In their article, directors of the Centre for Health, Law and Society (CHLS) Dr Judy Laing and Professor John Coggon consider the SDG-led transformations occurring in the field of health law, and the importance of equipping a new generation of law students with the skills to facilitate further progress.

The article discusses health justice and the global initiatives set up to effect change through a vital collaboration “between science, communities and policymakers in a common cause.” Law courses need to incorporate such issues and reflect the changes in approach to health law:

“Health law courses (…) need to consider the greatest challenges and opportunities for law and governance as mechanisms to address health and wellbeing. They need to answer questions about reproductive justice, social and mental health and wellbeing, health inequalities, and the diverse roles of social and political institutions in shaping health, law and society.”

The item also discusses a few of the different paths through which law graduates can contribute towards the development of health law:

 “With the right knowledge and skills, Health Law students could graduate to:

• Work in a government department to bring about policy change to improve health and spur economic growth and social development.

• Be part of parliamentary health committees and mediate between those that develop policy and those that execute it.

• Work with community groups and civil society organisations that work on the ground and represent the concerns of different population groups.

• Become a journalist and increase understanding of universal health care as well as transparency and accountability in policy-making.

So, how can you get involved?
The University of Bristol’s LLM in Health, Law, and Society marks an evolution in health law. As a distinctive, master’s level degree it goes beyond traditional courses on healthcare law to look at the relationships between law, governance and health across society and governmental sectors. Find out more.

This month, the University’s Centre for Health, Law, and Society will also be welcoming Professor Lawrence Gostin, the world’s leading scholar in the emerging field of Global Health Law, as the keynote speaker at a half-day cross-disciplinary symposium centred around Professor Gostin’s vision of ‘global health with justice’. Find out more." 

Professor Gostin will also be giving a public lecture, 'Global health security in an era of explosive pandemic', and a PhD masterclass. Please click here for further details about these events.

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