Our Services

The Health Justice Clinic provides free confidential legal representation to low-income people living with HIV or cancer with legal problems relating to their diagnosis. Legal assistance is provided by law students working under the supervision of attorneys.

Our Cases

Because of limited resources, Health Justice Clinic cannot accept all cases. We handle cases in the following areas:

  • Guardianship Planning for families with children.
  • Public Benefits, including Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid
  • Advance Directives for health care
  • Powers of attorney and wills
  • Insurance
  • Discrimination in employment, housing, education and public accommodations
  • Breach of Confidentiality
  • Employment issues related to health

We do not provide representation in the following kinds of cases:

  • Criminal
  • Immigration
  • Bankruptcy
  • Custody and visitation
  • Landlord/tenant
  • Worker’s compensation, medical malpractice, and personal injury

Our Clients

Our clients are primarily low-income people living with HIV or cancer who live in the Triangle area or come here for medical appointments. We also visit HIV clinics and AIDS Services organizations outside the Triangle. Students meet with clients at their medical appointments or at Duke Law School.

Community Education

In addition to direct legal services, we provide legal trainings for people living with HIV or cancer and their caregivers (case managers, health care providers, social workers, friends and family members). In addition, we respond to regular phone calls from case managers, social workers, and health care providers requesting information about the legal rights of people living with HIV, cancer, or other serious medical conditions.

To Request Services

Interested persons may call us at (919) 613-7169 or toll free at (888) 600-7274. We also welcome referrals from case managers, health care providers, and other agencies. Because of limited resources, the Health Justice Clinic cannot accept all cases.

“The staff and law students who give their time and expertise are to be commended for providing a much needed and completely unduplicated service.”

Jacquelyn M. Clymore, MS State AIDS/STD Director

Spring 2018 students handled cases involving advance directives, insurance, disability, Medicaid, standby guardianship, discrimination, and more.

Policy Initiatives

The Duke HIV/AIDS Policy Project is a law school clinic focused on policy research and advocacy on issues of importance to people living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk. Under the supervision of attorneys Carolyn McAllaster and Allison Rice, students engage in policy research and advocacy with a primary focus on North Carolina and the South.

See our initiatives

 

“The Health Justice Clinic does not provide legal advice over the internet. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation and jurisdiction. The information contained on this web site is not guaranteed to be up to date and cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state.”