The LL.M. in Global Health Law and Governance offers a unique opportunity to specialise in a rapidly evolving law and policy-making field and study at two renowned institutions (Georgetown University and the Geneva Graduate Institute) at the forefront of global health governance.
About this unique joint-programme
Starting each in the Fall semester, this unique programme is organised over one academic year and divided into two semesters. In both institutions, students will follow a mix of compulsory and optional courses, thereby acquiring the best core knowledge in health law while customising the programme to their needs and interests. The programme also includes an internship.
Fall Semester | In the USA, at Georgetown Law, Washington DC
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Compulsory course - Global Health Law Course, taught by Sarah Bosha, programme director at Georgetown
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Optional courses - an extensive list of over 35 courses in the area of law & health
Spring semester | In Switzerland, at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva
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Compulsory course - Global Health Law Course, taught by Gian Luca Burci, programme director at the Geneva Graduate Institute
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Optional courses - a broad range of courses in law (public international law, humanitarian law, international trade law, international environmental law, refugee law and policy), international affairs, and international development studies
Key outcomes
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Specialise in a hot topic in current global affairs
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Contribute to improving population health globally
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Receive a recognised degree (LL.M.) delivered jointly by two renowned institutions
Who is this programme for?
Lawyers working or aspiring to work in global health law and policy-making in all sectors (international organisations, private sector, governments, non-governmental organisations).
Related SDGs
General Admission Requirements
Candidates for all LL.M. programs must have graduated from either:
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a US law school approved by the American Bar Association
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a law school in another country if the level of study is equivalent to the American Juris Doctor (JD), i.e. have received a degree in law sufficient to allow one to sit for a bar examination and/or practice as a lawyer within the applicant’s home country.
Preference is given to applicants with full-time legal work experience after completion of studies.
For more information
- Programme page on Georgetown University website.
- Admissions criteria and processes can be accessed on this Georgetown LL.M. application webpage.
Juliette McHardy '19
New Zealand
"In 2019, I arrived in Washington DC with the hope of building towards a career at the World Health Organization. I knew the best place to start was with the joint LL.M. in Global Health Law and Governance programme offered by Georgetown Law and the Graduate Institute. By studying at the leading institutions for studying global health law in the United States and Europe, I knew I would be giving myself the best possible chance of a successful career within this intergovernmental organisation. I also appreciated the programme's emphasis on the internship component and expected that being on-site in Geneva would give me more opportunities to make connections. The unparalleled exposure to academic excellence, generous mentorship, and network capacity offered me during this LL.M. left me with the foundations of the career I enjoy today.
Since completing the programme, I have spent almost three years with the World Health Organization working on, first, fiscal policies for health and, then, the commercial determinants of health, alongside time as a fellow at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. My ability to undertake and excel in this impactful and enjoyable work depended and depends on the opportunities and experience I gained during my LL.M. in Global Health Law and Governance."
KASHISH ANEJA '19
India
"The Global Health Law and Governance LL.M. Programme allowed me to study in two very diverse and contrasting jurisdictions and education systems. While at Georgetown University, one learns from, interacts, and works with the O'Neill Institute experts and gets exposure to lawyers from the United States Supreme Court, the Pan American Health Organization, and the World Bank.
The Geneva Graduate Institute is minutes away from the WHO, WIPO, WTO headquarters and other important global health actors, such as the MSF, Gavi, and Global Fund. Interactions with experts from the WHO and Gavi during my time in Geneva significantly shaped my health law and policy career. The multidisciplinary nature of education and a focus on international relations at the Graduate Institute, combined with the specialised health law courses at Georgetown Law, provided a strong foundation for a truly global career in this field."
Javier Gonzalez Rivera '18
United States
"The Global Health Law and Governance LL.M. Program helped me understand how science, intellectual property and public health law can come together and impact global health issues. One of the most rewarding experiences during the LL.M. was the opportunity to work at the Office of the General Counsel at Gavi in Geneva, Switzerland, and contribute to its mission to expand global access to and use of vaccines, particularly among vulnerable children.
As part of the LL.M. program, I learned from top-notch faculty and built a network of professionals who have become mentors and have helped me advance my career.
The program equipped me with the necessary foundations to excel in a career in FDA Law and opened the doors to serve in different roles. First, as Legal Advisor on international public health issues, and currently, as a life sciences regulatory lawyer at Arnold and Porter, dealing with FDA-regulated products and helping ensure national public health and safety."
Your time in Geneva will offer a unique prospect for you to develop an outstanding profile in global health law.
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