This guide is for women at any law school, no technical background required.

Four main areas. Endless Opportunities.

Focus on curiosity and exposure – not specialization.

This is when differentiation begins. Be intentional.

Momentum matters more than perfection. There is no single right path.

Different destinations — all rewarding.

What IP lawyers do in tech

• Patent prosecution: drafting and filing patent applications
• Patent litigation: Markman hearings, IPR proceedings, district court trials
• Licensing: negotiating IP rights for software, platforms, and AI models
• Trade secret protection: NDAs, employment agreements, misappropriation claims
• Copyright: software code, databases, AI-generated works
• Trademark: brand protection for tech companies globally

IP touches every industry — from pharmaceuticals to social media algorithms.

What privacy lawyers do

• Drafting and auditing privacy policies and data processing agreements
• GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, HIPAA, COPPA, FERPA compliance programs
• Data breach response: notification obligations, regulatory investigations
• Cross-border data transfers: SCCs, adequacy decisions
• Privacy by design: advising product and engineering teams
• FTC enforcement, state AG investigations, class action defense

Privacy law is one of the most accessible entry points — no technical degree required.

What cybersecurity lawyers do

• Incident response: breach investigations, forensics coordination
• Regulatory compliance: CISA, NIST frameworks, SEC cyber rules
• Government contracting: CMMC, FedRAMP, DFARS compliance
• Insurance: cyber liability policy negotiation and coverage disputes
• Critical infrastructure security: energy, finance, healthcare sectors
• Litigation: class actions, enforcement defense, shareholder suits

Cyber is one of the highest-growth legal specialties — and women are underrepresented.

What AI lawyers do

• EU AI Act compliance (high-risk AI systems)
• FTC guidance: deceptive AI practices, algorithmic bias
• AI liability: who is responsible when an AI system causes harm?
• IP and AI: copyright in AI-generated works (Thaler v. Vidal, et al.)
• Track law on deepfakes, voice cloning, and emerging personality rights
• AI governance policies, model cards, and use policies
• Negotiate AI vendor contracts and data licensing agreements

AI regulation is still being written. Law students who engage now help shape it.

Build these in law school – before you need them at work.

Tech Translation

• Explain how a system works — AI model, data pipeline, security vulnerability — in plain language for judges, regulators, or executives
• Practice: weekly 'explain this technology' exercises

Risk Spotting

• Tech law centers on identifying, prioritizing, and communicating risk
• Practice: write short risk memos outlining tradeoffs and mitigation strategies

Professional Writing

• Publish short posts, case summaries, or explainers on emerging tech issues
• Consistent, visible writing builds credibility — and opens doors

Techical Lieteracy

• You don't need to code, but you need to understand what code does
• Take a free course: CS50 (Harvard), AI for Everyone (Coursera), or Privacy Law Fundamentals

Contract & Regulatory Fluency

• Read actual tech contracts: DPAs, SaaS agreements, AI vendor terms
• Follow regulatory developments: FTC reports, EU agency publications, CISA advisories

Staying Current

• The law changes faster than casebooks. Subscribe to newsletters, follow key academics and practitioners on LinkedIn and Bluesky

Ask these – and listen closely. Then follow up.

Q1  ▸  "How did you position yourself for your first tech-facing role?"

Reveals the experiences that generated real experience— coursework, clinics, writing, or technical exposure. Ask which mattered most.

Q2  ▸  "What skills do junior tech lawyers most often lack?"

Invite candid feedback on gaps new hires have: technical literacy, contract drafting, regulatory framing, or communication.

Q3  ▸  "How do you stay current in such a fast-moving field?"

Learn which newsletters, conferences, or communities they rely on, so you can build sustainable habits early.

Q4  ▸  "Was there a moment you felt you didn't belong? How did you navigate it?"

Women-specific question. Creates space for honest conversation and surfaces strategies for navigating exclusion.

Q5  ▸  "Who else should I be talking to?"

The most important networking question. Always ask. A warm introduction from a mentor is worth ten cold emails.

Always send a thank-you email. Always. Circle back when you read something relevant to their work.

Your professional home starts here.

FOR WOMEN IN LAW & TECH

• Ms. JD —community + resources for women law students — ms-jd.org
• WITI (Workforce, Innovation, Trust and Influence—originally Women in Technology International) — witi.com
• National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) — nawl.org
• ABA Commission on Women in the Profession — americanbar.org/groups/diversity/women/
• Legal Hackers — legalhackers.org — tech + law community

FOR TECH LAW PRACTICE

• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) — iapp.org
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) — eff.org
• Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) — fpf.org
• Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) — cdt.org
• AI Now Institute — ainowinstitute.org
• Berkman Klein Center (Harvard) — cyber.harvard.edu

FOR LAW STUDENTS

• ABA Law Student Division — Tech Law Committee
• National Law Review (student-written articles welcome)
• Cybersecurity Law Report — law.com
• Student portals: IAPP, ABA SciTech
• Ms. JD Fellowship Program

NEWSLETTERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO NOW

• Lawfare (lawfaremedia.org) — national security, cyber, AI policy
• IAPP Daily Dashboard — privacy law news
• Tech Policy Press — independent tech policy journalism
• The Algorithm (MIT Tech Review) — AI coverage
• Cyberlaw Podcast (Steptoe) — excellent for cybersecurity law
• One Tech World — women in technology newsletter

COURSES TO TAKE

• CS50: Introduction to Computer Science (Harvard/edX) — FREE
• AI for Everyone — Andrew Ng (Coursera) — FREE
• Privacy Law Fundamentals — IAPP (member access)
• Cybersecurity for Business — University of Colorado (Coursera)
• Introduction to Intellectual Property — USPTO free resources
• Data and Information Privacy — WisconsinX (edX) — FREE

You don't have to be everywhere. You have to be somewhere — consistently.

LINKEDIN STRATEGY

• Headline: 'Law Student | Tech Law & Privacy | [School] '27'
• Post one short reflection or case summary per month
• Connect with every attorney you meet — within 24 hours
• Follow: IAPP, EFF, FTC, Berkman Klein Center
• Engage thoughtfully on tech law posts — comments get seen

WRITING FOR VISIBILITY

• Submit to your school's tech law blog or law review online
• National Law Review accepts student submissions
• Write 300-word LinkedIn posts on key court decisions
• Target: one piece published per semester
• Your writing sample is your first interview — make it good

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

• IAPP Global Privacy Summit (spring, Washington D.C.)
• ABA TechShow (spring, Chicago)
• Future of Privacy Forum annual summit
• Ms. JD Leadership Academy (annual, in-person)
• Virtual options exist for most — student rates often available