Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership Clinic II

Catalog description

The Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership Clinic II is an enhanced clinical offering and course designed for students interested in further continuing and developing legal skills and policy analysis in the area of children¿s health. Students will provide non-litigation legal service (intake, advice, research and referrals) for a busy pediatric clinic in Syracuse, NY, around legal issues that impact health care access and outcomes. This may include children¿s access to education, safe housing, medical equipment, family court issues, government aid programs, transition-age youth, and more. Patients who have complex medical needs, are aging out of pediatric health care and social services, and need to preserve their legal rights, will be a special population served by this clinic. Students who are enrolled in the Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership II must have completed the entry Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership clinic course. The Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership (SMLP) is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the pediatric unit at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University College of Law. SMLP provides legal advocacy to improve the overall health and well-being of vulnerable patient populations. SMLP also works to achieve systemic change through the multidisciplinary education of law students, medical students, residents and other professionals whose expertise is imp. Doctors and lawyers learn to work collaboratively to attain favorable health outcomes for patients. Not only do patients receive critical legal assistance, but professionals learn about using community resources and employing cooperative strategies to benefit patients and clients in their own practices.