Jennifer Lav (she/her) is the Director of the Disability Practice Area at the National Health Law Program’s D.C. office. She and her team work to advance health policies that center the rights of people with disabilities to access high-quality, community-integrated health care, free from discrimination. Jennifer’s areas of expertise include Medicaid, home and community-based services, and community-based mental health services, for both youth and adults.
Before joining the National Health Law Program, Jennifer was a staff attorney and then a managing attorney at Disability Rights D.C. at University Legal Services (DRDC), the Protection & Advocacy Program for the District of Columbia. While at DRDC, she supervised the agency’s mental health advocacy, focusing on increasing access to community-based services for youth and adults, investigating abuse and neglect in facilities, and protecting and expanding autonomy and choice for District residents with disabilities.
Prior to joining DRDC, Jennifer was a staff attorney at the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and a clinical lecturer at the University of Alabama School of Law. Her work in Alabama focused on education, mental health services, juvenile justice, and Medicaid advocacy.
Jennifer received her B.A. from Hampshire College and her J.D. from Columbia Law School. Upon graduation, she clerked for Judge Myron H. Thompson, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama.
