J.D. Program

The Health Law & Policy Institute offers one of the largest curricula in health law of any law school in the country. For most of the health law courses and seminars, the basic overview course, Health Law, is a prerequisite and is taught each semester. Students have access to classes and research opportunities with leading scholars in diverse areas, including: health finance systems; disability law; health information exchange; genetic data; health care quality and access improvement; integrated provider organizations and questions of individual rights in health care; and biomedical research.

For further information, you may contact the Office of Admissions directly at:

University of Houston Law Center
Office of Admissions
4604 Calhoun Road
Houston, TX 77204-6060
Telephone: (713)743-2280
lawadmissions@uh.edu

LL.M. Program

The UH Law Center offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law, which according to the LL.M. Guide, is one of the top 10 worldwide. The program has graduated over 200 attorneys since beginning in 1992. Students must complete 24 credit hours, including a minimum of 18 hours in health law courses. Students also have the option of writing a 50-page thesis. Many LL.M. students combine classes with research projects, externships, or other practice or policy experiences. They frequently publish their research.

For additional application information, please send inquiries to:

LL.M. Program
University of Houston Law Center
4604 Calhoun Road
Houston, TX 77204-6060
(713) 743-2890
llm@law.uh.edu

J.D./LL.M. Program

The UH Law Center offers a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program which allows students to earn both degrees in 3.5 years (105 credit hours). University of Houston law students are eligible to apply for the joint J.D./LL.M. program after the completion of 30 credit hours. Joint degree students must meet all J.D. and LL.M. degree requirements in order to complete the program.
For additional application information, please send inquiries to: llm@uh.edu

J.D./M.P.H. Program

The J.D./M.P.H. Program offers students the ability to pursue a concurrent J.D. degree from the UH Law Center and a Masters of Public Health from The University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH), Health Sciences Center at Houston. By receiving joint credit for courses approved by both institutions, a student may earn both degrees in a shorter time. The joint degree allows students to concentrate their studies on such areas as health services delivery, occupational and environmental health, access to insurance, patient safety issues, and other public health concerns.

J.D./M.D. Program

Students can receive a concurrent J.D. from the UH Law Center and an M.D. from Baylor College of Medicine in six years of full-time study. Students in this program attend their first, second, and fifth years of study at Baylor College of Medicine; start their law school curriculum during their third and fourth years; and complete both degrees in their sixth year.

For additional application information, please send inquiries to:

Office of Admissions
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, Rm. N104 MS BCM 110
Houston, Texas 77030
713.798.4842
admissions@bcm.edu  

Semester in Houston

Second- and third-year law students in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school can apply to spend a semester at the UH Law Center studying health law. Students may also enroll in other courses at the UH Law Center, the UTMB at Galveston and the UTSPH at the UT Health Sciences Center at Houston. Students transfer credit to their home institution according to that institution’s requirements. Students in the program have “visiting” status and receive their law degrees from their home institutions. Students can also take any specialty courses at UHLC and transfer those credits to the J.D./LL.M. program.

Students may earn academic credit by serving in externship positions in nonprofit or public entities with an accompanying classroom component. Numerous placements are available in the Houston area, including hospital general counsel offices, hospital risk management departments, government and compliance agencies, the Texas Legislature, and nonprofit advocacy groups. Click here for UHLC’s externship program page.

The University of Houston Law Center offers one of the largest and most comprehensive health law curricula in the country. Coursework in the related fields of intellectual property, environmental law, international law, business/transactional law, trial advocacy, and other areas complements the health law curriculum. Students may enroll in relevant courses offered by other graduate programs at UH, The University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Faculty members with national and international reputations teach core health law classes and successful practicing attorneys serve as adjunct professors, ensuring that UH law students learn from leading experts in the field. Click here for health law courses.

The Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy is one of the nation’s preeminent journals focusing exclusively on health law and policy issues. HJHLP is committed to providing a scholarly forum for the interdisciplinary exploration of issues in health law and policy. The Journal publishes two issues of professional and student-authored pieces each year. The Symposium issue, which is typically published in the Fall, focuses on a special, thematic topic in health law and policy. The second issue, published in the Spring, includes professional articles on a variety of topics, as well as student-written case notes and comments. Click here for HJHLP's website.

The Health Law Organization (HLO) is one of the largest and most active student organizations at the UH Law Center. HLO provides opportunities for students to meet informally to discuss health law issues and to work with faculty on projects that promote learning in Health Law & Policy. HLO also sponsors speakers, initiates charity fundraisers, provides information and networking for students on career opportunities in health law, and promotes social activities for health law students.

HLPI offers paid state legislative fellowships for students to work with lawmakers in Austin, Texas. The fellowships provide students with a unique opportunity to participate in health policymaking at the state level and to forge strong networks with policy leaders.

Check out this news story "Texas Senate Fellowship Gives UH Law Student Cormier II Front Row Seat on Health Policy Development"

“What really drew me to this fellowship was the chance to see health policy in action—before it becomes law. It’s one thing to study health law in the classroom, but this gives me the opportunity to be in the room where these decisions are shaped.” Craig Cormier

The Texas Bench Book on Control Measures and Public Health Emergencies is a comprehensive legal resource developed by the University of Houston Law Center’s Health Law & Policy Institute to support Texas judges, public health authorities, and emergency response personnel. The Bench Book provides practical guidance on implementing and reviewing control measures such as quarantine, isolation, and property restrictions under state and federal legislation and guidelines. 

The Bench Book includes: 

• Statutory overviews and legal analysis 
• Flowcharts for decision-making 
• Sample judicial forms and court orders 
• Appendices with contact lists, jurisdictional guides, and procedural tools 

Available as a free, downloadable PDF, the Bench Book features hyperlinks to relevant legal authorities for quick reference. Updated periodically to reflect legislative and procedural changes, this resource is essential for informed decision-making during public health emergencies.