Health justice partnership: Access to justice meets health equity

Abstract

Access to justice research identifies how unmet legal need arises from and exacerbates disadvantage. In parallel, epidemiological research identifies the inequitable impact of social determinants on health. Health justice partnership (HJP) is an innovative response to this evidence: providing accessible legal help to individuals experiencing complex needs; building the capability of health and legal services to support these clients; and challenging systemic factors that contribute to social and health inequity. HJP offers a broader view of access to justice, demonstrating how the law and accessible legal help contribute to health and wellbeing outcomes, and are part of the shared challenge of responding to health and social inequity.