Health law is a complex and rapidly changing field, encompassing a wide range of laws and policies regulating the health care industry and service delivery, as well as addressing patient care and the public’s health.
Through the Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State Law offers a top-ranked health law program taught by faculty with expertise in health care business, public health, bioethics, health equity, health technology and global health.
The health law certificate program prepares current J.D. students for successful careers across a wide range of law practice, research and policy settings.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Benefits
- Preparation for health law practice: The health law program helps prepare students for employment in a variety of health-related legal practice, research and public policy settings.
- Integrated learning: In this program, students are introduced to the foundations and key concepts, laws, policies and systems in the health field. Health law courses build on and reinforce basic legal theory from across the curriculum.
- Flexibility: The breadth and depth of health law courses meets the needs of diverse students. The program can provide students with an introduction to the field or specialization in one of the six focus areas in health law.
- Faculty advisement and curriculum guidance: Faculty advisers guide students through course selection and professional development opportunities to match students' intellectual interests and career goals.
- Exposure to interdisciplinary education: The health law program promotes respect for the roles of other health professionals and interdisciplinary collaboration. Many health law courses and the HeLP Legal Services Clinic are open to graduate students in other disciplines at Georgia State, as well as Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, providing interdisciplinary learning. Health law students can also take graduate courses or complete dual degrees in health administration or public health.
- Transferable skills: Core competencies developed in the health law program are readily transferable to other legal fields. The health field serves as a lens and provides context for developing these competencies. Students are not limited to working in the health field in the future.
- Commitment to health equity and public interest: The health law program introduces students to a variety of ways to promote health equity whether through engaging in individual client work or addressing systemic issues.
Potential Careers
- Legal counsel for health care or life sciences entities
- Medical malpractice attorneys
- Legal aid or non-profit advocates
- Government attorneys
- Health care compliance or risk managers
- Policymakers
- Researchers
Atlanta Advantage
Located in the heart of downtown, Atlanta is home to world-renowned health care entities, public health leadership and innovative life science companies.
A FEW STEPS
- State Capitol
- Federal and state courts
- Major law firms and corporate offices
- Grady Health System
- Georgia Departments of Community Health and Public Health
- Regional offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Other federal, state and local government agencies
A FEW MILES
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory Healthcare, WellStar Health System and Northside Hospital
- American Cancer Society and other non-profit organizations
- Health insurance and health technology companies
Certificate Requirements
Students must be in good academic standing, based on the successful completion of the first full year of law study (30 hours), to participate in the certificate program. Students must remain in good standing to continue in the program.
Required Courses
- LAW 7239 Health Law: Quality and Access
- LAW 7240 Health Law: Financing and Delivery
- LAW 7010 Administrative Law
- LAW 7101 Corporations
Elective Courses
Examples include the following:
- Bioethics
- LAW 7099 Bioethics and the Law
- LAW 7098 Biotechnology Law, Policy and Ethics
- LAW 7454 Forensic Medicine
- LAW 7253 Human Subjects Research Law and Ethics
- LAW 7249 Genetics and the Law
- LAW 7516 Reproductive Rights & Justice
- Public Health
- LAW 7244 Public Health Law
- LAW 7243 HIV/AIDS and the Law
- LAW 7341 Law and Mental Health
- LAW 7234 Food and Drug Law
- LAW 7251 Law and Social Welfare
- LAW 7343 Pharmaceutical Law
Experiential Learning
Writing Requirement
Extracurricular Activities
Grades and Honors
Application
Advisement
After formally enrolling, a student will be automatically assigned to a health law faculty advisor. Efforts are made to balance advisee assignments among the faculty. Students are encouraged to take advantage of faculty advisement to make course selections and discuss potential career paths.
Verification for Graduation
Students must submit a verification form for Certificate in Health Law signed by their advisor and confirming satisfaction of certificate requirements no later than the drop/add date of the last semester prior to graduation. Students must also submit an extracurricular report listing extracurricular activities or events.
– Rachel Hulkower (J.D. ’13)
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