Welcome to Recovery Legal
At Recovery Legal Care, we understand that many patients who are undergoing violence recovery are in need of legal services—a form of access to vital resources—that can not only address health-harming legal needs but give agency back to survivors of injustice.
Legal Assistance Metrics
“Nationally, 3 in 4 (74%) low-income households experienced 1+ civil legal problems in the past year. Two in 5 (39%) experienced 5+ problems and 1 in 5 (20%) experienced 10+ problems.”
“Legal needs occur along a continuum; some problems can be successfully resolved with social resources and referrals that are guided by trained legal experts.”
“Attorneys and paralegals work together with health care providers to recognize the connections between unmet legal needs and health.”
Of patients interviewed, ____ said legal assistance…
%
reduced stress
%
had a positive effect on their family or loved ones
%
positively affected their financial situation
%
helped them maintain their treatment regimen
Zevon MA, Schwabish S, Donnelly JP, Rodabaugh KJ. Medically related legal needs and quality of life in cancer care: a structural analysis. Cancer. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):2600-6.
Basic Information
Recovery Legal Care is a legal assistance program at the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center that provides on-site civil legal support to patients and families undergoing violence recovery.
Our goal is to help build an integrated healthcare system that acknowledges the deep and far-reaching impacts of social and structural inequalities. These inequalities are often at the root of many health problems, including violent injury, and can also impede meaningful recovery. Medical-legal partnerships integrate the unique expertise of lawyers and legal advocates into healthcare systems, so that clinicians and violence recovery specialists can work together with lawyers to address structural problems.
Currently, our services are being offered to patients who are admitted to the UChicago Medicine Trauma Center for violent injuries. An on-site legal advocate is available to provide in-person legal assessments for eligibility of services. Legal services are provided in partnership with Legal Aid Chicago (www.legalaidchicago.org) and needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis.