Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical challenge; it also involves legal and ethical issues. From headline-making data breaches to the rise of AI, today’s digital threats demand effective governance that builds public trust in enforcement systems.
Whether you work in cybersecurity compliance, risk management, policy, procurement, cyber defense, cyber operations, or a tech-adjacent field, you have likely encountered legal questions across many parts of your work, touching everything from daily operations to strategic decisions about governance, regulations, and privacy.
For professionals in these roles, understanding cybersecurity law is no longer optional. Fortunately, you don’t need a JD or computer science degree to engage at a high level. George Washington (GW) Law’s Master of Studies in Law (MSL) offers three concentrations that address cybersecurity law through different lenses: Government Procurement & Cybersecurity Law, National Security & Cybersecurity Law, and Privacy, Data Security, & Technology. The program is designed for non-lawyers who work at the intersection of law and technology, providing the legal, ethical, and regulatory expertise needed to lead in today’s complex digital landscape.
This article examines what the GW Law MSL offers, its target audience, and the career opportunities it can unlock.
Cybersecurity Law: A Fast-Growing Field
At its core, cybersecurity law encompasses the body of rules, regulations, and legal strategies designed to protect digital systems, secure data, and manage risk in the connected world. But in practice, it is much broader. Cybersecurity law touches nearly every sector and function today, including:
- Data privacy laws like the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act
- Cybercrime regulations targeting hacking, fraud, and ransomware
- Compliance frameworks for handling sensitive data
- National security rules for critical infrastructure and cyber defense
- Intellectual property protections for digital assets
- AI governance and the legal challenges posed by emerging technologies
As technology advances, the law often lags behind. Take artificial intelligence (AI); it already shapes content, influences decisions, and has been flagged as a potential tool for election interference. During the 2024 election cycle, AI was used to generate rapid political messaging, hyper-targeted ads, and even deceptive or fabricated content. With few disclosure rules or guardrails, false information can spread unchecked, making it harder for voters to distinguish real from fake and fueling public distrust.
This gap between innovation and regulation is driving demand for professionals who understand both the legal and technical dimensions of cybersecurity challenges and can help bridge them with sound policy and strategy.
Turn Legal Knowledge Into Strategic Leadership
Prepare To Lead Where Cybersecurity and Law Intersect
Key Skills for Cybersecurity Law Professionals
Cybersecurity law isn’t about writing code or managing firewalls. It’s about interpretation, judgment, and cross-functional leadership. Professionals in this space need a solid grasp of legal principles and sharp analytical skills to manage complex digital risks.
Core competencies include:
- Data privacy compliance: Understanding and applying privacy laws across jurisdictions
- Policy interpretation: Translating laws and regulations into internal policies and adapting as the legal landscape evolves
- Risk analysis: Assessing exposure to cyber threats and legal liabilities as well as guiding strategic risk management
- Familiarity with governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) frameworks: Aligning GRC structures with legal and regulatory obligations
- Digital investigations and forensics: Collecting and evaluating documents that establish compliance standards and protect against legal risks
- Legal analysis of emerging technologies: Examining new technologies to identify legal issues in cybersecurity and navigate evolving regulations
- Drafting and reviewing policies and contracts: Creating and evaluating documents that establish compliance standards and protect against legal risks
- Ethical decision-making in tech environments: Applying ethical principles to guide responsible technology use within legal and organizational frameworks
Cybersecurity Law Career Paths
An MSL degree with a cybersecurity law focus offers more than just legal insight; it opens doors to cross-sector roles that require both legal and technical expertise. Graduates are well-prepared for cybersecurity law careers in government, nonprofits, and the private sector, where cybersecurity and compliance are increasingly intertwined.
Common job titles include:
- Acquisition program manager
- Critical infrastructure protection specialist
- Cybersecurity risk officerÂ
- Cybersecurity policy analystÂ
- Defense cyber operations specialist
- Director of compliance
- Legal risk and compliance officer
- Policy adviser
- Privacy consultant
- Procurement policy analyst
- Technology governance lead
These roles do not require a JD, but they do benefit from a deeper understanding of how law influences organizational security strategy. GW Law’s MSL degree with a cybersecurity law focus equips professionals to work across departments and guide organizations through growing regulatory complexity.
What You’ll Learn in GW Law’s Cybersecurity Law MSL
GW Law’s MSL degree is a 100% online program built for working professionals, combining live sessions, self-paced coursework, and immersive experiences. Students receive strong academic and career support, including mentorship, networking, and one-on-one counseling. The curriculum develops expertise in U.S. and international cybersecurity law, data privacy law, compliance strategy, and related areas.
Students can choose from several options. The National Security & Cybersecurity Law concentration explores how governments, businesses, and individuals navigate—and exploit—digital vulnerabilities.
Curricular topics include:
- National security
- Cybersecurity law
- Cybersecurity regulation
- Risk management
- Data privacy
- Digital evidence
- Tech ethics
The Government Procurement & Cybersecurity Law concentration focuses on the rules and requirements related to those who want to provide computer-related services to the government. Coursework covers:
- Performance of government contracts
- Procurement and intellectual property
- Cybersecurity law
- Internet law
- Foreign access to U.S. technology
- Bid protests
- Procurement reform
The Privacy, Data Security, & Technology concentration explores the legal responsibilities of governments and private entities in the U.S. when using technology to interact with, influence, or collect data about individuals. Topics include emerging regulations on artificial intelligence, federal and state limits on data collection and usage, and organizational obligations to protect personal information.
Who This Degree Is For
If your work touches technology, compliance, or risk and you want to better navigate the legal landscape, GW Law’s MSL degree with a cybersecurity law focus is built for you. The program serves a wide range of professionals, including:
- Compliance officers seeking stronger legal insight
- Privacy specialists managing complex regulations
- Risk managers advising on policy and controls
- Tech policy advisers shaping tech regulation and innovation
- Analysts in government or corporate sectors focused on cyber or defense workÂ
- IT and cybersecurity professionals moving into strategic roles
This degree is ideal for those looking to apply legal thinking to tech-driven challenges, bridging the gap between regulation, strategy, and digital risk.
Why GW Law: Practical, Policy-Driven, and Built for Professionals
Few institutions match GW Law’s access and expertise in cybersecurity law. With renowned faculty, deep connections to policymakers, and a curriculum grounded in real-world challenges, the program trains students to think like lawyers and lead like strategists.
Highlights include:
- Reputation and faculty experience: Founded in 1865 as the first law school in Washington D.C., GW Law boasts a rich history of legal leadership. Its faculty includes top scholars and practitioners who have worked at federal agencies and leading companies, such as Microsoft and Google. Frequently cited in national media, they actively shape today’s legal landscape
- Policy connections: Located in the heart of Washington D.C., GW Law offers students unmatched access to government agencies, military institutions, business leaders, and nonprofits. Students benefit from policy-focused guest lectures, expert panels, and proximity to Capitol Hill that weds theory and practice.
- Practical application: GW Law’s MSL degree with a cybersecurity law focus is designed for working professionals. Courses focus on immediate, real-world relevance—whether it’s interpreting new regulations or drafting internal privacy policies—so students can apply what they learn from day one.
Launch Your Career at the Intersection of Law and Tech Starts Here
As digital threats become increasingly complex, so do the legal and ethical challenges they present. GW Law’s MSL with a cybersecurity law focus offers professionals a unique opportunity to lead at this critical intersection without stepping away from their careers.
Tailored for non-lawyers, the program delivers practical legal education from day one. Whether you’re managing risk, advising leadership, or shaping policy, you’ll gain the legal fluency needed for today’s tech-driven roles.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule a program overview or start your application today.