Whitman-Walker Clinic

Client Services

HIV-Related Legal Assistance

The Legal Services Program serves individuals who are HIV-positive, generally in matters related to their HIV diagnosis, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin or immigration status. Legal Services will also represent families, domestic partners or friends of HIV-positive individuals, to the extent that their interests are congruent with the interests of the HIV-positive individual.

Assistance on LGBT Health-Related Legal Matters

Because Whitman-Walker Clinic also provides medical and psychosocial services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities related to sexual orientation or gender status, the Legal Services Program also provides pro bono legal assistance to non-HIV-positive Whitman-Walker clients who cannot afford a private lawyer and whose legal problems are related to GLBT health issues.
For instance, we represent non-HIV-positive foreign nationals seeking asylum or other relief from deportation because of persecution based on sexual orientation or gender status in their home countries. We also provide advice and legal representation in cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity; help lower-income GLBT individuals and couples with wills and advance medical directives; provide assistance with health, life and disability insurance problems; and help transgender individuals with name changes and changes to identity documents (such as drivers licenses and birth certificates).
Legal services are available to residents of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area at our main offices in the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., NW, and also at our Max Robinson Center in Anacostia, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE. Please call 202-939-7627 (main office) or 202-745-7000 (Max Robinson Center) to speak with a legal services program staff member about your legal matter.

Scope of Our Practice

Clients reach us in a number of ways. Many clients are referred through other programs of WWC, such as medical, case management or mental health services. Clients also may reach the legal services program directly, because some legal clients may need or want no other services and because of the importance of attorney–client confidentiality. We receive referrals from sources outside WWC, especially social workers at hospitals and public health clinics, other HIV/AIDS organizations and private physicians. Clients also hear of our services through advertisements and notices in community publications and through word of mouth. HIV-positive individuals are eligible for our legal services regardless of whether they participate in other WWC programs.

We provide client services, including counseling, advocacy and representation in the following areas:

• Discrimination and reasonable accommodation: counseling, advocacy and representation in proceedings involving discrimination based on HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation or transgender status in employment, health care, education, public accommodations and housing.

• Insurance: counseling, advocacy and representation involving health, life and disability insurance such as obtaining insurance, obtaining continuation and conversion coverage, contesting denials of claims, cancellation and rescission.

• Immigration: counseling, advocacy and representation for foreign nationals living with HIV/AIDS and GLBT foreign nationals on U.S. immigration laws, and assistance applying for immigration relief in the U.S. Services include applications for lawful permanent residency, HIV waivers and representation in asylum petitions.

• Public benefits: counseling, advocacy and representation for clients seeking access to public assistance programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, Food Stamps, transitional assistance for SSI applicants, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and AIDS-specific benefit programs. We provide assistance with initial applications and with appeals of denials of benefits.

• Return to work: counseling for clients who wish to return to work after leaving their job as a result of HIV-related disability; advising clients on matters such as maintaining Social Security disability and Medicaid / Medicare benefits during a trial work period, the effects of returning to work on private disability benefits, obtaining benefits through the job and securing reasonable accommodations.

• Wills, advance health care directives and powers of attorney: counseling and preparation of simple wills, general powers of attorney, powers of attorney for health care, living wills and declarations as to the disposition of bodily remains.

• Debtors’ rights: counseling for clients on debt management and negotiating with creditors, assistance with obtaining legal relief from debt obligations in appropriate cases.