Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Health Law Institute

Health Law Certificate – Concentration in Food Law

HLC-CFL Curriculum and Requirements

The Health Law Institute (HLI) offers a Health Law Certificate (HLC) with a Concentration in Food Law (HLC-CFL). The HLC-CFL includes a curriculum designed to educate law students about the complex legal, policy and key business issues surrounding and influencing the food system, related rules and regulations. Students will develop skills and the necessary knowledge to serve clients involved in the production, manufacture, processing, handling, storage, transportation, marketing, sale, consumption, and sustainability of food in the United States. They will also learn about advocacy groups working to influence these food-related activities. The HLC-CFL is intended to supplement and refine our existing health law certificate requirements, not replace them. It provides interested students with an opportunity to acquire a better understanding of this dynamic sub-specialty.

The HLC-CFL is designed for:

  • Students interested in working for food producers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, marketers, retailers, and other companies in the food supply chain.
  • Students interested in consumer advocacy and public policy on food law-related issues.
  • Students interested in working in law firms specializing in food-related litigation and/or counseling.
  • Students interested in working in food-related positions in government.

Students pursing the HLC-CFL must meet the following requirements:

  1. All required Health Law Certificate courses
    Make sure to visit the HLI Course Schedule page to confirm course availability to be more planful with your schedule.

    • Health Law: Quality of Care and Liability (3 credits)
    • Health Law Organization and Finance (3 credits)
  2. Food Law Concentration Doctrinal Courses:
    1. Food Law (1957) (2 credits), and
    2. Food Labeling and Marketing Law (1958) or Food Safety and the Law (1955) (each, 2 credits)
  3. Experiential Learning (field placement):
    Experiential learning may be credit or non-credit bearing and may be paid or unpaid. It must be a minimum of 40 hours. Experiential learning may include:

    • Working with a food manufacturing or retail company or other organizations in the food supply chain.
    • Working with a public health or consumer food advocacy organization on matters related to food law.
    • Working at a law firm on matters for food companies, retailers, consumers, or food advocacy groups.
    • Working with Federal, State, or local government legislative bodies or agencies in food-related areas.
    • Other food law related placements approved by the director of HLI.
  4. Advanced Research and Writing Project
    Students pursuing a HLC-CFL must complete their Advanced Research and Writing (ARW) paper on a food law topic approved by the director of HLI. This is preferably completed through a seminar but can also be completed through law review or independent study. Credits earned for the ARW are supplemental to the course work stated above.
  5. Extracurricular Activities
    Students pursuing the HLC-CFL must participate in at least six extracurricular activities or events in food law. These activities may include seminars, lectures, conferences, symposia, CLE’s, (some offered by HLI or Food Law Center), state or local bar meetings or one-on-one meetings with food lawyers.

Notice of Intent

Students are encouraged to apply early in their law school tenure. Declaring an intent to pursue the HLC-CFL creates no obligation to complete one. Students will work with an HLI faculty advisor to assist in structuring their HLC-CFL.

Mitchell Hamline J.D. students have the unique opportunity to earn both the Health Law Certificate and the Health Care Compliance Certificate concurrently without compromising access to important fundamental courses including those heavily tested on the bar exam.

Notice of Intent Form  

Requirements Checklist for JD Students

Each student graduating with the Health Care Compliance Certificate, Health Law Certificate, and/or the Health Law Certificate with a Concentration in Food Law must complete their requirements checklist prior to graduation.

Requirements Checklist  

Questions?

Contact the Health Law Institute at healthlawinstitute@mitchellhamline.edu.