Top LL.M. Programs for Health/Medical Law 2024

Taking a decidedly international perspective on health issues, Georgetown offers two specialized LL.M.s in the field: a Global Health Law & International Institutions LL.M. as well as a Global Health LL.M. Hosting the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown produces a range of impressive research in the field. The school is currently ranked in the top ten in US News and World Report’s Best Law Schools for Health Care Law Ranking.

With the school’s Centre for Social Ethics and Policy, Manchester has positioned itself as a thought leader in the healthcare ethics space. That knowledge and perspective has obviously trickled down into Manchester’s Healthcare Ethics and Law LL.M., which covers cutting-edge issues in bioethics, global health law, and genetics, among others.

McGill’s innovative LL.M. in Bioethics is a multidisciplinary program that focuses on both the practical and conceptual aspects of bioethics. Beyond courses in bioethics, students can opt to take electives in topics such as Law and Health Care and Ethics, Medicine, and Religion. McGill’s Faculty of Law is affiliated with the school’s Institute for Health and Social Policy, which produces research and puts on events.

Established in 1978, UH Law's Health Law & Policy Institute runs workshops and produces relevant research. Students in the school’s Health Law LL.M. can pursue a variety of relevant courses, such as “Biotechnology and the Law,” "Health Privacy," and "Genetics and the Law," among others. The school is currently ranked number three in US News’ Best Law Schools for Health Care Law ranking.

Where some Health Law LL.M.s take a rather myopic view of the regulatory field, the University of Toronto’s LL.M. concentration in Health Law, Ethics and Policy addresses the wider perspective, with classes like “Human Rights as Global Justice,” and “Mental Health and the Law.” The school’s International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program explores how laws around the world impact the reproductive rights of individuals.

SLU Law, which publishes the Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy and hosts the Center for Health Law Studies, is typically ranked highly for health law in various specialty rankings. Graduates of the school’s LL.M. in Health Law have gone on to careers in Baylor Health Care Systems, Genesis Health Systems, and the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services, among other employers.

The school has carved out research niches in various health topics, with research initiatives in Law & Health Care, Health & Homeland Security, and Public Health. The Carey School of Law is currently ranked number two in US News’ Best Law Schools for Health Care Law, and offers an LL.M. concentration in Health Law.

Australia’s University of Sydney Law School offers a comprehensive approach to the study of health law through its LL.M. program, which includes a dedicated Health Law concentration, along with a similar Master of Health Law (MHL). At the forefront of these academic offerings is the school's research center, Sydney Health Law, housed within the Law School. Sydney Health Law serves as a hub of scholarly activity, organizing seminars and conferences that delve into pertinent issues surrounding health governance, law, and ethics. Through these initiatives, the center fosters collaboration with academic, community, and professional organizations both in Australia and abroad, enriching the discourse on health law and policy. Faculty members affiliated with Sydney Health Law bring their expertise to the LL.M., ensuring that students receive instruction from leading authorities in the field, gaining insights from diverse perspectives. The Master of Health Law (MHL) program provides a flexible and specialized education, equipping students with the skills to navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape of healthcare. Designed for a diverse range of professionals, including lawyers, health practitioners, administrators, policymakers, and advocates, the MHL program offers a deep dive into legal and regulatory issues shaping the health sector.

The University of Edinburgh’s LL.M. in Medical Law and Ethics covers a broad range of subjects in medical law, jurisprudence and ethics. The Law School’s faculty publish a healthy amount of research in these fields as well.

Loyola University Chicago offers an online LL.M. program in Health Law, tailored for legal professionals seeking to advance their expertise in this dynamic field. Through a curriculum developed in collaboration with leading health lawyers, industry professionals, and legal experts, LL.M. students gain insights into the latest legal, regulatory, and ethical dimensions of healthcare delivery and provider regulation. Students also have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Compliance, enhancing their credentials and opening doors to career advancement opportunities. The school is currently ranked as one of the top schools for health law in the US News ranking. Additionally, the university hosts the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy, a nationally recognized center dedicated to educating law students, healthcare executives, academics, and legal professionals in the regulatory, corporate, and equity aspects of health law.