ALTERNATIVE CAREER CHOICES FOR HEALTH LAWYERSPresented by Macey Leigh Thompson

February 1, 2011

Law

Healthcare

YOU

Macey’s Background

3rd year law student at IU Maurer School of Law

BA in Philosophy, working towards MA in Bioethics & (hopeful PhD Candidate)

Long standing interest in medicine, medical history, humanities, and education

10 year experience in the health and fitness world

Entrepreneurial mindset & “outside the box” thinker

Determined to create the life that works for me

WWW.MACEYLEIGH.NET

Some Reasons Law Students Begin To Consider Non-Traditional Career Paths

The current legal economy is tough! Jobs are hard to come by.

You have had (or have) a work experience that you just aren’t suited for.

You have other interests and would like to blend them with practicing law.

Other areas of industry, like healthcare, prosper.

The adversarial nature of law is not appealing.

Law itself is too boring, or not dynamic enough for your personality.

The 1st Step: A Self-Analysis

What do I enjoy doing? What things am I passionate about? Look outside the legal “box.”

What causes or groups do I enjoy being involved with? Is there something I enjoy advocating for?

Am I the type of person who can focus my attention on multiple interests at one time?

Do I have previous training or substantial experience in a non-legal field?

Think back to your childhood…what were the things you aspired to be or do when you ‘grew up’?

Some Industry Areas with a Healthcare Branch

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Public and Community Services Mass Media & Communication Research (Domestic and International) Policy and Legislative Efforts Ethics and Professional Responsibility

(Bioethics) Family and Child Services Intellectual Property

Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR includes negotiation, mediation,

and arbitration.

Overflowing court dockets, high $$$, and significant time delays with traditional litigation make ADR an increasingly popular option.

Interested? What’s next…

Look for ADR Firms with healthcare niches

Take Negotiations, Mediation, and related clinics while in law school

Shadow an ADR professional Even if you aren’t interested in

pursuing ADR full time, it could prove to be a valuable asset to your entire professional portfolio

Judge Susan L. Macey

IU Law Alumni ‘80

Arbiter with Judicial Arbiter

Group

Public and Community Services There are MANY opportunities

for lawyers – all these organizations must comply with statutory regulations!

As Healthcare gains political priority, there will be a greater need for lawyers to work on compliance issues.

A commitment to public service is imperative.

Increased opportunities for lobbying and legislative work.

NKF and Donate Life America are two large non-profit

groups that have lawyers on staff.

Interested? What next…

While in law school, reach out! Volunteering leads to Networking. If the place you are interested in is not

currently hiring, see if you can work for school credit - It MAY BE your best shot at a future job.

Most importantly, you need to demonstrate a passion for Whom and What you want to serve.

Mass Media & Communications Healthcare is a HUGE topic always

covered by the media in every area of mass communications.

Television Radio Film Print World Wide Web Mobile Devices/Applications Public Speaking/Public Relations

BEING A LAWYER SIMPLY BOOSTS YOUR CREDIBILITY.

USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

Healthcare is a HOT Topic

Much of our media programming is focused on healthcare: Cable networks

(Discovery Health/OWN)

Daytime television (Dr. Oz, The Doctors)

News Broadcasting

Star Jones is seen on The

View and other talk shows, but she’s a JD too!

Popular culture is

fascinated by Health.

Credibility and Personality

can gain you a spot.

Cynthia McFadden, JDCo-Host Nightline

Jerry Springer has his JD too!

Medical Research

Think of research from both a Domestic & International context

America is a leader in funding international medical research

Federal Regulations and Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects (Department of Human Health Services) There is a legal framework for

ALL research studies and trials

Interested? What to do next…

Contact a department of interest

PI’s will LOVE your offer to review compliance with statutory guidelines

READ—keep yourself up to date on what new in the world of clinical research - You will impress potential employers

Attend an IRB meeting

Health Policy

What is Health Policy?As a core discipline within the field of public health, health policy and management focuses on the creation of new knowledge and the application of research findings to improve the effectiveness of public health and health service organizations within and across the public, private, and non-profit sectors both domestically and internationally.  Health Policy professionals take on new roles as scientific and policy leaders and administrators in academic, governmental, non-governmental, and industry settings.

Interested?

President Obama

earned his JD at Harvard!

Bioethics

Bioethics = Ethical inquiry into all living things. It combines philosophy, religion, medicine, and law.

Bioethics has been prevalent throughout all of Western Civilization. Does the Hippocratic Oath come to mind?MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Bioethics Issues

The list is HUGE, and growing… with many tied closely with legal issues.

4 Basic Principles of Bioethics: Respect for Autonomy, Beneficence,

Non-Maleficenece, & Justice

More issues in Bioethics

What should insurance companies pay for?

Treatment v. Enhancement Distinction

Allocation of life-saving therapy

Patient access to experimental drugs

Informed Consent & Patient Autonomy Supposed “right to lie” from

altruistic motives

Interested in Bioethics?

Seriously consider further education: Certificates Masters programs Doctoral Programs Medical Humanities

and Health Studies program

IU Poynter Center

The Center is recognized throughout the state and around the globe as a primary source for bioethics research and new information. Research addresses ethical, legal, and social issues in healthcare and science with an emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches. Topics range from genetics to organ transplantation, medical research to health privacy, informed consent to pandemic flu preparedness.

Family and Child Services: Reproductive Law

Emerging area of health law related to new reproductive technologies

Embryos are shaping new law in adoption, divorce, surrogacy, & post-humous parenting.

Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis IVF Children’s health services,

community health programs, child advocacy

Intellectual Property: Biomedical Advances

Regenerative Medicine Cloning Gene Therapy

Eugenics Manipulation of human

germ lines

There has never been a better time to walk down your own

purposeful path. Find YOUR way by using every gift and skill you

have. Start making the world work for you!

The Time To Act Is Now!

Thank you for your time!maceyleigh@maceyleigh.net www.maceyleigh.net More resources and my CV can be found online.

Questions and Comments