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Legal Council for Health Justice

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Legal Council for Health Justice

We protect the rights of people with chronic, disabling & stigmatizing health conditions with the law

We use the power of law to secure dignity, opportunity, and well-being for people facing illness and disability.

10/05/2026

Health advocacy happens in many ways—and one of them is sharing what we know.

Our team regularly provides trainings, presentations, and technical assistance to partner organizations, healthcare providers, advocates, and others working alongside the communities we serve. By sharing our legal and policy expertise, we help equip the people on the front lines with the information and tools they need to navigate complex systems, respond to changes, and better support their communities.

Because when we strengthen the knowledge and capacity of our partners, we strengthen the broader network working to protect access to healthcare.

10/02/2026

Fall is officially here! 🍂

As the days get shorter and the season shifts, we’re making time to slow down, connect, and enjoy each other’s company. Our recent staff happy hour was the perfect excuse to step away from our desks and spend some time together as a team. 💛

09/30/2026

Beginning October 1, about 9,300 immigrants in Illinois—including refugees, people granted asylum, and survivors of human trafficking—are expected to lose Medicaid coverage as new provisions of H.R. 1 take effect.

Legal Council Senior Attorney Andrea Kovach spoke with the Chicago Tribune about what that loss of coverage means for people who have relied on Medicaid to manage chronic conditions and access preventive and timely care.

“They’ve depended on having comprehensive health insurance to manage their chronic conditions, to get timely healthcare, to get preventative healthcare and screenings,” Andrea said. “When their coverage is terminated, that will be disrupted. It will lead to horrible health outcomes for them and their families.”

These are not abstract policy changes. Losing health coverage means interrupted care, unaffordable medications, and families facing impossible choices. Legal Council and our partners will continue working to protect access to healthcare and help Illinoisans navigate a rapidly changing Medicaid landscape.

Read the full article in the Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/28/immigrants-medicaid-one-big-beautiful-bill/

09/28/2026

We are excited to share that our staff has grown!

Laura Hannon recently joined our team as a Staff Attorney. She joins Legal Council after completing a two-year Equal Justice Works fellowship in Seattle, where she worked with Washington’s Dementia Legal Planning Program to serve seniors across the state.

Laura shared that she is excited to work at the intersection of law and healthcare to assist clients with a variety of legal concerns. She’s also excited to live in the Midwest for the first time and explore all it has to offer!

Join us in welcoming Laura, and share your tips in the comments on what she should do/experience first in the Midwest!

09/23/2026

We’re excited to join Pro Bono Network for their upcoming Training Conference! Legal Council staff members Sarah and Milo will be presenting and sharing their expertise with attorneys committed to expanding access to justice across Illinois.

Sarah will present “Supporting Loved Ones: Guardianship Litigation for Adults with Disabilities,” while Milo will lead “The Power of a Name: Navigating Legal Name Change Cases.”

Our partnership with Pro Bono Network helps Legal Council extend our reach and connect more people with the legal support they need.

“Volunteer attorneys are so well-supported by Pro Bono Network staff and Project Managers that they truly expand our reach,” Sarah shared. “We are able to hand off dozens of cases each year that we would like to help, but don’t have the capacity to take. PBN makes it possible for Legal Council to help so many more low-income people, while providing a great, bite-sized pro bono opportunity for attorneys who want to make a difference for their fellow Illinoisans.”

Legal Council is grateful for partners like PBN who make it possible to build capacity, share expertise, and serve more people—and we’re looking forward to another great Training Conference! If you're an attorney in the Chicago area and interested in legal volunteer opportunities, check out Pro Bono Network: https://www.pbnetwork.org/

09/22/2026

As local elections approach, it’s vital to recognize their impact on advancing disability rights in education. At the Legal Council for Health Justice, we see these elections—especially school board races—as opportunities to shape policies that directly affect students with disabilities.

For the first time, Chicago will elect the entire Board of Education, which consists of 20 members and an at-large president. This shift empowers residents to vote for board members, giving them a direct say in shaping policies for local schools. With this new structure, there’s a greater focus on equity and inclusion, allowing community voices to advocate for necessary resources and policies that create a more accessible and supportive educational environment.

Legal Council partnered with Access Living to send questionnaires to the school board candidates about their stances on special education and disability issues. Click here to learn more about each candidate and read their responses: https://legalcouncil.org/2026-school-board-elections-candidates-stance-on-special-education-and-disability-issues/

09/21/2026

Legal Council is co-counseling a national lawsuit challenging the Medicaid work requirements federal rule that unlawfully narrows protections for people who are medically frail or have special medical needs.

The complaint was filed on Friday in Maryland against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) and Democracy Forward are leading the case. We are co-counsel along with Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Indiana Justice Project.

The lawsuit challenges key provisions of an interim final rule implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new Medicaid work requirements. The rule narrowly defines who qualifies for the law’s medical frailty exclusion, putting people with serious physical and mental health conditions at risk of losing Medicaid because of new reporting and verification requirements, even though Congress categorically excluded medically frail people from the requirements.

“Medicaid is a lifeline, and we will continue to fight policies that put paperwork and bureaucracy between people and the care they need,” said Julie Justicz, Executive Director, Legal Council for Health Justice.

Read the full press release here: https://healthlaw.org/news/medicaid-enrollees-challenge-rule-threatening-coverage-for-people-with-serious-health-conditions/

09/17/2026

Legal Council is once again lacing up for the annual AIDS Run & Walk at Soldier Field!

We’re proud to join our longtime partner, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC), and thousands of community members on September 26. Together, we’ll run, walk, and raise critical funds to support a shared vision: a future where everyone has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to live with dignity and thrive.

As a CommunityDirect team, 92% of what we raise stays with Legal Council to fund our life-changing work. A donation to our team supports everything we do, so sign up to join us on September 26 or make a donation today!

https://action.aidschicago.org/team/835642

09/11/2026

📬 Want to keep up with what’s happening at Legal Council?

Our newsletter lands in inboxes at the beginning of every month with the latest from our team and our community — including Legal Council updates, staff news, upcoming events, job openings, community opportunities, ways to get involved, and more.

It’s one of the easiest ways to stay connected to our work and find out what’s coming up.

💌 Sign up today and don’t miss next month’s edition!

https://legalcouncil.org/join-our-email-list/

09/09/2026

One year ago, we launched Illinois Pride Connect to help LGBTQ+ Illinoisans find trusted information, affirming resources, and legal support when they need it.

Illinois Pride Connect includes a digital resource hub with legal FAQs, know-your-rights information, referrals to affirming legal and community services, and advocacy tools. At its heart is a first-of-its-kind legal hotline, open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing real-time information and referrals on name and gender marker changes, housing and education rights, access to healthcare and public benefits, and more.

Over the past year, Illinois Pride Connect has helped make it easier for LGBTQ+ people across Illinois to understand their rights, navigate complicated systems, and connect with resources and support.

As we celebrate one year, we’re proud of what Illinois Pride Connect has become—and grateful to the partners, advocates, and community members who have helped make this resource possible.

Here’s to year two, and to continuing to build an Illinois where LGBTQ+ people have the information, support, and resources they need to thrive. 🏳️‍🌈

Address

17 N. State Street, Suite 900
Chicago, IL
60602

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13124278990

Website

http://www.legalcouncil.org/

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