Academic Programs
Health Law
Health law encompasses the laws and regulations governing public health, mental health, private health insurance matters, hospital and health care administration, health care policy, contracts, administrative law, financing, torts, antitrust, family law, intellectual property and ethics. At DePaul, law students gain a substantive and rigorous education in health law through a variety of externships, clinics, extracurricular programming, and a curriculum that continually evolves as the field of health care changes.
Established in 1984, DePaul’s health law program is one of the country’s first ABA-accredited programs of its kind. It has been consistently ranked among the nation's top health law programs since its inception, making DePaul a leader in the education of future generations of health law partners, policy makers and critical thinkers. Upon graduation, DePaul health law students obtain employment among the finest law firms, government agencies, hospitals and health care organizations.
Health Law Certificate
To earn a certificate, a student must complete the 86 semester hours required for the Juris doctor (JD) and satisfy all JD requirements. Within the elective coursework required for the JD, a student must complete 18 credit hours from the approved health law curriculum with a minimum GPA of 3.20 in those courses.
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Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law
Law graduates can enhance their legal education and broaden the scope of their practice potential through the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law. Established in 1986 and considered one of the most competitive programs in the nation, the reputation of the LL.M. in Health Law contributes to DePaul’s longstanding rank among the nation’s top health law programs. The program is designed to address the growing demand for lawyers with specialized credentials in this field and is guided by outstanding full-time faculty and leading health care and health policy attorneys.
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Special Education Advocacy Clinic
The Special Education Advocacy Legal Clinic is an innovative, comprehensive advocacy program designed to protect the educational rights of children with disabilities while introducing law students to the growing field of special education law. The clinic’s primary goal is to facilitate the adoption of practices that promote inclusion of children with disabilities and help overcome barriers to education in underserved communities. Students learn to facilitate collaboration between school districts and parents, as well as to provide direct legal representation at Individual Education Plan meetings, mediation sessions and special education administrative proceedings.
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Legal Analysis, Research & Communication
A unique legal writing section places specific emphasis on current topics in health law as part of the first-year Legal Research, Analysis & Communication curriculum. Admission to the health law section is highly competitive.
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Field Placement Program
The Field Placement Program is another way to obtain valuable experience in health law. DePaul law students have the opportunity to obtain course credit and practical experience while working in a variety of jobs. In recent years, students have worked with health care organizations such as Rush University Medical Center, Advocate Healthcare and the American Medical Association.
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Special Programs
Health Law Institute
The Health Law Institute responds to contemporary ethical, legal and moral challenges in health care through systematic, innovative approaches, which influence policy reform. The Institute's mission is fulfilled through community and business-connected programming, groundbreaking research, engagement around legislative issues, collaboration with local and national leaders and active participation in the elimination of social barriers in health care.
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Health Law Scholars Summer Job Placement Program
The Institute's Health Law Scholars Job Placement Program provides outstanding qualified DePaul students with paid summer experiences at the most distinguished law firms and health organizations in Chicago. Among our partners are the American Medical Association, Children's Memorial Hospital, Walgreens, the American Osteopathic Association and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Health Law Fellows Program
Each year, the Institute's prestigious Health Law Fellows Program provides students with opportunities to participate in the substantive work of the Institute. Students maintain fellowship status in return for a commitment to work with the Institute throughout the academic year to further existing and future Institute programs. Fellows participate in a variety of activities including the Faculty Fellows Lecture Series, research, newsletter editing, mentoring, field trips, colloquia, symposia and social events. Students in the fellows program also may apply to the Health Law Scholars Summer Job Placement Program.
DePaul Journal of Health Care Law
The DePaul Journal of Health Care Law is a student-run scholarly review published by the Health Law Institute. The Journal examines current legislation, policy and case law, and analyzes significant emerging medical/legal developments, including corporate, public policy and ethical issues.
Symposia
The Health Law Institute and Journal of Health Care Law co-host an annual symposium, with symposia papers published in a special edition of the Journal. Past symposia have focused on Medicaid regulations, medical malpractice, AIDS law, race and medicine, disability law, reproductive issues and urban health.
Full-Time Faculty
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Freeman L. Farrow Donald H.J. Hermann Michael S. Jacobs |
Barry Kellman Thomas Ruffner Mark C. Weber |
