Master the Legal Frameworks Shaping Modern Healthcare
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Advance Your Career with William & Mary’s Online MLS in Health Law Degree

The healthcare industry operates within one of the most complex and rapidly evolving legal landscapes in modern society. William & Mary Law School’s online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) with a Concentration in Health Law provides professionals with the essential legal knowledge and analytical skills needed to navigate this intricate regulatory environment successfully.

This comprehensive health law degree program equips students with a deep understanding of the legal frameworks and regulations that shape healthcare delivery, administration and policy. Whether you’re a healthcare administrator, compliance officer, policy analyst or healthcare professional seeking to advance your career, this program provides the critical legal foundation necessary to excel in today’s healthcare environment.

The program’s online format allows working professionals to advance their education while maintaining their current responsibilities, making it an ideal choice for career advancement in the dynamic healthcare sector.

Key Details

  • 100% online, asynchronous courses
  • 32 credits
  • 4 concentrations
  • 8-week courses, 2 courses per semester
  • Total Estimated Tuition: $41,216
  • Time to Completion: 16 months

Application Deadlines Fall 2025

  • Priority Deadline: July 9
  • Final Deadline: August 8
  • Start Date: August 25

Why Choose This Concentration?

Meet Growing Industry Demand

The Health Law concentration at William & Mary Law School stands out as a premier choice for professionals seeking to advance their careers in healthcare compliance, administration and policy. This specialized legal studies in healthcare program addresses the growing demand for professionals who understand both the business and legal aspects of healthcare delivery.

Navigate Complex Regulatory Challenges

Healthcare organizations face unprecedented regulatory challenges, from data privacy requirements under HIPAA to compliance with the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid regulations and emerging biotechnology laws. This master’s in health law program prepares graduates to serve as essential bridges between legal requirements and practical healthcare operations, making them invaluable assets to hospitals, health systems, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies.

Gain Practical, Immediately Applicable Skills

The curriculum’s emphasis on real-world application through case studies and practical scenarios ensures that graduates can immediately apply their knowledge in professional settings. Develop comprehensive healthcare compliance programs, conduct risk assessments, navigate complex regulatory environments and address ethical dilemmas that arise in healthcare settings.

Customize Your Educational Path

The flexibility of elective courses allows students to tailor their education to specific career goals, whether focusing on traditional healthcare administration, cutting-edge biotechnology regulation or specialized areas like dispute resolution and project finance in healthcare contexts.

Curriculum Details

Through coursework covering everything from HIPAA compliance to healthcare equity, you will develop expertise in analyzing complex legal issues, including healthcare administration compliance, risk management strategies, patient rights advocacy, professional liability mitigation and the evolving legal obligations of healthcare providers and organizations.

Explore the concentration courses, which make up 16 credits of the 32-credit MLS program.

Health Law Frameworks and Regulations (4 credits)

This course provides an examination of the legal and regulatory structures that govern the U.S. healthcare system. Students will explore key federal and state laws, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), regulations governing Medicare, Medicaid and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The course also covers the roles of governmental agencies and courts in enforcing healthcare laws. Through legal analysis and case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the legal obligations placed on healthcare providers and organizations and how these regulations impact healthcare delivery.

Healthcare Administration: Legal Issues and Risk Management (4 credits)

This course focuses on the legal challenges and responsibilities involved in managing healthcare organizations. It covers key topics such as compliance programs, risk management, patient rights and professional liability. Students will analyze the legal frameworks that healthcare administrators must navigate, including issues related to medical malpractice, fraud and abuse laws (e.g., Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute) and the legal responsibilities of healthcare providers. The course will emphasize practical strategies for legal risk mitigation and regulatory compliance in healthcare settings.

Policy, Patient Rights and Equity in Healthcare (4 credits)

This course explores the ethical and legal dilemmas in healthcare policy and patient care. Students will analyze issues such as patient autonomy, informed consent, end-of-life decisions and healthcare equity. The course also addresses the role of policy in shaping healthcare access and delivery, focusing on how law intersects with ethics in healthcare decision-making. Case studies will highlight the legal implications of ethical conflicts, equipping students with the skills needed to navigate complex healthcare issues while safeguarding patient rights.

Electives (4 credits)

