Demand in Cybersecurity
Cybercrime continues to gallop at an unprecedented pace. Globally, it is approaching losses nearing $500 billion. This crime affects households and corporations. Regarding the former, hackers steal credit card information and bank account details of millions of Americans. Companies have had proprietary information and financial data compromised.
The demand for jobs in the field of cybersecurity far exceeds the pool of qualified crime fighters. Consequently, the cost worldwide could cost all industries around six trillion by 2021. If this prediction is correct, the losses of 2015 ($3 trillion) will double.
In 2017, an employment report, supported by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), revealed that there were 715,715 people in cybersecurity positions. The bad news is that there were 313,735 unfilled cybersecurity jobs. California alone had 36,602 job openings in this field. Texas followed with 24,835 opportunities. The majority of the positions were in the private sector. For example, California had 35,121 of their total in the private sector.
University/College Programs
You may have to extend your education to a master’s program to integrate law and cybersecurity. One program that meets this need is the Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Their Master of Science in Legal Studies (MLS) has five areas of concentration. They combine Cybersecurity with Data Privacy Law, which you can finish within one year for full-time students.
Law schools and law departments are your best source to locate master’s programs in cybersecurity law. The coursework focuses more on matters of law than the technical issues, such as computer science, associated with preventing hackers. You will still learn about computer viruses, encryption, and security measures. However, there is an emphasis on computer crime and legal ramifications, such as privacy, law enforcement, federal policies, and Constitutional rights.
RELATED: The 20 Best Masters in Cyber Security Online
Juris Doctorate (JD)
If you intend on practicing law, you need a JD from an accredited law school. One of the requirements to apply to law school is an undergraduate degree. Here, you could begin your journey toward the field of cyber law. Cyber law is the marriage of technology and law. Therefore, it may be beneficial to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, cybersecurity, computer engineering, systems engineering, or related field. These subjects will provide technical expertise before entering law school.
With the rapid increase in cybercrime, science and technology have become paramount in this computer-generated war. The practice of law has embraced computer science to handle the legal aspect of these crimes. Therefore, the law profession is swept up in this burgeoning job market. The demand is a boon for law students, recent law graduates, and those who plan to pursue a degree in legal studies, privacy law, intellectual law or cybersecurity law.
Students attending law school may have the opportunity to choose an area of specific interest. Your selection is part of your JD program and the choice to specialize is purely voluntary. Albany Law School is one example, whose law program offers several concentrations. One of which is titled Cybersecurity and the Law. The courses provide an overview of various aspects dealing with cybercrime in the private, public, and governmental sectors. You will be versed in security technology, torts, international laws, and healthcare regulations, to name a few.
Master of Laws
Individuals who do not want to pursue a JD have other avenues to work in cyber law. One way is to earn your bachelor’s then enroll in an LLM or Master of Laws degree. This graduate degree has concentrations in Cybersecurity Law that examines the legal and policy issues associated with cybersecurity.
One example, the University of Texas offers a Cybersecurity LL.M. in conjunction with the Integrated Cybersecurity Studies program at the Strauss Center. The Center specializes in programs related to international security and law. One of their renowned degrees is their LLM in cybersecurity. It consists of 24 credit hours, which students must complete within one academic year.
An advantage to an LLM is the online format to be taken at your pace. Whereas, you must complete law school in the specified three years. Also, many LLM programs focus on lawyers looking to advance their knowledge in this field. Albany Law School, for example, offers a 100% online LLM in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law. Courses cover cybercrime, cyberlaw, privacy laws, and technology.
Conclusion
There are opportunities for lawyers and non-lawyers in the field of cyberlaw and associated subjects. Non-lawyers jobs exist as paralegals, legal assistants, law librarians, law researches, and more. You will join an area, as stated, that is slated to grow exponentially into the future as cybercrime becomes more ubiquitous and devious.
Additional Resources
What is the Benefit of a Degree in Cybersecurity vs. Network Security?
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Lawyer?