to share their legal problem. The attorney assists the patient with on-the-spot advice or maps out a plan for full representation, brief service, or referrals. LegalHealth trains healthcare professionals to identify social determinants of health that have legal solutions. As the largest medical-legal partnership in the nation, LegalHealth advocates for social justice reform through legislation and policy.
Legal issues shouldn’t stand in the way of better health outcomes.
Our lawyers and paraprofessionals:
- Handle immigration matters
- Secure government benefits
- Fix housing problems
- Solve insurance disputes
- Plan ahead (e.g., will, healthcare proxy, power of attorney, standby guardianship)
- Assist in family matters
- Provide employment advice
- Address consumer issues