J.D. Advantage & Emerging Careers
J.D. Advantage careers are best defined as jobs for which legal training is not strictly required, but the J.D. does make you a more competitive candidate and enhance your ability to perform the role at a high level. These roles do not necessarily require bar licensure, though bar licensure and/or LLMs may be an additional plus to employers.
Emerging careers often do involve practicing law and likely require bar licensure. Emerging legal roles are in young, dynamic fields or already-established fields in which demand increases for evolving and specialized legal skills.
Helpful Links
Quick Reference: J.D. Advantage and Emerging Career Job Sites
NALP's J.D. Advantage Career Guide, 2020 Edition
Alumni Advice on Starting Your J.D. Advantage Career
J.D. Advantage Careers: A Guide to What They Are and How to Find Them
Richmond Law Alumni Magazine: Change of Plans
Alumni in J.D. Advantage and Emerging Careers
Brittany Burns, L’16
Industry: Financial Advising/Education Technology
Current Title and Employer: Chief Executive Officer, Simpler Trading
Current Location: Austin, Texas
Matt Dahl, L’09
Industry: Cybersecurity
Current Title and Employer: Principal Intelligence Analyst (Global Threat Analysis Cell), CrowdStrike
Current Location: Denton, Maryland (Remote)
Carley Dix, L’15
Industry: Higher Education
Current Title and Employer: Title IX Coordinator, Section 504/ADA Coordinator, and Compliance Officer, Davidson College
Current Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Katie Payne, L’09
Industry: Government Relations/State Agency
Current Title and Employer: Director of Government Relations, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Current Location: Richmond, Virginia
Mercer May, L’17
Industry: Policy/Lobbying
Current Title and Employer: Public Affairs Manager at Capital Results
Current Location: Richmond, Virginia
Christina Parrish, L’09
Industry: State Government
Current Title and Employer: Policy and Compliance Specialist, Virginia Information Technologies Agency
Current Location: Richmond, Virginia
Allison Tinsey, L’18
Industry: Federal Government; Legislative Commmittee
Current Title and Employer: Counsel for Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee (Majority Staff)
Current Location: Washington, D.C.
John Waller, L’12
Industry: Compliance, In-House Corporate
Current Title and Employer: Economic Development Compliance Manager at Amazon
Current Location: Seattle, Washington
J.D. Advantage and Emerging Career Areas
See Kathy Greenier in the Career Development Office for more information, including lists of job boards, professional associations, and opportunities for certifications and credentialing related to these career areas.
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Compliance, Risk Management, and Oversight
Compliance professionals ensure that businesses, institutions, government entities, and individual employees act in accord with not just statutory rules and regulations, but also internal ethics codes and conduct rules. Compliance roles exist in numerous industries, but especially in financial services, healthcare, higher education, and throughout government.
Insurance and risk management are inter-related fields which involve identifying and analyzing risk of loss or damage, and, regarding risk management, taking steps to reduce or eliminate the exposures to loss faced by an organization or individual.
Regulatory affairs professionals work in highly regulated industry sectors as well as in government regulatory agencies. Those in the private sector are responsible for monitoring laws and regulations, advising on legal and scientific requirements, collecting and evaluating data, and engaging with regulatory agencies.
Corporate governance, responsibility, and sustainability professionals are responsible for supporting their board of directors and executive management in matters such as board practices, compliance, regulation and legal matters, shareholder relations and subsidiary management. Many companies are also concerned with their community relations and public image and hire professionals who can advise on matters relating to corporate responsibility and sustainable practices.
Resources- NALP’s Compliance Careers Checklist
- Investopedia, How to Get a Job in Compliance (September 2020)
- Corporate Compliance, Four Compliance Career Paths – And Why They Make a Difference Insights (March 2020)
- The Balance Careers, What Does a Compliance Officer Do? (April 2019)
- The Balance Careers, What is a Chief Sustainability Officer? (April 2021)
- Forbes, How to Start Your Career in Corporate Social Responsibility (June 2017)
- American Bar Association Corporate Compliance Resources
- American Bar Association Business Crimes, Investigations, and Corporate Compliance Committee, Compliance and Ethics Committee, Corporate Governance Committee, Corporate Social Responsibility Law Committee, and Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
- International Risk Management Institute
- American Bar Association, Corporate Lawyers Changing the World: ESG, Sustainability, and CSR: The Roles of Directors (June 2020) (Podcast)
- American Bar Association, The Evolution of Risk Management and the Business Lawyer (September 2016)
- American Bar Association, Administrative and Regulatory Law News
- National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Ethics Staff Directory
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses- Administrative Law
- Business Associations
- Contract Drafting
- Corporate Compliance
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Finance
- Health Law
- Intellectual Property and Transactional Law Clinic
- Internal Corporate and Government Investigations
- Introduction to Business
- Regulatory Law Practicum
- In-House Externship Programs
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Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Data Protection
Law grads (especially those with prior technology/data experience) help businesses, banks, hospitals, higher education institutions, and government entities adhere to legal requirements and internal policies on the security and use of electronic data.
