Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership

 The Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership
(formerly the Syracuse Family Advocacy Program)

co-sponsored by:

Syracuse University College of Law
and
SUNY Upstate Medical University

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About the Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership:

The Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership (SMLP) is an interdisciplinary collaboration between 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 and medical students and residents. Future doctors and lawyers learn to work collaboratively to attain favorable health outcomes for patients. Not only do patients receive critical legal assistance, but developing professionals learn about using community resources and employing cooperative strategies to benefit patients and clients in their own practices.   SMLP has been a partner site of the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership since 2005 and is also a member of the New York State Coalition of Medical-Legal Partnerships. 

SMLP's mission is to:

• improve health outcomes for vulnerable patient populations;
• provide advocacy and legal intervention to prevent health crises for patients caused by non-medical factors;
• provide multidisciplinary training for law students, medical students and residents;
• encourage multidisciplinary collaboration between the legal and medical professions;
• foster a productive relationship between two educational institutions;
• educate health care providers to identify health-related legal issues and become better advocates for their patients;
• disseminate information about SMLP's outcomes and community impact through publication and academic presentations; and
• cultivate a relationship between the law and medical schools and the greater Syracuse community.

How SMLP Works:

Law students assist with the development and presentation of case conferences and workshops for medical staff to train them to identify patients in need of SMLP services.  These students work alongside the medical team in the medical setting and conduct on-site interviews of patients referred by the medical staff. When legal advocacy or representation is needed, patients are referred to the law school's clinical education program for assistance.   

For more information on the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership or to become a volunteer attorney or law student, please contact us at 443-1310.  For legal referrals, call 443-4582.