The Top 10 Law Schools for Health Law

Health law is one of the fastest-growing fields, touching everything from medical malpractice to public health policy and bioethics. With healthcare one of the most heavily regulated industries, and a constant focus of political debate, the need for skilled health care lawyers continues to rise.

If you're considering law school and see yourself working with hospitals, health organizations, or policymakers, choosing a program with strong health law offerings is key. Let's walk you through the top law schools for health care law and what you should know before applying.

What Is Health Law?

Health law is about how we regulate health care, from how hospitals operate to how new drugs get approved, to how patient rights are protected. It's a wide-reaching field that touches business, government, technology, and ethics all at once.

If you're considering a career in health law, it's important to know it’s not just about hospitals and doctors. You could be working on biotech regulations, shaping public health policy, handling mergers between health systems, or even advocating for patient rights in court.

Health law pulls in areas like administrative law, antitrust, intellectual property, contract negotiation, data privacy, and even international human rights, depending on where you specialize.

Top schools don't just teach the legal frameworks, but they also give you practical exposure. You might find yourself working on live projects with hospitals, health startups, or government agencies, especially if you're focused on fields like compliance, bioethics, or health care litigation.

Read: How to Get Into a T14 Law School

The Top 10 Law Schools for Health Law

1. Stanford Law School

Acceptance Rate: Approximately 7-8%Law Career Placement: 96%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law: Finance and Insurance
• Health Law: Improving Public Health
• Health Law: The FDA

Law-Focused Resources:

• Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences
• Stanford Law and Policy Lab (Health Initiatives)
• Access to Stanford Medical School and interdisciplinary research

Stanford Law School is ideal for future health lawyers interested in innovation. The school’s tight integration with Silicon Valley’s biotech and medical sectors allows students to tackle cutting-edge legal challenges in health tech, personalized medicine, and bioethics. You’ll have flexibility to design cross-disciplinary projects alongside top scientists, engineers, and clinicians.

Read: Stanford Law School: Acceptance Rates, Deadlines, & How to Get In

2. Harvard Law School

Acceptance Rate: Approximately 10%Law Career Placement: 95%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Care Law
• Public Health Law and Policy
• Health Law and Policy Workshop
• Health Law and Bioethics
• Health Care Rights in the Twenty-First Century

Law-Focused Resources:

• Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics
• Health Law and Policy Clinic at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
• Cross-registration with Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health

Harvard Law School offers unparalleled depth in health law, public health policy, and bioethics. The Petrie-Flom Center leads cutting-edge research in biotechnology law and regulatory policy, while the Health Law and Policy Clinic lets students work on real-world reform initiatives. You’ll also be able to take classes directly at HMS, expanding your network across Harvard’s powerful medical community.

Read: How to Get Into Harvard Law School

3. Yale Law School

Acceptance Rate: 5%Law Career Placement: 40%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law
• Bioethics and Law Food (seminar)
• Drug Administration Law and Policy (seminar)

Law-Focused Resources:

• Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy
• Health Justice Practicum
• Yale Global Health Justice Partnership

Yale Law School is the premier choice for students interested in the intersection of law, medicine, and public policy. The Solomon Center’s partnerships with hospitals and public health agencies give students the opportunity to work on legislative initiatives, health equity, and healthcare access litigation. If you're interested in systemic health policy change, Yale leads the field.

Read: How to Get Into Yale Law School

4. Georgia State University College of Law

Acceptance Rate: 32%Law Career Placement: 82-90%Median Base Salary: $100,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law: Finance and Delivery
• Health Law: Regulation & Financing of Health Care, Bioethics, Public Health Law, Health Care Fraud and Abuse
• Healthcare Compliance

Law-Focused Resources:

• Center for Law, Health & Society
• Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic
• Internships with Atlanta’s hospital systems

Georgia State University College of Law offers one of the best cost-to-value ratios in health law education. Its nationally ranked Center for Law, Health & Society offers hands-on externships with top healthcare institutions like Grady Health System. Ideal if you want affordable, practical training in health care delivery law, bioethics, or hospital compliance.

5. Boston University School of Law

Acceptance Rate: 18%Law Career Placement: 90%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law
• Public Health Law
• Health Care Fraud & Abuse
• Food & Drug Law
• Bioethics and Law

Law-Focused Resources:

• BU Health Law, Policy & Management Program
• Scholarly projects with the BU School of Public Health
• Health Law Externship Program

Boston University has one of the strongest health law concentrations in the country. Students work alongside leading researchers at the School of Public Health and can specialize in litigation, regulatory compliance, or health policy. If you’re targeting healthcare consulting, litigation, or federal regulatory roles, Boston University prepares you exceptionally well.