Privacy and cybersecurity lawyers advise on implementing strategies to meet state, federal and international legal requirements, represent clients before regulatory bodies, and serve as the quarterback and crisis manager during incident response to mitigate loss and ensure compliance with the law. (Cybersecurity Law, American Bar Association Career Choice Series.)
Cybersecurity is the process of, and the protection against, criminal or unauthorized use of electronic data.
Privacy is typically related to a regulation or statute that protects a person’s right to be left alone as well as how an individual’s financial, medical, and other personal information may be collected, stored, and released.
Data protection is the safeguarding of important information from corruption, compromise, or loss.
Resources- NALP’s Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Data Protection Careers Checklist (June 2018)
- Law School Toolbox, Emerging Careers for Law Graduates: The Intersection of Law and Technology (July 2018)
- American Bar Association, Career Paths for the Digital Future – JD Advantage Careers in Data Privacy (November 2019)
- American Bar Association, How to Become a Cybersecurity Lawyer (November 2019)
- The Chambers Associate Career Guide on Privacy and Data Security and Becoming a Data Security Lawyer
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- International Association of Privacy Professionals Resource Center
- Information Systems Audit and Control Association Resources
- Information Systems Security Association International Cyber Security Career Lifecycle Pre-Professional and Entry Level Services
- CompTIA’s Resource Center
- The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium Resource Center
- American Bar Association Legal Technology Resource Center’s publication Legal Technology Today
- American Bar Association Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection Committee
- Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists money laundering news site and magazine, ACAMS Today
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Career Center
- Electronic Privacy Information Center
- Electronic Frontier Foundation
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses- Copyright Law
- Civil, Criminal, In-House, and Judicial Externship Programs
- D.C. Externship Program
- Intellectual Property Drafting
- Intellectual Property Transactional Clinic
- Introduction to Business
- Patent Law
- Technology Law
- Trademark Law
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Financial Services
“Financial services” is a broad term describing work in several arenas, including: personal and commercial banking, investment and wealth management, mortgage lending and realty, financial risk management, and insurance brokerage. Most fields are highly regulated, allowing law grads to excel with knowledge of relevant legal frameworks and skills to navigate complex choices. Some work in financial services careers will closely resemble traditional law practice. Law grads ensure that their company/principal is acting in accord with laws, regulations, and internal standards. Other roles require the essential general skills that law grads cultivate: establishing trust on a human level, managing adversity and risk, negotiation and conflict resolution.
Resources- The Balance Careers, The Financial Services Industry for Beginners (July 2019)
- The Balance Careers, Career Options in Finance for Law Degree Holders (January 2019)
- The Wall Street Journal, Alphabet Soup of Advice (October 2012)
- Investopedia, A Guide to Financial Careers (September 2021)
- eFinancial Careers News, Advice for Students, and Graduate Guide
- Investopedia Careers Resource Center
- Association for Financial Professionals Career Hub
- Rutgers University Libraries’ Banks and Financial Services Guide
- Familiarize yourself with the regulatory and compliance bodies that oversee the financial services sector, such as the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FCEN), and the National Credit Administration (NCU)
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses- Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization
- Business Associations
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Institutions Law
- Introduction to Business
- Securities Regulation
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Government and Policy Advocacy
Law grads work in professional roles in every branch of American government - at the local, state, and federal level - such as placements in government agencies, staffing for an elected official or a legislative committee, or serving on a political campaign. Law grads also work in roles where they research, draft, analyze, and lobby for the policy priorities of their clients, or for public and private-sector employers. A closely related function is managing fundraising, public education, communications, and grassroots organizing around advocacy efforts, especially on issues that are prominent in the public discourse.
