Health Law Externships

Professor Mary Coombs

(305) 284-3616

Course Description

This is an extern “clinic” in which students work in various private and public sector field placements that maintain a health law practice. The goal is to offer students a practical opportunity to deepen their understanding of legal issues confronting health care organizations and other public and non-profit organizations whose mission include health care delivery, access to care, public health or broader policy concerns and to provide some exposure to the range of health care-related legal jobs.

There are a range of possible placements. For each I have linked an information sheet provided by the placement supervisor. Please review this carefully: for some placements there are additional pre-requisites, or requirements to be completed between pre-registration and the beginning of the semester. You are strongly urged, if you are interested in a particular placement, to talk to the supervisor, and in any event to talk to me,before selecting a placement(s). Before you pre-register, you must indicate to me which placement or placements you are interested in. In some cases, as indicated in the placement’s information sheet, the placement supervisor will choose which student to accept for a practicum at that placement. All students enrolling in the course will know their placement as soon as possible after the end of pre-registration.

Students work under the close supervision of an attorney at the placement site. Each student is responsible for producing substantive work products. The nature of the work product will differ from site to site. At some field placements the work will be advisory, transactional or policy development in nature. Other placements may require direct constituent advocacy. No matter where they are placed, students should be prepared to do substantive research and writing.

Students will receive 3 credits which will be graded Pass-Fail. Students must devote 120 hours to the placement over the course of the summer; you may work out a schedule with your supervisor within the constraints of the end of spring exams and the beginning of the fall semester. Students must also provide me with a) a goals statement and information sheet within a week of their first day at the placement; b) a weekly journal entry, by email, describing and reflecting on their experiential learning, and c) a longer reflection paper at the end of their externship. They must also attend a pre-placement program, organized by Professors Zawid and Mourer for all summer externs (unless they have previously participated in the Health Law Practicum) and meet as a group for debriefing sometime in August (date and time TBA)

General Information

Goal Statement:Each student must complete a statement of goals for their internship. A copy of this goal statement should be kept and referred to periodically. Within the first week of the externship you should try to meet with your supervisors to discuss their expectations for you and your goals and how you expect to meet them.

Information Sheet: Students are required to fill out an information sheet with up to date information about their placement site. Students should also obtain a mission statement for their organization.

The Goal Statement, and the Information Sheet, including Mission Statement, are due one week after you begin your externship..

Journals: Each student is required to keep an activity journal. Journal entries should be madeeach day you spend at your placement. You are asked to reflect on what you have learned from your interaction with your supervisor and co-workers, the tasks you have been assigned and/or the work environment in general. Entries should be narrative in form. Activities Journals should be e-mailed to me weekly.

Final Essay Assignment: During the last few weeks of your internship, please review the written and other significant work you have done or participated in, in order to prepare an evaluation of your experience. The final self-reflective essay is due no later than three days after you complete your externship.

Supervisor Evaluation: Your supervising attorney will be sent an evaluation form to complete. They should discuss this evaluation with you. A copy of the evaluation sheet is attached for your information.