Read: How to Get Into Boston University (BU) Law School

6. Georgetown University Law Center

Acceptance Rate: 20%Law Career Placement: 90%-95%Median Base Salary: $190,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law and Policy
• Food and Drug Law
• Global Health Law
• Healthcare Regulations
• Bioethics and the Law

Law-Focused Resources:

• O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
• Health Justice Alliance
• Federal externships with HHS, FDA, and WHO

If you want to work at the national or international level, Georgetown Law is unmatched. Located in Washington, D.C., it gives students real-time access to policymaking at the FDA, HHS, and WHO. The O’Neill Institute is a global leader in shaping health law frameworks around the world.

Read: Georgetown University Law Center: Program and Application Overview

7. UCLA School of Law

Acceptance Rate: 16%Law Career Placement: 90%-95%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law and Policy
• Public Health Law
• Health Care Compliance

Law-Focused Resources:

• Health Law and Policy Program
• Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy
• Connections to LA’s major healthcare systems

UCLA School of Law offers students access to the largest healthcare market in the U.S. Its focus on mental health law, reproductive rights, and healthcare equity is perfect if you want to work on social justice issues tied to health policy.

Read: How to Get Into UCLA Law

8. NYU School of Law

Acceptance Rate: 17%Law Career Placement: 95%Median Base Salary: $215,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law
• Food and Drug Regulation
• Healthcare Finance and Reimbursement
• Law and Bioethics (seminar)

Law-Focused Resources:

• Center for Health, Science, and Public Policy
• Health Law and Policy Society
• Externship placements at major hospitals and nonprofits in NYC

NYU School of Law offers a dynamic urban health law education. Students have direct access to top hospitals and legal nonprofits in New York City and can specialize in fields like disability law, healthcare finance, and health equity. NYU also emphasizes cross-border health law issues through global programs.

Read: How to Get Into NYU Law School

9. University of Houston Law Center

Acceptance Rate: 28%-30%Law Career Placement: 85%-90%Median Base Salary: $111,000

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Law
• Health Care Finance & Regulation
• Public Health Law

Law-Focused Resources:

• Health Law and Policy Institute
• Clinical placements in Houston’s Texas Medical Center
• Health Law Externship Program

University of Houston Law Center sits in the middle of the largest medical complex in the world, which is the Texas Medical Center. Its Health Law and Policy Institute is highly respected, and students can take advantage of hundreds of potential externships and networking opportunities.

10. Saint Louis University School of Law

Acceptance Rate: 62%Law Career Placement: 80%-85%Median Base Salary: $88,500

Example Health and Law Classes:

• Health Care Law
• Health Care Regulation
• Bioethics and the Law, Drug and Device Regulation, Health Care Financing
• Patient Privacy and Data Security Law

Law-Focused Resources:

• Center for Health Law Studies
• Health Law Moot Court Team
• Saint Louis University School of Medicine collaboration

Saint Louis University School of Law consistently ranks among the top health law programs nationally. It offers a close-knit community focused on health care regulation, privacy law, and public health policy, with opportunities for real-world experience through its strong ties to the SLU Medical Center.

What to Look for in a Great Healthcare Law Program

When you're evaluating law schools for healthcare law, the first things to consider are fit and future opportunities. A great program offers a strong foundation in both core legal training and specialized health law topics like healthcare regulation, bioethics, malpractice litigation, public health law, and biotechnology.

Look for schools that go beyond one or two electives. You want robust course offerings, clinics that focus on health or disability law, externships with hospitals or health policy groups, and faculty with real-world expertise in healthcare.

Bonus if the school partners with local medical centers, health systems, or government agencies, because those connections will open real doors for your future career.

Joint JD/MPH Programs and Dual-Degree Options

If you're serious about working at the intersection of law and public health, a dual degree can be a powerful advantage. Many top schools offer joint JD/MPH programs (Master of Public Health), allowing you to graduate with both degrees in around four years. Some also offer options like JD/MS in Bioethics or Health Policy.

These programs give you deeper knowledge of healthcare systems, epidemiology, and public health strategy. You will gain skills that are critical whether you want to work in policy reform, hospital administration, regulatory law, or global health. When exploring schools, ask how flexible the joint-degree curriculum is, what extra tuition or time commitments look like, and how integrated the two programs really are.

