One of the greatest privileges of interning at the Center for Global Justice is seeing how legal research directly supports organizations serving vulnerable communities. In this way, we can effectuate change all around the world from a desk at our law school in Virginia Beach, VA. This semester, my team is partnering with the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal counsel, education, and training to pregnancy resource centers and pro-life medical clinics across the nation.
As more NIFLA member centers transition into medical clinics to offer vital services like limited obstetric ultrasounds and STI testing, they must navigate a complex patchwork of state healthcare regulations and statutory licensing requirements. Every state defines and regulates medical clinics differently. A center in one state might be required to obtain a separate medical clinic license, while a center in a neighboring state could legally operate as a satellite of a licensed physician’s office.
To help NIFLA equip its member centers with clear guidance, our team is compiling a comprehensive 50-state legal resource. We are examining how each state defines a “medical clinic,” outlining the corresponding licensing requirements, and analyzing whether medical pregnancy resource centers fall within those statutory definitions. By organizing these primary sources into an accessible, state-by-state reference guide, we are helping create a roadmap that NIFLA can use to protect and advise clinics nationwide.
Reading through dozens of state administrative codes and licensing statutes can feel purely technical. However, stepping back reveals why this work is so meaningful. Local pregnancy resource centers are often run by small, dedicated teams operating on tight budgets and limited resources. Unexpected regulatory hurdles or unclear licensing laws can threaten their ability to keep their doors open. When these centers have clear, reliable legal guidance, they can operate with confidence and stay compliant with state laws. Ultimately, clearing away legal uncertainty ensures that women facing unexpected pregnancies continue to have access to free, compassionate, and life-affirming medical care in their own communities. As a team of law students, being able to use our legal training to help protect the frontline advocates who serve mothers and unborn children every day is a deeply rewarding experience. We are incredibly grateful to the Center for Global Justice for providing the opportunity to partake in such real and meaningful work.
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Intern. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.