Course description

This course is about health law, broadly defined, and the inequalities that can manifest themselves within it. It addresses some of the most topical ethical dilemmas facing society:

• What is the state’s responsibility for the health of its citizens?
• How should the law regulate new reproductive technologies?
• Who should decide whether a seriously ill baby lives or dies?
• Should we able to choose an assisted death?
• Does the law do enough to protect health in the workplace?
• Should doctors be allowed to use experimental treatment?

These are just a few examples of the questions we will be exploring on this course. Two core modules on health law will introduce you to the law’s involvement in regulating health and health care, while modules on inequalities in health, and human rights and health care are also compulsory to reflect the rights and equality focus of this degree. You can then choose optional modules to reflect your interests such as clinical negligence, mental health law, employment law, or bioethics.

The interface between health and law will be of interest to those from both a legal background and a health care background. Our degree will offer the opportunity for lawyers, medics, nurses and others to share ideas and learn from other disciplines. The course is taught by leading researchers on health law and there will be opportunities to attend guest lectures and seminars organised by the Centre for Rights and Equality in Health Law. The course's development within a research centre offers distinctive connections with ongoing research projects, doctoral students and a thriving research environment focused on health and the law.

Your research skills will be developed with an optional module on a research topic in health law, which is a distinctive way in which we aim to support your research development and will provide support for the dissertation element of the course, alongside skills seminars, and expert supervision for a final dissertation.

This degree is for you if you are interested in a focused medical law programme as well as having broader interests in health generally, and the issues of human rights, ethics and inequalities. It offers a core focus on traditional medical law but one supplemented by inclusion of modules reflecting human rights law, bioethics, and employment law as well as issues of topical importance and relevant to health care policy and litigation. Thus, the course addresses issues of high importance in the interaction between health, the law and public policy which - as COVID has demonstrated - is of critical importance due to public health and fiscal implications.

Careers and employability

Our Law Fair is held annually and attracts over 40 law firms and other graduate employers.

Two dedicated law careers tutors are on hand to discuss career options, upcoming opportunities and give advice about different firms.

We host a wide range of external speakers every year, representing the whole legal profession.