Cancer Legal Resource Center
| Introduction | Resources | CLRC Chronicle | Professional Panel | Externships & Volunteers | Upcoming Events | In the News | Past Events
Introduction to the CLRC
The Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) is a joint program of the Disability Rights Legal Center and Loyola Law School. The CLRC provides free and confidential information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to cancer survivors, their families, friends, employers, health care professionals, and others coping with cancer.
A cancer diagnosis can carry with it a variety of legal issues, including insurance coverage, employment discrimination, access to health care, and estate planning. These legal issues can cause people unnecessary worry, confusion, and stress, and can be overwhelming. When these legal issues are not addressed, people may find that although they have survived the disease, they have lost their homes, jobs, insurance, or families.
Where Do You Turn For Help?
The CLRC has a national, toll-free Telephone Assistance Line (866-THE-CLRC) where callers can receive free and confidential information about relevant laws and resources for their particular situation. Members of the CLRC's Professional Panel of attorneys, insurance agents, and accountants can provide more in-depth information and counsel to CLRC callers.
As of January of 2009, the CLRC has received over 30,000 calls to its Telephone Assistance Line (866-THE-CLRC). Since its founding in 1997, the CLRC remains unique, providing invaluable cancer-related legal information and resources to people nationwide. The success of the Center's work is reflected in the enormous need for the information they provide. Throughout its 12-year history, the CLRC has served over 90,000 people through the Telephone Assistance Line, conferences, seminars, workshops, outreach programs, and other community activities.
CLRC staff members also speak at seminars and outreach events in the cancer community, across the nation, including trainings for health care professionals. If you would like CLRC staff to attend your next event, please complete our speaker request and material order form or call us at (213) 736-1331 or (866) 843-2572.
Speaker Request & Material Order Form
Staff
Joanna Fawzy Morales, Esq., Director
Elise Meerkatz, Esq., Staff Attorney
Tiffany Sirikulvadhana, Esq., Staff Attorney
Laura Urias, Esq., Staff Attorney
Jennifer Chayo Fenton, JD,
Outreach and Education Coordinator
Sarah Semrow,
Advocacy and
Outreach Coordinator
Maria Badillo, Administrative Assistant
Contact
Toll Free #: (866) THE-CLRC or (866) 843-2572
Phone: (213) 736-1455
TDD: (213) 736-8310
Fax: (213) 736-1428
Email: CLRC@LLS.edu
Telephone Assistance Line Intake Form Available Online!
The CLRC Telephone Assistance Line is open Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM Pacific Standard Time. If you reach our voicemail during business hours, we are assisting other callers. However, we now have an intake form available online. The intake form asks for information about the issue with which you would like assistance. If you would like to fill out an intake form and email, fax, or mail it back to us, this will help us to assist you in a timely manner.
To download the intake form, click here
Resources
About the CLRC
Video about the Cancer Legal Resource Center: CLRC Overview 2008 (English) Transcript
CLRC Brochure (English) CLRC Brochure (Español)
CLRC Information Sheet (English) CLRC Hoja de Información (Español)
CLRC Telephone Assistance Line Statistics
CLRC Educational Materials and Seminars
Click here to access CLRC educational materials and seminars on national and state topics such as health and disability insurance, finances, estate planning, employment, navigating managed care, and more!
The Manual: Legal Resource Guide for People with Cancer
The Cancer Legal Resource Center has designed a Legal Manual for Cancer Patients with information about employment, taking time off work, disability insurance, and health insurance, how to ensure your treatment gets paid for, estate planning, and legislative advocacy. While this manual is specific to California, it contains practical information that applies to everyone and gives you an idea of what to look for in you own state. Funding for this guide was provided, in part, by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Chapter One: Employment Rights
Chapter Two: Taking Time off Work
Chapter Three: Disability Insurance
Chapter Four: Health Insurance
Chapter Five: How to Ensure Your Treatment Gets Paid For
Chapter Seven: Legislative Advocacy
Webinars
Click here to register for an upcoming WEBINAR
The CLRC has a new webinar series for 2009. Webinars are open to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and others coping with cancer.
