Become a Health Law Expert at CWRU
One of the few of its kind, Case Western Reserve University School of Law’s Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in Health Law is the most advanced law degree in the health field.
Designed for applicants with a JD degree from a law school in the United States or another English-speaking common law country (e.g. Canada or Australia), the SJD in Health Law program will equip you with the expertise you need to lead in this specialty.
As a student, you’ll:
- Work with CWRU’s distinguished faculty members on writing a substantial piece of health law scholarship of publishable quality
- Have access to classes from across the law school and the university’s many offerings
- Be eligible for scholarship support
SJD in Health Law Degree Requirements
Earning an SJD in Health Law from CWRU School of Law typically takes two to four years. As a candidate, you’ll:
- Conduct rigorous research
- Pursue a program of study tailored to your background and academic interests
- Produce an original dissertation of publishable quality that will contribute significantly to legal scholarship and further understanding of the law
SJD in Health Law Dissertation Process
The dissertation process begins at the application stage when you must submit a detailed thesis proposal of up to 5,000 words.
Upon acceptance, you may be required by your advisor to take or audit courses and participate in seminars and discussions that will further your understanding of the health law field and your dissertation topic.
As an IP attorney with over twenty years of experience drafting and litigating patents, I have encountered a surplus of legal issues that remain unanswered by the legislature and judiciary branches regarding healthcare and medical related patents. My research on my thesis topic at CWRU has increased my ability to find and provide answers to the open-ended issues in the intersection between IP and health law, with the goal of shaping the law when that seminal IP healthcare case is finally ripe in this field.”
International Student Eligibility
The SJD in Health Law may be appropriate for those with a foreign law degree plus an LLM from a law school in the United States or another English-speaking common law country (e.g. Canada or Australia). If you fall in the latter category, you must have strong English language skills and be able to produce a compelling health law thesis proposal at the application stage.
Alternatively, international students may choose our International SJD and specialize in the health law field. Our faculty are happy to work with you to determine which program best fits your needs, which may involve a suggestion to enroll in an LLM program before pursuing an SJD.