A life course approach to health equity: Lessons from medical-legal collaborations

MLPs offer significant potential to advance equitable health outcomes for pediatric patients, particularly when considered within a Life Course Health Development framework. Many HRSNs can be partially or fully addressed through legal aid. Health care systems should be empowered to establish, maintain, and grow MLPs, even in inpatient settings such as NICUs. By incorporating legal advocacy into a holistic and comprehensive, team-based approach to medical and social care, we can shape lifelong health trajectories, improving not only individual outcomes but contributing to broader societal change.