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5 hot practice specialties where an LL.M. could be a game changer
Privacy & Cybersecurity Law
In today’s digital age, keeping personal information safe is a major concern. That’s where privacy and cybersecurity law come in. This area of law is becoming more and more important as technology continues to advance.
Think about all the devices we use every day, including smartphones, smart TVs and the internet. Every time we use them, data about us is being collected. It’s crucial to make sure that information is protected from hackers and cybercriminals.
“Privacy and cybersecurity laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, are rules that aim to do just that,” said Charles Volkert, global solutions leader for Protiviti Legal Consulting, a subsidiary of Robert Half. “Laws vary depending on where you are, but they all have the same goal: to keep your information safe online.”
Lawyers who specialize in privacy and cybersecurity help companies follow these laws and update their policies to keep up with changes in technology. This specialty touches on other digital areas as well, such as software protection and ecommerce.
Lawyers need to understand numerous regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. health care system, to ensure their clients are following the rules and keeping people’s information safe.
As technology continues to evolve, the need for legal experts in this field will only grow.
As AI technology progresses, the demand for AI law experts is rising. This field covers legal aspects such as intellectual property, data privacy, liability, ethics, regulations and AI-specific contracts. AI’s effects are ongoing. Copyright infringement, highlighted by cases such as The New York Times suing OpenAI, is a significant concern. As AI’s capabilities become clearer, more legal questions are expected to emerge.
“Using AI chat to help create closing arguments was the topic of a recent conversation with a law firm colleague,” Volkert said. “I asked if a public or private AI chat was being used. You could hear a pin drop. The AI chat was not private, and client information was now not secure.”
If you are coming out of law school or looking to advance your legal career, gain as much knowledge as possible about AI and related tools, Volkert said.
Energy & Environmental Law
Environmental law boomed in the 1970s and ’80s, and amid growing climate concerns, environmental law is getting more attention. Companies striving for sustainability are seeking legal advice on ecofriendly practices, fueling demand for environmental law experts.
Lawyers in this field are vital for crafting policies and tackling ecological challenges. From agriculture to sustainability, environmental law offers a blend of specialties, ensuring a steady workload.
Energy and natural resources law is another rising star. It focuses on renewable and non-renewable energy sources. As innovation in alternative energy heats up, so does the demand for legal expertise in this field.
Intellectual Property Law
IP specialists are in constant demand, as the continual creation of new content and nonstop technological and scientific advances need protection.
In the realm of intellectual property, where copyrights, licensing and safeguarding of innovative creations converge, the digital age presents both challenges and opportunities. Emerging trends such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) add complexity to the landscape.
Technology companies increasingly seek legal counsel to navigate the intricacies of IP, acquisitions and sales in the digital sphere. Mastery of trademark, copyright and patent law can unlock a promising legal career in this domain.
Health Law
With ever-changing regulations, continuing innovation and advancement in medical procedures and technology, health care is a reliably busy practice area.
Health law is a rapidly growing field, especially considering recent global health challenges. Lawyers in this specialty handle regulatory compliance, patients’ rights and bioethics. Opportunities are abundant in many areas, from workers’ compensation to personal injury and patient advocacy.
Since 2020, health law has seen a significant surge in demand because of an increased focus on health and hygiene. This practice area involves representing both patients seeking better health care and health care organizations aiming to provide quality service while navigating regulatory complexities.
Health law attorneys advocate for highquality patient care, improved access to health care and reduced costs. With the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the emergence of long COVID, the need for legal assistance in obtaining affordable and accessible health care is more critical than ever.
A successful lawyer in this field will be someone who understands health care regulations, communicates effectively, and shows empathy toward clients who are facing both medical and legal issues.
Tax Law
Tax law is anything but boring. Uncle Sam dished out some major cash during the pandemic and postponed Tax Day by three months. How did that affect taxation law? Well, simply put, it continues to create job security for tax lawyers.
And there’s no end in sight for tax lawyers, who may be working in-house or for government or nonprofit agencies. Then there’s the so-called “silver tsunami” as the baby boomer generation retires. Robert Half Legal said in its report that these retirements are “reaching critical mass.” As a result, law firms are seeking attorneys with experience in not just tax law but also trust and estate law.
“While some transactional tax practices such as mergers and acquisitions are cyclical — that is, tied to economic activity — tax covers just about every aspect of human endeavor, from estate and wealth transfer planning to nonprofits focused on social justice and other issues to IRS audits,” said Adam Chodorow, associate dean of academic affairs at Arizona State University.
“To be clear, firms may hunker down and slow all hiring, but tax work should not be significantly diminished during the crisis.” Valerie Fontaine, one of the founders of SeltzerFontaine, a legal job search and recruiting firm in Los Angeles, said not many lawyers are specializing in tax law. If a law student has a bent toward finance or has a CPA, she said, pursuing an LL.M. in taxation could be a smart move.
Check out the Guide to LL.M. Programs in the 2024 Back-to-School National Jurist digital issue, with more than 300 LL.M. programs open to U.S. law students in over 40 specialty categories.
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