Legal Council for Health Justice

We aim to help adults, children, and families living with complex, stigmatized and life-changing health and social conditions to lead fulfilling lives; reach their self-determined goals; and help them secure and plan their futures. We do this work through direct service and through advocating for policy changes so that our nation's health, social, and financial systems work well for everyone, regardless of income level, identity, or background.

All work combines strategies of education/outreach, direct service, and systemic advocacy.

We partner with hospitals, health systems, and social service providers to train their staff to recognize their patient's health-harming legal needs; accept patients for legal representation; and use direct services to clients as a window to form high impact systems change. Our legal services are not restricted and we are able to use the right legal tool to get the job done. This includes administrative advocacy, class actions, and shaping legislation.

Legal Council is home to an expert legal team with diverse backgrounds, including decades of experience in social security law, family law, health law and policy, Medicaid/Medicare policy, and HIV law. In the 30+ years since Legal Council was founded, the agency has created strong and long-lasting relationships with providers and community leaders across Chicagoland and Illinois that allow us the space to advocate for health justice for all.

In the last 30 years, Legal Council has led victories protecting the confidentiality rights of individuals with HIV, limiting the criminalization of HIV, strengthening protections for the health care of Illinoisans, protecting and expanding access to Medicaid, allowing schools to carry stock medication for asthmatic students, teaching and training local service providers on Early Intervention for children exposed to lead, and enabling Chicago and Illinois communities to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being.

Although much has been accomplished in 30 years, there is still much to be done. We will continue to fight for improved access to health care and services and removing barriers for individuals living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The movement for health justice also includes removing barriers in our health, financial, and social systems for communities of color, especially for Black and Latinx communities who have for so long been blocked from the resources they need to thrive.