What are the roles and responsibilities of public health lawyers?
Public health lawyers assist local, state, tribal and federal public health officials and their legal counsel, legislators, members of the judiciary, regulators and advocates in developing, interpreting, implementing and enforcing laws, regulations and policies that protect, promote and improve the public’s health and safety. Public health law academicians provide training and conduct research to support public health law. Public health lawyers also defend sound public health policies against legal or political challenges. Some public health departments have their own legal counsel. Others rely on city, county, tribal or state attorneys, or private counsels, to serve that role.
