While the U.S. Senate is still considering its options with repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, national debate about health care continues. And lawyers well-versed in health issues will be integral to ongoing policy changes.
Health law goes far beyond health insurance coverage, though. This dynamic field covers topics ranging from reproductive health to food and drug regulation to bioethics and more.
[Discover how a changing health industry offers opportunities for lawyers.]
Prospective law school students who pursue a career in health law will find themselves in demand after graduation. Here’s how to find the right law school that will prepare you for a successful career.
Narrow Your Focus
If you’re serious about a career in health law, target schools with a proven track record of preparing their students to work in the health care community. In particular, pay attention to concentrations or joint degree offerings.
Regardless of whether you choose to participate, such programs typically have extensive health law courses, as well as health law networks and externship opportunities to help you achieve your career goals. St. Louis University School of Law‘s Center for Health Law Studies and the University of Virginia Law School, for example, offer students the option to concentrate in health law or pursue several joint-degree offerings.
Typically, a concentration in health law does not require a separate application to the law school. However, if you already know you intend to pursue a career in health law, establish those motives in your application via your personal statement. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your track record in the field and articulate your goals for the future.
In contrast, a joint-degree program involves coordinating with university programs outside the law school. You will likely need to fulfill the admissions requirement of the second degree program, which may involve taking the GRE or other standardized tests and demonstrating relevant work experience.
[Consider career goals before getting a joint degree.]
Applying to two different degree programs simultaneously means you’ll need to gain admission to both, which can make the application process more daunting. Alternatively, you can apply for a joint degree once you have been admitted to law school. Harvard University, for example, recommends applicants wait until their first semester of law school to apply to the joint-degree program to gain more health-related experience.
Degree Requirements
J.D. students seeking to concentrate their degree can take health law courses and may need to satisfy additional requirements, like writing a research paper or completing an approved externship.
While students at the Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law wishing to concentrate in health law are not required to follow a particular track, the law school does guide students by organizing courses into specialty practices. For example, a student interested in pharmaceuticals could enroll in courses on administrative law, food and drug law, health care finance and patents.
[Discover how earning a graduate dual degree helps save money and time.]
Satisfying the requirements of a second degree depends on the degree you are pursuing. At the least, graduating will demand taking additional courses, satisfying residency credits and conducting research.
At the University of Miami School of Law, the Master of Public Health requirements for the joint J.D./M.P.H. degree involve completing 30 credits from required courses, three credits from approved electives and 12 credits of health law courses . To earn a J.D./M.P.H. from the University of Pittsburgh, students must complete a master’s essay.
In general, students pursing a joint degree will complete their first year of law school and then will enroll in coursework outside the law school starting their second year.
Degree Completion Time Frame
While students can complete a concentration in conjunction with the J.D. requirements, a joint-degree program may require additional time for completion.
For example, students seeking a J.D.-Ph.D from St. Louis Law and the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics should anticipate spending at least five years earning their degree. The J.D./M.D. program at the University of Virginia takes six years, but keep in mind that earning degrees from law and medical schools separately would take seven years.
More typical, however, is a joint J.D./M.P.H. — like the one offered through the University of California–Los Angeles — which usually takes four years to complete. Because the departments work together to reduce the credits normally required if the courses were taken in sequence, you can earn a joint degree in less time.
Postgraduate Opportunities
Law students graduating with a concentration in health law are prepared to work in the public sector or as attorneys who represent individuals or health care providers and systems or to advise companies on regulatory changes.
Recipients of Loyola University Chicago School of Law‘s Health Law Certificate can boast skills such as analyzing right-to-care situations in hospitals, familiarity with corporate and nonprofit health care structures and knowledge of federal and state roles in regulating health care.
One major advantage of a second degree is formalizing your interdisciplinary approach to your education. Such diverse education appeals to prospective employers.
If you are interested in working in health care policy, a joint J.D./M.P.H. can give you a meaningful advantage, according to Harvard’s “Health Law: A Career Guide.” The degree increases your credibility among health care insiders because you will be an insider yourself.
Have questions about how to pick the right law school for you? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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Consider Concentration, Joint Degree for Health Law Career originally appeared on usnews.com
