This perspective was originally published by Bloomberg Law. Click here to read the article in its entirety, where Evisort’s Memme Onwudiwe and Credit Karma’s Tom Stephenson make the case that having a law degree should not be a prerequisite for a job in legal and tech operations. Those trained in cutting-edge technology can manage lawyers, they say.

The legal technology industry raised more than $2.5 billion in 2021, and alternative legal service providers are rising in market share, as firms like Deloitte & EY grow their ranks in legal consulting. This growth is leading to new job opportunities.

However, while both people with and without law degrees are driving the changes in legal operations and technology, the resulting job opportunities tend to be restricted only to lawyers despite a large pool of talented professionals without JDs.

Those who know this space understand that you do not have to be an attorney to excel in this domain. Having a legal background can be beneficial, but it shouldn’t be a prerequisite.

Several people changing the practice of law do not have a law degree, including Ulf Zetterberg (Time is Ltd.), Jennifer McCarron (Netflix), and Stephanie Corey (UpLevel Ops) who have all tremendously impacted how most modern lawyers work.

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Legal Professionals Can Manage Lawyers

There are several reasons one might want to limit a role in legal transformation or technology to lawyers.

What if the position requires goal and objective setting for legal leadership, manages a team of lawyers, or leads strategic management across the legal department? These skills do not require the active practice of law, but we must address the concern about whether someone without a legal background can manage lawyers who perform legal work.

To continue reading the full article as originally published, visit Bloomberg Law.