DePaul University’s health law and intellectual property (IP) programs have been ranked among the best in the country according to the latest survey of graduate school programs released by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News identified the leading 15 health law programs in its full rankings and DePaul’s program, which has consistently been surveyed among the top 10, ranked 10th. Of the top 24 IP programs ranked in the survey, DePaul’s program placed 11th—where it tied with Harvard University. The specialty program rankings are based on a national survey of university faculty who teach in the particular field.

“Having our health law and IP programs recognized among the preeminent in the country by U.S. News is evidence of the College of Law’s unyielding effort to provide students with a rigorous education that qualifies them to engage in the practice of law in top firms, government agencies, and organizations,” said Glen Weissenberger, dean of the College of Law. “It also is a distinction that reflects the dedicated faculty, committed alumni, challenging curriculum and energetic students that are involved in the programs.”

The health law program is part of DePaul’s Health Law Institute, which was created in 1984 by the College of Law. It is the first American Bar Association-accredited program of its kind in the country and offers a Master of Law (LL.M.) degree in health law and a health law certificate. It also sponsors a range of conferences, programs and seminars.

The institute has taken a national lead in exploring critical legal issues in urban health, such as health care access and funding in communities of color, women’s and children’s health, prescription drugs and organ transplantation.

“Our health law program reaches beyond the confines of the classroom to expose our students to real-life health law issues while simultaneously working in collaboration with national community and business leaders to examine the contemporary ethical, legal and moral challenges in health care,” said Michele Goodwin, director of the institute. “We are honored that our colleagues recognize the value of the health law education students receive at DePaul.”

Established in 1997, DePaul’s IP program boasts more than 30 courses and certifications in IP such as patent law, information technology and art and museum law. It also offers IP-focused legal writing courses, two joint degree programs with DePaul’s School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems, and an LL.M. degree. Students can gain valuable experience providing legal assistance to local artists and inventors through the program’s Technology Intellectual Property Clinic or through the program’s summer job program, which is one of the most extensive in the country.

“Intellectual property law is a constantly evolving field that provides unique challenges for those law schools that offer programs,” said Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, director of the IP program and the College of Law’s Raymond P. Niro Professor of Intellectual Property Law. “It is exceptional that we have been recognized in this competitive field by members of the legal education community.”

In addition to the health law and IP programs the College of Law, which was established over 100 years ago, also operates nine other centers and institutes that focus on a variety of law specialty areas including international criminal law, rural and urban community development, church/state studies, aviation law and capital criminal defense.

Selected U.S.News & World Report specialty graduate program rankings are featured in the 2006 edition of the guidebook, “America's Best Graduate Schools,” the April 11 edition of U.S. News & World Report magazine and on the U.S. News premium Web site: USNews.com.