Read: The Top 10 Accelerated JD Programs

Careers You Can Pursue With a Focus in Health Law

Health law is broader than many students initially realize, and that's a good thing. A background in healthcare law opens doors across sectors, not just in hospitals or government. Here are some common career paths:

• In-House Counsel: Advise hospitals, health systems, insurance companies, or biotech firms on legal compliance, contracts, and regulatory matters.
• Pharmaceutical and Biotech Compliance: Help companies navigate FDA regulations, drug approval processes, and healthcare privacy laws.
• Malpractice and Defense Litigation: Represent healthcare providers in cases involving medical negligence or regulatory disputes.
• Health Policy and Public Interest Law: Work on healthcare reform, public health initiatives, or patient advocacy through think tanks, nonprofits, or government agencies.
• Regulatory Advisory: Consult with healthcare startups, medical device companies, or telehealth firms on how to meet evolving legal standards.
• Nonprofit and Public Health Work: Support underserved communities through legal aid organizations focused on healthcare access and patient rights.

As telemedicine, AI in healthcare, health equity, and privacy concerns continue to reshape the field, the career options keep growing. Focus on building both strong legal skills and industry fluency during law school to keep as many opportunities open as possible.

Factors We Considered for These Rankings

We didn’t just rank programs based on course titles or outdated reputation surveys. Instead, we focused on what actually matters when you're trying to build a career in health law. Here's what we prioritized:

• Depth and Breadth of Health Law Curriculum: Schools offering a wide range of specialized courses, not just a token "Health Law 101."
• Strength of Clinical Programs: Opportunities for hands-on experience through clinics focused on healthcare, public health, or bioethics.
• Connections to Health Institutions: Partnerships with major hospitals, public health departments, or biotech companies that give students real-world exposure.
• Clerkship and Internship Placements: Track records of students landing judicial clerkships or internships related to healthcare law or policy.
• Career Support in Health Law: Dedicated advising, mentorship, and networking specifically for students targeting the healthcare sector.
• Alumni Outcomes: A strong showing of graduates securing jobs in health-related legal fields, not just BigLaw but also public health, nonprofits, and compliance roles.

How to Choose the Right Health Law Program for You

Choosing a health law program is deeply personal, and it’s about more than just picking the “highest-ranked” school.

Think about what you want out of your career: Do you want to work in healthcare litigation? Policy reform? Hospital administration? Regulatory compliance? Then find programs that align with that path. Prioritize schools with active health law clinics, professors doing research in your areas of interest, and strong mentorship or externship pipelines.

Get Help Choosing the Right Law Program for Your Law Career Goals

The health care field needs lawyers, and just by being here, you’re already on the right path to getting there. You don’t have to have everything figured out yet – in fact, seeking guidance from an expert will ensure you’re putting your best foot forward, no matter which law school program you apply to.

Start working with one of our law school admissions coaches for expert guidance as you begin the application process. From choosing where to apply to highlighting your brightest achievements and future goals in each application, you’ll be able to begin law school in no time.

Bottom Line

If you're passionate about healthcare and the law, there’s never been a better time to jump in. Health law is a field where smart, driven lawyers can shape real change, for patients, for providers, and for entire communities.

The best law schools for health law don’t just teach you the rules; they connect you with leaders, hands-on experiences, and a network that opens doors. Think about what kind of impact you want to make and pick a program that gives you the tools to make it happen.

Read next:

• Law School Application Deadlines (T20 Programs)
• How Many Law Schools Should You Apply To?
• LSAT vs. GRE for Law School–Which to Take and How to Ace Both
• How to Get Into a T14 Law School
• LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS): What it Is and How It Works for Law School Applications
• Law School Personal Statement: Guide & Admit Examples
• How Many Law Schools You Should Apply To (& How to Choose One)
• Law Schools That Don't Require the LSAT: Exploring Your Options

FAQs

How do you get into healthcare law?

• To get into healthcare law, you typically complete a J.D. degree and take specialized courses in health care law programs offered by your law school. Building experience through clinics, internships, or externships with healthcare organizations can also strengthen your path.

What best describes health law?

• Health law focuses on the legal rules and regulations that govern health care providers, patients, insurers, and public health systems. It covers everything from healthcare access to patient rights and hospital compliance.

What does a career in health law look like?

• A career in health law can involve advising hospitals, representing patients, working in government agencies, or shaping healthcare policy. Many lawyers collaborate closely with health law faculty and mentors to develop expertise during law school.

Which law school is best for health law?

• Some of the top choices for law students interested in health law include Saint Louis University, Georgetown, Boston University, and Georgia State, all known for strong healthcare law concentrations.

How do I become a healthcare lawyer?

• To become a healthcare lawyer, you need to earn a J.D., pass the bar exam, and build experience working on legal issues involving hospitals, insurance companies, or public health. Knowledge of policies like the Affordable Care Act is especially important.