JD Concentrations
There are four concentrations available to JD students: Health Law; Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Criminal Law; and Law and Religion. 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.