From Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance Pryor

Terrance Pryor shares his inspiring journey from a career in IT at General Motors to transitioning into the legal field, all while pursuing his law degree part-time. Through his determination and strategic planning, Terrance navigated through various roles in data privacy and DevOps, showcasing his ability to adapt and excel in different areas of expertise. Join us as Terrance reflects on his experiences and the pivotal moments that shaped his career path.

LISTEN TO LEARN

  • The importance of being open to new opportunities and being proactive in pursuing them.
  • The significance of setting intentions and working towards specific goals, even if the path may not be straightforward.
  • The benefits of exploring different areas of interest and being open to unexpected career opportunities.

WE ALSO DISCUSS

  • The journey of transitioning from a career in IT to a legal role, including the challenges and successes along the way.
  • The intersection of IT and law, particularly in areas like data privacy and legal analytics.
  • The role of networking and building rapport with professionals in different fields to facilitate career transitions.

Want to start a podcast?

Save time and create faster with KD Creative. KD Creative offers done-for-you podcasting services by launching podcasts for small business owners and editing podcasts for existing podcasters. 

If you’re ready to get your content in the ears of your ideal customers, start working with KD Creative. Visit skiptheboringstuff.com to hire a podcast coach.

From Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance Pryor

<iframe width="100%" height="180" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/5f95d9f0"></iframe>

From Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance PryorFrom Intern to Data Privacy Counsel featuring Terrance Pryor

About This Episode

Terrance Pryor’s Background

Terrance Pryor, a driven and determined individual, has navigated a unique and inspiring career path that showcases his adaptability and perseverance. Starting his journey with a background in IT at General Motors, Terrance later pursued a law degree while working full-time, demonstrating his commitment to personal and professional growth. His transition from IT to law was not a conventional one, but Terrance's strategic approach and willingness to explore new opportunities led him to discover the intersection of law and technology, particularly in the field of data privacy. 

"I kind of don't want to gloss over that period of, you know, I'm done playing football to let me go get a job. That really was a tough period. That was a really, really tough period in my life because... I really built an identity and kind of laid out this vision for what I thought my life was going to be based off of that sport," shares Terrance Pryor on You Are A Lawyer.

In his pursuit of knowledge and growth, Terrance delved into electives in data privacy and legal analytics during law school, recognizing the potential for innovation and advancement in the merging fields of law and technology. His proactive approach to seeking out opportunities and his ability to adapt to new challenges have been key factors in his professional development. Terrance's story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and determination in carving out a successful career path that aligns with his passions and aspirations.

Why Law School

Terrance chose to pursue law school as a means to merge his passion for sports with his growing interest in the intersection of law and technology. Initially working in IT at General Motors, Terrance saw the potential for a unique career path that combined his technical skills with legal expertise.

"I kind of wanted to see maybe be a sports agent or something along those lines right or to kind of be a just a sports attorney. So that's kind of why I started to go into law school. And then I just needed a job when I started at General Motors and IT in January of 2015," reflects Terrance Pryor on Episode 139 of You Are a Lawyer.

As he delved into law school, taking electives in data privacy and legal analytics, Terrance realized the opportunities that lay ahead in the field of law and technology. His decision to enter law school was not just about becoming a sports attorney but about exploring the emerging field of data privacy and cyber law.

What Can You Do with a Law Degree

With a law degree, there are various career paths one can pursue, as demonstrated by Terrance Pryor's journey. From transitioning from IT to legal roles at General Motors to exploring data privacy and legal analytics, a law degree opens up opportunities beyond traditional legal practice. Terrance's experience showcases that a law degree can lead to roles in technology, data privacy, and even sports law.

"I wanted to explore different aspects of myself other than the sport and see how else I can expand," explains Terrance Pryor, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.

Terrance's story emphasizes that with a law degree, individuals can venture into unique and evolving areas such as data privacy, technology, and analytics. As he discovered the intersection of law and IT, he found new opportunities to blend his legal knowledge with technology. This demonstrates that a law degree can provide a foundation for roles that require a combination of legal expertise and technical skills.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Side hustles for lawyers can be a great way to diversify income and explore different interests outside of the legal field. Terrance Pryor's journey from IT to law school and eventually landing a role as in-house counsel at General Motors showcases the potential for lawyers to pursue side businesses in various industries.

“I was always advocating for people. I was always taking up for people who didn't really know how to take up for themselves,” shares Terrance Pryor in Episode 139 of You Are a Lawyer.

