Mid-Level Data Privacy Associate

Smith Anderson is the largest business and litigation law firm headquartered in North Carolina’s Research Triangle—one of the Southeast’s most vibrant regions for business growth, innovation, and technology‑driven industries. For more than 100 years, the firm has served as a trusted advisor to dynamic regional, national, and global companies, earning a strong reputation for legal excellence, thoughtful client service, and practical, business‑oriented counsel. Smith Anderson combines sophisticated legal capabilities with a collaborative culture that values long‑term relationships, professional growth, and strategic thinking. Attorneys in Smith Anderson’s Data Privacy and Security practice take a truly multidisciplinary approach to advising clients across a wide range of industries. The group integrates data privacy and cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, technology transactions and licensing, commercial contracting, and dispute management to deliver comprehensive, business‑focused solutions. This integrated model enables the team to advise clients across the full lifecycle of data protection, use, and commercialization, helping organizations manage risk while supporting innovation and growth. This is an opportunity to join a thriving and growing data privacy practice and play a meaningful role in advising clients on complex and evolving privacy, security, and regulatory challenges. The team works at the forefront of key issues impacting modern businesses, including emerging U.S. state privacy laws, global data protection frameworks, and the rapidly developing legal landscape surrounding artificial intelligence and digital governance. Attorneys in this group benefit from significant responsibility, direct client engagement, and early exposure to sophisticated matters, all within a highly collaborative, team‑oriented environment that emphasizes mentorship and long‑term professional development. The attorney in this role will work closely with partners and clients to deliver practical, forward‑looking guidance on a broad range of data privacy and cybersecurity issues. This includes advising on U.S. and international privacy regimes, cross‑border data transfers, privacy‑by‑design implementation, AI governance strategies, data governance and lifecycle management, digital marketing and tracking compliance, and privacy and cybersecurity considerations in corporate transactions. The role also involves assisting clients in preparing for and responding to data incidents, including leading breach assessments, coordinating forensic and legal response efforts, and navigating complex regulatory notification and reporting obligations. The ideal candidate has between three to five years’ data privacy experience at a large or mid‑size law firm. Additionally, the candidate should exhibit the following skills and characteristics: • Practical, solution‑oriented, and collaborative practice style • Ability to interact directly with clients, and work independently and as part of team • Exercise of judgment, use of practice problem solving, and willingness to take a leadership role in managing cases and other projects • Willingness to help continue to build a long‑term practice • Strong academic credentials and writing skills • Excellent communication skills • Commitment to provide highest quality service to our clients Why Raleigh / The Research Triangle Raleigh and the broader Research Triangle offer an exceptional professional and personal environment. The region is a major center for business, education, and innovation, anchored by leading universities, a strong commercial real estate market, and sustained economic growth. Attorneys practicing in the Triangle benefit from sophisticated, high‑quality work combined with a strong sense of community, reasonable cost of living, and an excellent quality of life—making it an attractive place to both build a practice and put down roots. Smith Anderson is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, strategy, and cohesiveness that supports both our clients and our people. We offer a supportive professional environment with robust training and mentoring programs, meaningful engagement with firm leadership, and opportunities for career growth tailored to individual goals, including alternative career path mentoring and development options.⁠​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠GIH-GBL_virecruit-virecruit_smithlawselfapply_t783124629