Programs
The Dalhousie Health Justice Institute at the Schulich School of Law offers expertise in health law and policy with a focus on the issues that will impact the professional practices of our cross-disciplinary students.
Since 1999, HJI has provided JD and graduate students (LLM and JSD) with one of the largest collections of health law and policy classes in Canada.
In addition to our offering a Health Law & Policy specialization to Schulich School of Law students, we also offer lectures and classes to students in the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Health at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels.
JD Program
The Health Justice Institute at Dalhousie University is a distinctive interdisciplinary institute of the Faculties of Law, Medicine, Health Professions and Dentistry. Students wishing to specialize in Health Law & Policy have the option of obtaining a certificate of specialization while completing the three year JD degree.
Health Law & Policy Specialization
Dalhousie is taking the lead when it comes to raising a new generation of students trained in health law. Our program prepares graduates to excel in one of the fastest growing areas of practice.
Graduate Program
Graduate students are welcomed from across the country and around the globe. While there is no Health Law and Policy specialization annotation for LLM transcripts, all of the classes (with the exception of the Health Law Placement and a Health Law exchange) are open to LLM students. In addition, LLM students may do their supervised thesis research within the Health Law and Policy field.
Health Justice Institute faculty members offer a breadth of experience in areas such as:
- conscientious refusals and health care
- privacy and confidentiality of health information
- food security in the Canadian north
- public health emergencies
- end of life treatment policy and practice
- commercialization of biomedical research
- emergency contraception
- neuroethics
- health care in correctional systems
- death determinations in intensive care units
- patient safety
- research involving humans
- migrant health risks and needs
- federal-Indigenous health care transfers
- foetal/maternal rights
- harm reduction and safe abortions
- mental capacity and medical decision-making
- HIV/AIDS policy
- mental health; and
- criminal law/sentencing and health.
Learn more about graduate admissions and scholarships at Schulich School of Law.
Interdisciplinary PhD
It is also possible to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD drawing on such disciplines as philosophy, law, and medicine. Each program of study will be unique and must be negotiated with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and prospective faculty supervisors.
Exchange Opportunities
Schulich School of Law offers several exchange opportunities for law students. Of special interest to Health Law students is a term at the University of Houston Law Centre or at the Queensland University of Technology (Australia). Both have well-established Health Law programs.