Program Overview

Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Mental and Physical Health Law Clinic

The Interdisciplinary Mental and Physical Health Law Clinic (Health Law Clinic) at Villanova Law provides students with the opportunity to serve low-income persons in their struggle to avoid exploitation, assert their legal rights, and obtain accessible, quality health care.

Program Description

Villanova Law students working in the Health Law Clinic work directly with their clients to help them understand and assert their rights, providing life-changing legal services while gaining valuable lawyering skills. Each semester, students typically work individually with two or three unique cases, with representation often culminating in an appearance at administrative hearings or in court.

Types of Cases

• Proving client eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits
  • Representation in surrogate decision-making matters
  • Appealing denial of payment by health insurers
• Students have won services for clients that had previously been denied by their health insurers, including:
  • Electric wheelchairs
  • Skilled nursing care
  • Medicines and therapies
• They have successfully petitioned the court for guardians for persons unable to make decisions for themselves, challenged guardianship petitions on behalf of persons against whom they were wrongfully brought, and won disability benefits for adults and children with severe disabilities.

Program Benefits

The Health Law Clinic provides students with hands-on experience in a real-world setting, allowing them to develop essential lawyering skills while making a positive impact on their clients' lives. By working directly with clients and advocating on their behalf, students gain a deeper understanding of the legal system and the importance of accessible, quality health care.