Attorney

Cybersecurity & Privacy Attorney | Charlotte, NC (hybrid, some remote) | $150,000 to $350,000

When a company gets breached, the first call doesn't go to IT. It goes to a lawyer.

Cyber is one of the few practices where the client calls you before they call their own board. If you've taken that call and found you're good at it, keep reading.

Who's writing this

• I'm Clark Pollins, an attorney recruiter at Distinct Recruitment. I'm not the firm.
• Several firms with Charlotte offices are hiring cyber and privacy attorneys at the same time.
• Two are national firms with dedicated incident response teams. One is a firm headquartered right here in Charlotte with an IP and technology group. Others are building out breach litigation benches.
• Normally you wait for one seat to open. Right now you get to compare.

Pick your lane

Incident response

• You've guided clients through ransomware and business email compromise, from the first call to the closed file.
• You've worked alongside forensics firms under privilege, and you know why that structure matters.
• You can map notification duties across state breach laws, HIPAA, GLBA and the regulators without starting from scratch every time.
• Seats run from 1 to 3 years, including a project attorney role open to remote work, up to 4 to 6 years for associate roles.

Breach and privacy litigation

• You've defended data breach class actions: standing fights at the motion to dismiss stage, MDLs, settlement structures.
• Tracking pixel, wiretap or biometric privacy claims on your résumé will get noticed.
• Associate seats want 5+ years. There's a counsel seat for 12+.

Privacy advisory and transactional

• You've run privacy diligence on M&A deals and negotiated DPAs, vendor contracts and cross border transfers.
• You know the state privacy laws, HIPAA, GLBA and the NYDFS cybersecurity rules well enough to advise without a script.
• AI governance work is a plus.
• Looking for 4+ years of real privacy work. Senior roles want 5+.

What gets you through the door

• A JD and an active bar admission. North Carolina admission helps. Some firms will consider other admissions.
• Law firm experience in one of the lanes above. Government, regulator or in house cyber experience also counts for some seats.
• You write clearly when everyone else is panicking.

What gets you a better offer

• CIPP/US, CIPM or similar certifications.
• Technical fluency. You can read a forensic report without needing a translator.
• Financial services experience. Charlotte is a banking town, and regulated clients tend to show up in this work.
• Relationships with cyber insurers or breach panels. Carriers send a lot of incident response work to panel counsel, so this is worth real money.

The numbers

• The range is wide because these firms are hiring across levels. Project attorney seats start around $150,000. Senior associate and counsel seats go up to $350,000.
• Hybrid or remote is a real choice at several of these firms, not something you earn after two years.
• You choose the platform: a national cyber practice or a firm with deep Charlotte roots.

How I'll work with you

• One call. Tell me your lane and what you want next.
• I'll tell you which of these firms fits you and which doesn't.
• Nothing goes to any firm without your say so. Fully confidential.

Rather talk it through before you send anything? Call me, Clark Pollins at Distinct Recruitment, on View phone number on click.appcast.io. You'll also find me on LinkedIn at