Program Overview
Saint Louis University's Master of Laws in Health Law is a one-year program that provides a comprehensive introduction to health law practice for lawyers with or without a health law background. The program offers individual attention, field placement opportunities, and access to leading scholars and practitioners in the field. Graduates are prepared for careers in leading law firms, healthcare systems, and government agencies specializing in health law.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Saint Louis University's Master of Laws in Health Law is a one-year program designed for two types of lawyers: those seeking a comprehensive introduction to health law practice and those with a health law background seeking exposure to new developments in the field. The program is highly selective and offers individual attention and close faculty supervision. Students are encouraged to engage in scholarly writing, attend health law colloquia, and participate in directed research projects. They can choose from a range of foundational and specialized health law and policy courses, taught by faculty with over 177 years of collective health law teaching experience. Field placement opportunities, including the health law semester in Washington, D.C., are also available. Students have access to SLU's top-tier faculty, leading scholars, practitioners, and employers. They also benefit from a network of over 1,150 health law alumni across the country.
Objectives:
The program aims to develop graduates who:
- Understand substantive common law, statutes, and regulations governing healthcare delivery, health insurance, and other determinants of individual and population health. This includes the powers, rights, and duties of providers, insurers, regulators, and individuals.
- Demonstrate proficiency in synthesizing legal rules and public policies and applying them to complex facts associated with healthcare delivery, payment, and other determinants of individual and population health.
- Develop practical problem-solving skills that draw upon knowledge of substantive health laws and legal analysis.
- Gain a basic understanding of the economic, ethical, operational, and political complexities associated with healthcare delivery, payment, and other determinants of individual and population health.
- Develop a professional network in the field of health law and policy.
Careers:
SLU's LL.M. program prepares attorneys to work in leading law firms specializing in health law. Graduates also find employment in large healthcare systems, federal and state agencies, academic medical centers, and provider trade associations. Examples of employers for health law alumni include:
- Epstein Becker & Green P.C., New York
- Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Baltimore
- Baylor Health Care Systems, Dallas
- Polsinelli P.C., Dallas
- Quarles & Brady LLP, Phoenix
- Express Scripts Inc., St. Louis
- Genesis Health Systems, Davenport, Iowa
- Arent Fox LLP, Washington, D.C.
- Oshner Health Systems, New Orleans
Other:
The program requires 24 credits of law courses, a master's thesis of publishable quality, up to six credits of directed research, and up to six credits in academic disciplines outside the law school. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
