The Juris Doctor Program

The Juris Doctor degree is the basic professional degree in law. Building on the foundation of successful completion of basic first year studies, students have the option of pursuing the Certificate in Health Law, within the generalized J.D. degree, as offered by the Center for Health Law Studies. Students pursuing the Certificate in Health Law have a wealth of practice options available to them after graduation. The field of health law encompasses a wide range of practice areas. In additional to the courses that prepare students to represent health care providers and systems, students are exposed to a variety of courses and seminars that prepare them for individual advocacy, work in the public sector and health policy. Training in these courses shapes a well-prepared attorney for a variety of career options.

The richness of the Health Law program is evidenced by the diversity of our faculty members' areas of scholarship and expertise, to which students are exposed in certificate program. Students benefit from opportunities to perform research under our nationally-renowned faculty in seminars and directed research courses and from participation in Health Law Symposia and colloquia with notable professors, policy-makers and practitioners from across the country. Students who receive the Certificate in Health Law have met the rigorous coursework, writing and practice requirements of the program.

Taught by nationally-recognized, full-time faculty, the Health Law courses include Health Law, an overview course of the landscape of legal issues impacting health care providers, both individual and institutional. The robustness of the Health Law program is increased by specialty courses that allow students to sub-specialize in preparation for their future practice goals. A full array of research courses are taught by the Center's full-time faculty and local health law practitioners.

The Health Law program is further enriched by students' opportunities to gain practical experience by participating in the clinical setting. The practice component is an essential requirement of the Health Law program. In-house clinical opportunities in Health Law provide practical experience in this rapidly changing legal field. Some of the issues the Health Law Clinic deals with include providing legal services to the elderly, persons with HIV and AIDS, and Alzheimer's patients and their families. Students may also assist in representing psychiatric patients and prosecuting child abuse and neglect cases in family court.

The Health Law Clinic also offers externship opportunities in Health Law. Previous students have obtained externship placements in the U.S. Attorney's Office and local hospitals. Students participating in externship programs can get a wide variety of practical Health Law experiences depending on their placement.