Medical-Legal Partnership
Prescribing Justice: Healing Through Legal Advocacy
At VCU Health, we know that good health requires more than good health care. The MLP program offers free legal advice and representation to those in need. Our services help patients prevent evictions, secure government benefits, advocate for children’s rights in school, help patients develop advanced care plans, provide employment advice, handle immigration matters, and address family law and domestic violence issues. We work to ensure access to justice on almost every civil legal issue that affects patients’ health and access to health care.
Serving Central Virginia
VCU Health’s mission is to preserve and restore health for all people in Virginia. The MLP, part of the Division of Community Health, builds partnerships that make measurable and sustainable improvements in health outcomes for Central Virginians.
In 2023, we served more than 500 VCU Health patients and families. Our legal partners represented clients in many types of cases: they fought evictions, drafted wills and powers of attorney, appealed public benefits denials, and more. Their efforts had tangible effects on the health and well-being of our community:
- 500 cases for VCU Health patients and families
- Affecting more than 1000 community members
- Totaling $1.4 million in donated legal services
Getting the Word Out
Allison Held, associate general counsel and MLP director at VCU Health, recently spoke about the MLP team’s work at the Virginia Chief Justice’s Pro Bono Summit.
Help Us Help Others
We’re committed to making an even greater impact in the years ahead. Donations of any amount can go a long way toward helping us provide free legal services to those who need them.
