College of Law :: Georgia State University

Health Law Legislative and Litigation Externship-Georgia Department of Community Health

LAW 8132

Description

(3) semester hours, one semester requirement although students should consider doing this as a full year externship beginning in the Fall in order to get full exposure to the legislative and policy building process. Preferred classes: Health Law, Administrative Law, and Legislation and Legislative Drafting. The Department of Community Health (DCH) works to ensure that quality health care services are provided to a wide variety of individuals. DCH also administers the Certificate of Need Program, which ensures the orderly and economical development and establishment of health care services and facilities for approximately eight million Georgians. This externship is designed to expose students interested in the health law field to the areas of health policy, planning, regulation, litigation, and legislative drafting, analysis, and monitoring. The students will work primarily within the Certificate of Need Unit providing legal assistance and analysis to CON staff who review, evaluate and analyze applications to develop, expand and/or establish new healthcare services and facilities in Georgia. Students will assist the CON Staff Counsel in reviewing and responding to requests from attorneys, health care organizations, and members of the public seeking administrative determinations from the Department. The externship also provides experience with the Attorney General's office in CON-associated mandamus litigation and judicial appeals. During the legislative session, students may be at the Capitol assisting with the legislative process on various health law issues. When the Georgia General Assembly is adjourned, students may research and analyze legislation and policy issues and assist in the development of legislative proposals. All students who have not previously taken an externship must attend a classroom component at the law school. Consent of the Lawyer Skills Externship Program faculty required for enrollment.

Credit hours: 3