Resources- The Balance Careers, 10 Great Jobs in Politics (November 2020)
- Chambers Associate Career Guide on Government, Public Interest, and Regulatory and Becoming a Government Regulatory Lawyer
- Government Executive Magazine
- U.S. Government Manual
- Virginia Public Access Project
- Equal Justice Works
- Leadership Connect
- Legistorm
- Opportunities in Public Affairs Capitol Hill Job Guide
- PSJD career-building resources and practice area guides, resources to learn about public sector career paths, postgraduate fellowships guide, and a searchable list of all career-building resources
- National Academy of Public Administration
- Open Think Tank Directory and Harvard Kennedy School Think Tank Directory
- Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and their ConnectVA Nonprofit Directory
- American Bar Association Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division and Section of State and Local Government Law
- Richmond Law’s Government Agencies and Public Interest Career Paths compilation of resources
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses
- Administrative Law
- Civil, Criminal, In-House, and Judicial Externship Programs
- D.C. Externship Program
- Legislative Advocacy
- Local Government Law
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Public Policy Research and Drafting
- Regulatory Law Practicum
- Refer to the Richmond Law course catalog for courses that will provide subject matter expertise in a number of issue-areas
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Legal Operations and Legal Technology
“Legal Operations” describes a set of business processes, activities, and the professionals that enable legal departments to serve their clients more effectively by applying business and technical practices to the delivery of legal services. Legal Operations provides strategic planning, financial management, project management, and technology portfolio investment expertise that allows legal professionals to focus on providing legal advice. These professionals work with leadership to identify strategic investments that build capacity for the organization. Their capabilities allow the legal organization to more effectively manage risks, monitor compliance, incorporate the right technological tools, and deliver more value to the enterprise by accelerating the business. (What is Legal Operations?, CLOC Publication, October 2019.)
Electronic discovery – commonly known as e-discovery – is the process of identifying, preserving, collecting, producing, and reviewing electronically stored information in the course of a lawsuit or investigation. E-discovery attorneys often work in law firms or with e-discovery vendors, and increasingly, government agencies and corporate legal departments are bringing e-discovery specialists in-house. (Emerging Careers for Law Graduates: The Intersection of Law and Technology, Law School Toolbox, July 2018.)
Resources- The Chambers Associate Career Guide on Technology, Becoming a Technology Lawyer, and Becoming a Tech Transactions Lawyer
- Corporate Legal Operations Consortium, What is Legal Operations (September 2020), Podcasts and Webinars, and State of the Industry Report (May 2021)
- Association for Corporate Counsel, Legal Operations Resource Library and 2020 Legal Operations Maturity Benchmarking Report
- The Institute for the Future of Law Practice creates and delivers curriculum that complements traditional law school offerings
- A curated list of legal technology companies, hosted by CodeX, the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics
- Law.com, Breaking Tradition: How New Law is Challenging Big Law
- Law School Toolbox, Emerging Careers for Law Graduates: The Intersection of Law and Technology (July 2018)
- American Bar Association, Career Steps: Transitioning to a Legal Technology Career (December 2020)
- Legal Geek, organizer of the world’s first LawTech startup conference
- The Balance Careers, What is an E-Discovery Professional? (July 2020)
- Upsolve, How to Break into Legal Tech as a Law Student (September 2020)
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses- Advising the Entrepreneur
- Commercial Transactions and Emerging Technology
- In-House Externship Programs
- Leading and Managing the Business of Law
- Legal Process and Project Management
- Legal Project Management
- Practice Design and Innovation
- Start-up Accelerator Practicum
- Technology Law
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Nonprofit Management and Administration
Law grads run nonprofit organizations, manage departments in nonprofits, or manage fundraising and philanthropy for nonprofits running from small community-based groups to state university systems. Law grads also work in charitable foundations that fund service or issue-oriented nonprofits. Foundation program officers identify funding opportunities or needs, and manage grantee relationships to ensure effective use of grant funds. Other foundation professionals ensure compliance with tax and charity regulation, and manage the funding endowment.
Resources- The Balance Careers, Nonprofit Careers: Options, Job Titles, and Descriptions (August 2021)
- The Balance Careers, Best Traditional and Emerging Jobs in Nonprofit Organizations (November 2020)
- Foundation List, How to Get a Job at a Foundation
- The Collaboratory of Virginia
- Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond and their ConnectVA Nonprofit Directory
- Center for Nonprofit Excellence
- Equal Justice Works
- Nonprofit AF
- PSJD career-building resources and practice area guides, resources to learn about public sector career paths, postgraduate fellowships guide, and a searchable list of all career-building resources
- Harvard Kennedy School Library and Knowledge Services Grants and Grant Makers Guide and Nonprofit Sector Guide
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Philanthropy News Digest
- HigherEdJobs News and Career Resources
- The American Bar Association Nonprofit Organizations Committee
- Richmond Law’s Government Agencies and Public Interest Career Paths compilation of resources
Recommended Richmond Law Elective Courses- Civil, Criminal, In-House, and Judicial Externship Programs
- D.C. Externship Program
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Refer to the Richmond Law course catalog for courses that will provide subject matter expertise in a number of issue-areas