Webinar Flyer
El CLRC tiene una nueva serré de webinars para el 2009. Los webinars están habiertos para pacientes de cáncer, sobrevivientes, los encargados de sos cucados médicos, protesionates en asistencia medica, y otros entrendtando el cáncer.
Folleto de Webinars
The Cancer Legal Resource Center Chronicle
March 2009 |
May 2008 |
September 2008 |
August 2007 |
CLRC Supporters
The CLRC is supported by the National Home Office of the American Cancer Society, the California Division of the American Cancer Society, Loyola Law School, the Disability Rights Legal Center, the California Office of the Patient Advocate, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, several affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, other grants, and individual donations.
Professional Panel
The CLRC is seeking lawyers with experience in employment, health insurance law, estate planning, government benefits, or family law to join its Professional Panel and help people navigate their cancer-related legal concerns. A volunteer attorney can make the difference!
More Information on the CLRC Professional Panel
CLRC Professional Panel Application - Join Today!
Externships
The CLRC is currently looking for summer extern and law clerk positions. Law students receive training in cancer rights law and gain “hands-on” experience assisting people with cancer, cancer survivors, their families, friends, and others coping with cancer. Get actively involved by interviewing CLRC callers and providing telephone assistance and information on cancer-related legal issues. You can also enhance your research and writing skills by drafting correspondence and conducting legal research for callers.
More Information on CLRC Externships
Enrich your law school experience and join us in this worthwhile program!
Volunteers
The CLRC also needs volunteers! If you are interested in helping out in the CLRC office or in attending community events as a representative of the CLRC, please call Sarah at (213) 736-1331.
Students can also fulfill their pro bono hours by working for the CLRC. Click here for a pro bono application.
Upcoming Events
Click here for an up-to-date list of CLRC events
The CLRC is presenting at the LRF's North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma, October 23-25 in Brooklyn, NY. The North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma is the premier patient education and networking forum for lymphoma patients, survivors, loved ones and healthcare professionals in North America. Click here for more information.
CLRC Partners with Cancer and Careers- Cancer and Careers, an initiative dedicated to providing practical guidance, educational events and interactive tools to employees with cancer and their employers, healthcare providers, coworkers and caregivers, is announcing a FREE four-part Educational Series designed specifically for Healthcare Professionals accessible via webinar/teleconference. On Thursday May 28th the CLRC will be presenting during the "Legal Questions" segment, at 9:00AM (PT). For more information and to register please click here
In the News
Cancer Legal Resource Center Director, Joanna Morales, and Disability Rights Legal Center Executive Director, Paula Pearlman were featured on the Stupid Cancer Radio Show talking about recent updates in the law that benefit young people with cancer. Listen now! Click here
Cancer Legal Resource Center Receives Lance Armstrong Foundation 2009 Community Program Grant
Komen Orange County Awards $1 Million to Local Nonprofits
Loyola Law School's In Brief: Getting to Know the Cancer Legal Resource Center
Legal Protection in the Workplace and in Health Insurance
Fighting to Live, Remain Insured
Cancer & Careers:Cancer & Shoestring
Despite Cancer, Many Keep Careers Healthy
CLRC Receives its 20,000th Call to its Telephone Assistance Line
Cancer Legal Resource Center Receives $50,000 Grant Over Two Years
Watch CLRC "Cancer and the Law" presentation at The Wellness Community-Ventura
CLRC Past Events
On the balmy summer evening of August 4th, 175 people gathered outdoors at the Loyola Law School campus, designed by Frank Gehry, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Cancer Legal Resource Center. Attendees enjoyed a night of guilt-free accessible gaming and a spectacular Chopin martini bar generously sponsored by Moet-Hennessey. Players tested their luck at Craps, Roulette and Blackjack, while more serious card sharks engaged in a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker tournament. Braille cards were used for all card games, an ASL interpreter was available, and all tables were wheelchair accessible.
Bob Cooney Golf Tournament 2007
California Conference on Women 2007
Cancer Rights Conference - Los Angeles 2008
Cancer Rights Conference - Inland Empire 2008
Komen Community Challenge 2008