If you’re looking to advance your legal career, you’ll need to do something to set yourself apart. One great way to stand out from the competition is to find a specialty. In fact, one legal specialty that is becoming more popular is a specialty in privacy law.

As privacy takes the forefront of many consumer concerns, legislators are taking notice. In 2017, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law within the European Union pushed privacy to the forefront. Now several states within the United States are making privacy more of a priority and the legal teams of many organizations must be prepared to take on this endeavor.

“Organizations will need to hire more legal professionals with a background in privacy law to create a plan that complies with these new policies,”  says Micki Mersky, Senior Managing Director at The Execu|Search Group. “So if you are a legal professional looking to find a specialty in high demand, you may want to consider privacy law.”

Not sure how to learn more about privacy law? Our expert legal recruiters at The Execu|Search Group have some advice that could help you take advantage of this trend:

Showcase your skills throughout your resume

If you already have some experience working in privacy law, you’ll want to do your best to showcase it throughout your entire resume. List any projects you’ve worked on that specialized in privacy and how these projects were accomplished. This could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate with more general experience.

Get a certification in privacy law

If you haven’t been able to build privacy experience in your current role, you may want to take the time to get a certification within this specialty. Getting certified in privacy law showcases to hiring managers that you are dedicated to this new trend within the legal industry. “There are a variety of organizations that are beginning to offer educational resources on privacy, so try to take advantage of these opportunities,” advises Melissa Haber, Managing Director at the Execu|Search Group. “Law schools, for example, are beginning to offer classes and certifications. However, there are also great online certifications from IAPP that can give you the knowledge you need in this specialty.”

Look for ways to gain experience in privacy

Along with getting certified, you may find that your current organization is working on privacy policies. If you can, talk to your supervisor to see if there’s a way to take on any responsibilities that pertain to privacy law. Gaining this hands-on experience can help you decide whether this is a specialty you’d want to take on, as well as make you a more competitive candidate in the legal industry.