As businesses and governmental agencies accelerate their adoption of advanced digital technologies, the demand for cybersecurity talent continues to grow. In particular, organizations are prioritizing candidates with expertise in cybersecurity law to address the legal, regulatory, and compliance challenges associated with information security.
If you’re considering a change of careers or industries to take advantage of these job market trends, you may be feeling some trepidation. That’s understandable; all change that creates opportunities also involves risk. Earning your Master of Studies in Law (MSL) in George Washington Law’s flexible online program can help assuage your concerns and ease your transition by outfitting you with market-ready skills in an emerging field. This article explains how the GW Law MSL can provide a bridge between industries and job roles, helping you achieve your career goals faster.
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Why Cybersecurity Needs Legal and Strategic Thinkers
Rapid digital transformation exposes organizations to significant data privacy and cybersecurity risks, including data breaches, ransomware attacks, and compliance demands. Businesses and other institutions need cybersecurity experts who can think strategically in times of crisis while applying the legal knowledge required to interpret and implement policies and regulatory directives.
The GW Law MSL program is designed for non-lawyers who seek to gain a fundamental understanding of the law and its application in various contexts across government, nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. It focuses on teaching legal frameworks, governance, and real-world risk response strategies. Offering two concentrations in cybersecurity law, the GW MSL provides a pathway for professionals with backgrounds in compliance, HR, healthcare, government, or IT to transition confidently into cybersecurity roles.
How the GW MSL Programs in Cybersecurity Law Prepares You for the Shift
The GW MSL program is designed for working professionals. It offers part-time and full-time, online and on-campus learning options so students can choose the modality and pace that best suits their lifestyle. The program is designed to equip students with the legal specialization needed to guide strategic discussions and decisions, preparing them for career advancement. The curriculum emphasizes practice-based coursework and real-world applications.
Students interested in a career in cybersecurity can choose to pursue the National Security & Cybersecurity Law Concentration or the Government Procurement & Cybersecurity Law Concentration. Both include courses covering cybersecurity law and policy, technology foundations for cybersecurity, cybersecurity law and technology, and artificial intelligence law and policy.
Career Paths You Can Pursue
Career paths MSL graduates who specialized in cybersecurity law can pursue include:
- Compliance officer: Ensures all corporate processes and procedures meet legal and regulatory requirements
- Privacy analyst: Manages legal and operational risks around sensitive and critical information
- Risk manager: Identifies, assesses, and mitigates potential risks to protect a company against revenue loss
- Cybersecurity program manager: Manages a company’s security-focused projects
- Information security analyst: Plans and carries out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems
- Cybersecurity consultant: Works with various organizations to protect their data against cyber threats
None of these jobs requires a JD or an extensive engineering background. They require only the legal literacy and strong communication and systems thinking skills students can acquire in the GW Law MSL program.
What Students Are Saying
Shawn Caton (MSL, ‘25), senior associate at Decisive Point, explains that he enrolled in the MSL to expand his career and professional skills. Says Caton: “I have taken classes and learned skills that directly impact my daily work in government contracting. This degree undoubtedly puts me closer to my career goal.”
Ayanna Wilson (MSL, ‘25), acquisition program manager/contracting officer at the Department of Defense, notes: “As a professional who works with contracts daily, this program offered me an eye-opening way to view my job. […] I intend to immediately use and teach many of the skills learned to enhance my agency.”
Joseph Berling (MSL, ‘25), management consulting manager at Accenture, aspires to lead digital transformation in public sector contracting. He reflects on how the MSL is helping him advance his career, saying the program “sharpens my ability to navigate the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern federal procurement and cybersecurity, enabling me to lead more confidently at the intersection of law, technology, and public sector contracting.”
Make the Shift in a Flexible Program That Fits Your Schedule
The GW Law MSL program offers a strategic, purpose-built approach for professionals ready to pivot into a future-focused field. It is uniquely designed for career changers who want to stay ahead of digital transformation while understanding the legal, regulatory, and policy implications that shape the tech landscape. Real-world-focused coursework enables students to develop legal fluency and confidently step into roles that require both strategic and legal insight.
The online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program at GW Law is built for working professionals with demanding schedules. Students can complete the program entirely online, on campus, or through a flexible combination of both. For those looking to accelerate their progress, intensive weekend classes allow students to complete an entire course in just one weekend.
Now is the time to take control of your career trajectory. Schedule a program overview to explore how the GW Law MSL can help you make a meaningful, future-ready shift, or start your application now.