UMass Medical-Legal Partnership - Worcester

Organization: Community Legal Aid (CLA)

Medical-Legal Partnerships (MLP) are valuable collaborations between the medical and legal communities. Under the MLP model, a case begins when a medical practitioner believes that a patient’s medical issues may be improved or resolved by a legal intervention. 

Community Legal Aid (CLA) and UMass Memorial Health Care have joined forces to improve the health of low-income families in Central Massachusetts by tackling the unmet health-harming legal needs faced by the system's most vulnerable patients. Since the partnership began in 2015, the UMass MLP has assisted hundreds of pediatric and adult patients with legal needs related to special education, public benefits, housing and guardianships of incapacitated persons. 

When the medical provider sends patients to CLA, our MLP staff investigates the cases and refers them to a CLA volunteer lawyer. Be a part of this important project by volunteering today!

I'm Ready to Volunteer!
  • Minimum Commitment
  • Mentoring Provided
  • Training Provided
  • Relevant Experience Preferred
  • LAR Certification Required
  • Malpractice Coverage Provided
  • Project Type
    Other, A Medical-Legal Partnership
  • Location Name
    Community Legal Aid
  • Project For
    Attorney, Mentor, Retired Lawyer/Judge
  • Populations Served
    General low-income, Seniors, Homeless, People with Disabilities, Children & Youth, Limited English Proficient
  • Subject Areas
    Disability Benefits, Education, Family Law, Housing, Public Benefits
  • Skills to be Developed
    Administrative hearing, Client advice and counseling, Client/witness interviewing, Court hearing, Trial, Negotiation
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