JD Concentrations
There are four concentrations available to JD students: Health Law; Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Criminal Law; and Law and Religion. Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, Emory Law will offer two new concentrations: AI and the Law and Environmental Law.
The Health Law and Law and Religion concentrations require an application, but all students can complete the litigation concentrations. Even if you do not complete a concentration, the required and recommended courses can help you prepare for a career in these fields.
JD Concentrations
This concentration has three goals:
Learning
Students who complete this concentration more deeply engage with health law through several courses and in a capstone experience with an intensive experiential and/or writing component.
Advising
This concentration provides information to students about the courses to take to pursue a career in health law.
Hiring
Completing the concentration establishes that students have attained a certain mastery in health law, which is attractive to some employers.
Emory's concentration in Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution provides students with advanced skills and knowledge in a wide variety of dispute resolution mechanisms, including litigation, arbitration and mediation. Students are able to tailor their coursework to their particular interests while simultaneously gaining a strong foundation across different subject matter and procedural disciplines. This concentration is particularly valuable to those seeking to enter highly competitive and specialized fields such as patent law and international commercial law.
This concentration is designed for students considering a career in the criminal courts, but it also adds value for any student interested in learning the skills and concepts relevant to criminal law practice. Students who complete this concentration gain a deep understanding of substantive criminal law and criminal procedure doctrines while honing the skill set and professionalism values necessary for work in either prosecution or criminal defense. Courses are taught by regular Emory faculty and by talented adjuncts from both the prosecution and the defense, who bring years of experience in federal and state courts. Courses are offered during the day and in the evenings.
The law and religion concentration contains two possible tracks: (1) a practice track and (2) an academic track. The practice track emphasizes the skills and knowledge relevant to practicing law with a specialization in law and religion. The practice track prepares students to litigate cases that involve religious freedom questions, to represent and advise religious organizations, to practice religious arbitration or within religious legal systems, and to work in legal advocacy with or on behalf of religious communities. The academic track emphasizes the skills of academic research and writing. The academic track prepares students for teaching and scholarship in the legal academy and for PhD or SJD study in the areas of law, religion, theology, or associated fields.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, Emory Law will offer a new concentration in AI and the Law, giving students a front-row seat to one of the most transformative developments in modern legal practice. This concentration creates an academic pathway for students seeking to develop expertise in a rapidly evolving field that is transforming legal practice. Graduates who complete the concentration will be able to signal to employers not just interest, but fluency, in navigating the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The AI and the Law concentration builds on Emory Law’s existing curricular strengths, drawing together core and elective courses from the law school and, where appropriate, from interdisciplinary offerings in areas such as business, technology, and quantitative methods. Emory Law is home to one of the strongest AI-focused programs in legal education, bolstered by Emory University’s AI.Humanity Initiative, the Center for AI Learning, and a university-wide commitment to recruiting leading scholars in AI and the Law. The result is an unparalleled environment for students who want to be at the forefront of the future of law.
Emory's concentration in Environmental Law provides students with advanced skills across the full spectrum of environmental and natural resources practice, from foundational federal statutes to cutting-edge issues in climate, energy, and environmental justice. Students build a strong doctrinal foundation while gaining real-world experience through the Turner Environmental Law Clinic and 22+ approved externship placements. This concentration is particularly valuable to those seeking careers in environmental litigation, regulatory practice, and the rapidly growing fields of climate and energy law.