In need of some advice. Currently in IT consulting in a Project Management role with a year of experience. I am very interested in privacy law though. Should I consider going for a JD or is there a better route to go? For context I have 0 experience in the field with a degree in economics.

likehelpful
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Tough question really.

Big law seems to be eating privacy, and in all honesty, most companies have made a mockery out of privacy, it’s seen as an hinderance.

As an IT analyst you can have a great career, and eventually grow in your posts/into managing.

Considering the tech moment I would double down on what you’re actually doing, and forget privacy.

For context, I’m around 10y in IT management; have PMed Big Data, AI, drifted into Data Governance and Data Transformation; and looking back at Privacy I’m still waiting for that elusive golden opportunity to become a CPO.

99% of my fellows are Privacy Lawyers who hate me, and most companies don’t want me; or only in a BISO position, or managing Privacy as part of Data Management (but most companies are only pretending they’re doing anything, NOT really doing it).

Right now I’m considering a proposal to help an energy company launch and develop maturity of an open data platform, and I’m about to sign it.

Privacy today has become exceptionally toxic due to being full of lawyers who sometimes tell me “I don’t need to know about data”.

Maybe you can do an analyst role inside a privacy dept (hopefully tech/security/data ops) and get other insights.

Be careful because everyone is always saying they care; but reality in the trenches is way different. Nobody fucking cares, and the ones that should, are only concerned about their own siloed views and survival; not really making a difference and learning data ops.

Hope this wasn’t too negative!

likehelpful

Thanks everyone for the support and leaning in. I was also considering big law; but to be honest I’ve dealt with the most toxic folks in big law and can’t stand it. It would kill me. I like to live.

Their way is just not my way, and I feel happy about it.

Also, was considering doing extra education in Privacy, but it seems MBA is way better too.

I’ve already did a practical one, since I had my own AI startup, so it shouldn’t be too hard and it matches the present path (Engineering Management).

I love data, I love science, and all things connected with ethical use of data to augment humans. I used to like law too. I thought this profile would be badly needed in Privacy; but I see now how in the end, Big Law is for Privacy what Big Oil is for the environment. And companies love it, it’s a get out of jail free card.

We humans are a strange species indeed.

I hope one day we kill the monkey in us. Maybe that day we finally evolve into smt better and smarter, less corrosive towards each other. More collaborative.

likesmart

Get an MSL from a top law school. Took this route. A year after gradiation, making high six figures remotely.

Not that high yet, maybe in 2 years with government contracting. On my way.

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