Students will choose two, 2-credit courses or one, 4-credit course from the following options:
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy (2 credits)
    This course provides an overview of cyber- and privacy-related risks, including the laws and regulations that apply to the rapidly changing landscape of cybersecurity and privacy. Students will explore the impacts of security breaches, data privacy vulnerabilities and considerations of the nature of cyber-crime and common strategies used to manage privacy, cyber and information security risks. By the end of the course, students will be able to develop their own cybersecurity and privacy risk assessment and management approaches.
  • Dispute Resolution (2 credits)
    This course introduces students to the concepts and practice of litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Students will develop an understanding of the differences between these different modes of dispute resolution and will assess them from the perspective of the parties, the lawyers and the adjudicators. Through a series of hands-on activities, students will engage in some form of negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Students will also be exposed to innovative dispute resolutions modalities, such as online dispute resolution (ODR).
  • Project Finance Basics (2 credits)
    This course introduces legal, financial and policy considerations at play in domestic and international infrastructure projects. Particular focus will be placed on structuring and financing project investments, and the course will provide a general overview of the legal and regulatory environment for project financing, such as geopolitical risk management and the presence of treaties, conventions and other relevant law. Students will work through the structure, documentation and negotiation of a typical project finance transaction.
  • Ethics and Regulation of Biotech and Health Technologies (4 credits)
    Biotechnology and health technologies are among the most dynamic domains for emerging innovations, driving breakthroughs that reshape healthcare, agriculture and industry. This course explores the legal, regulatory and ethical challenges posed by advancements in biotechnology and health technologies, focusing on real-world implications for society, businesses and individuals. Students will examine regulatory frameworks for innovations such as gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), precision medicine and AI-driven health tools, with particular attention to the roles of agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    Key topics include the regulation of drug and biologic development, genetic testing and reproductive technologies; the ethics of genomic data use, equity in biotechnology access and intellectual property in biotech innovations; and the social implications of emerging health technologies, from pandemic surveillance to neuroengineering. Students will also consider ethical frameworks for addressing issues like diversity, inclusion and global access.

    By the end of the course, students will be equipped with practical tools for evaluating and managing the legal, ethical and regulatory dimensions of biotech and health technologies, ensuring responsible innovation in their professional contexts.

Course Spotlight: Policy, Patient Rights and Equity in Healthcare

This course explores the ethical and legal dilemmas in healthcare policy and patient care. You will analyze issues such as patient autonomy, informed consent, end-of-life decisions and healthcare equity. The course also addresses the role of policy in shaping healthcare access and delivery, focusing on how law intersects with ethics in healthcare decision-making. Case studies will highlight the legal implications of ethical conflicts, equipping you with the skills needed to navigate complex healthcare issues while safeguarding patient rights.

woman sitting on an office couch taking notes and looking at her laptop

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Health Law concentration are positioned for diverse and rewarding career opportunities across the expanding healthcare sector. The healthcare compliance law degree opens doors to roles as compliance officers, risk managers, healthcare attorneys, policy analysts and healthcare administrators in various organizational settings.

person with a pen and laptop filling in paperwork

Healthcare Compliance Officers

Compliance officer positions are seeing a steady rate of growth, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noting a 5% growth rate (as fast as average for all professions) through 2033.1 In healthcare, organizations are increasingly recognizing the critical importance of proactive compliance management. These professionals develop, implement and monitor compliance programs, conduct risk assessments and serve as liaisons with regulatory agencies. The comprehensive understanding of healthcare regulations provided by this program prepares graduates to excel in these vital roles.

man speaking to a group of people at a table

Risk Management Roles

Risk management positions in healthcare organizations offer another promising career track, where professionals identify potential legal and operational risks, develop mitigation strategies and ensure organizational preparedness for various scenarios. The program’s emphasis on practical risk management strategies and legal analysis provides graduates with the skills necessary to protect healthcare organizations from legal and financial exposure.

two women at a desk conversing over paperwork

Policy Analyst Positions

Policy analyst roles in government agencies, healthcare organizations and consulting firms offer opportunities to shape healthcare policy and regulation. Graduates can contribute to policy development, regulatory analysis and implementation strategies at local, state and federal levels. The program’s focus on healthcare policy and equity issues prepares students for these influential positions.

woman with glasses looking at a table with her team looking at someone speaking

Additional Career Paths

Graduates may pursue roles in healthcare consulting, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, health insurance organizations and healthcare technology companies. The growing intersection of technology and healthcare creates emerging opportunities for professionals who understand both the legal and practical aspects of healthcare innovation and regulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a health law degree?

A health law degree, such as the MLS with Health Law concentration, provides comprehensive education in the legal frameworks governing healthcare delivery, administration and policy. This specialized legal studies in healthcare program covers federal and state healthcare regulations, compliance requirements, patient rights and emerging issues in healthcare law.

What can I do with a degree in health law?

Health law graduates pursue careers as compliance officers, risk managers, healthcare policy analysts, healthcare administrators, consultants and regulatory specialists in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, insurance companies, government agencies and pharmaceutical companies.

Is health law a good career path?

Health law represents a career path with strong growth prospects. The increasing complexity of healthcare regulations, emphasis on compliance and expansion of healthcare services create ongoing demand for professionals with specialized health law expertise.

How is health law different from healthcare administration?

While healthcare administration focuses on operational management of healthcare organizations, health law specifically addresses the legal frameworks, regulatory compliance and legal risk management aspects of healthcare operations. Health law professionals provide specialized legal expertise to support healthcare administration.

What is healthcare compliance?

Healthcare compliance involves ensuring that healthcare organizations and providers adhere to applicable laws, regulations and standards. This includes developing policies, conducting training, monitoring compliance and addressing violations to prevent legal and financial penalties.

How do hospitals ensure legal compliance?

Hospitals ensure legal compliance through comprehensive compliance programs, regular staff training, policy development and implementation, risk assessments, monitoring systems and dedicated compliance personnel who understand healthcare law requirements.

William & Mary MLS Application Deadlines for Fall 2025

Jul
9
Priority Deadline
July 9
Fall 2025
Aug
8
Final Deadline
August 8
Fall 2025
Aug
25
Start Date
August 25
Fall 2025
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