Lawyers, like Terrance, demonstrate the importance of having a multifaceted career and exploring different opportunities beyond traditional legal roles. Side businesses can provide lawyers with additional skills, experiences, and financial stability. As Terrance's journey shows, combining legal expertise with other interests can lead to unique career paths and opportunities.

Join the FREE mailing list!

Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer. 

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

Contact Terrance Pryor

Terrance Pryor is licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia.

Learn more about Terrance

Interact with You Are A Lawyer

Kyla Terrancenyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast. 

Follow the podcast:

YouTube: youtube.com/@youarealawyer

Instagram: instagram.com/youarealawyer

Twitter:  twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: youarealawyer.com

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mbNPwyv8fQ4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Recent Episodes

How Executive Coaching Impacts Your Career feat. Laura Terrell

Laura Terrell discusses the importance of challenging our assumptions and the need to advocate for ourselves. Laura earned her master's degree in law school and worked in the public sector before becoming an executive coach and in-house counsel with a non-profit organization. Listen to Episode 103 as Laura explains her career journey and her insights as a lawyer.
Read and listen here

How To Grow Your Law Firm with Informal Networking feat. Brent Nelson

Brent Nelson is an international tax and estate lawyer based in Arizona, specializing in working with high-income international families. What he comically calls “rich people law,” Brent found his niche in tax law during law school and focuses on developing meaningful connections through informal networking and social media.
Read and listen here

How Mindset Impacts the Bar Exam feat. Yohanna Romero Baca

Yohanna Romero Baca, a bar exam coach and former immigration attorney, shares her personal experience of not passing the bar exam and how it inspired her to help others succeed. She discusses her unique approach to bar exam preparation, emphasizing the importance of mindset and effective writing skills. Listen as Yohanna explains how passing the bar exam can open doors to career opportunities.
Read and listen here

How Authenticity Impacts Your Legal Career feat. Bianca Jordan

Bianca Jordan applied to 500 jobs before opening her law firm IN 2014. Now, MANY law firm wants to hire Bianca, but she's found great success helping families and business owners with their immigration paperwork. Bianca has also begun coaching lawyers to become better business owners. Learn about the brazen power of Bianca Jordan on the You Are A Lawyer Podcast.
Read and listen here

How To Stay Motivated in Your Legal Career feat. Luis Scott

Luis Scott, managing partner of Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, an eight-figure law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, shares his journey from growing up in a poor family to becoming a successful lawyer and business owner. He discusses the importance of making a massive contribution to his family and how his firm's commitment to excellence has led to its success. Tune in to hear more about his story and his unique perspective on life.
Read and listen here

How Clerkship Transparency Creates Stronger Lawyers feat. Aliza Shatzman

Aliza Shatzman is a judicial clerkship advocate. After a poor clerkship experience, Aliza created the Legal Accountability Project to bring transparency and accountability to the federal clerkship process. Find out how this pioneer and founder ensures the next generation of clerks is protected from bad judges.
Read and listen here

How To Negotiate Like a Disruptive Lawyer feat. Bill Mitchell

Bill Mitchell is a litigation manager, negotiation coach, and trial disruptor. Known as “Trial Bill,” Bill uses his experiences identifying trial red flags and nuances to teach other lawyers to streamline trials and settlements.
Read and listen here

How To Be an Exceptional Lawyer feat. Marco Brown

Marco Brown earns a lot of money and enjoys being a lawyer. But the truth is, Marco didn’t become an exceptional lawyer until he forced clients to pay for the exceptional work completed by his law firm. In Episode 92, Marco Brown discusses the power of communication and why he uses money to create an exceptional law firm.
Read and listen here

How To Revitalize Your Legal Career with Coaching feat. Whitney Harvey

Whitney wants women lawyers to STAY in the law by considering different practice areas, editing their resumes, and improving their soft skills to create their own success.
Read and listen here

How to Advocate as a Board Membership feat. Samora Legros

Samora Legros sits on the Board of the Max Cadet Foundation, an organization created to celebrate his grandfather, a lawyer, judge, and dentist. Created with a dental clinic based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the Max Cadet Foundation serves children and adults living n Haiti by providing them with better dental care access.
Read and listen here

How To Skip the Boring Stuff in Podcasting feat. Kyla Denanyoh

Ready to clear your to-do list? Skip the boring stuff and stop editing your podcast, uploading content at the last minute, and sitting on content. Work with KD Creative to hire a podcast manager so you can create faster and skip the boring stuff. Visit skiptheboringstuff.com for more details. You’re the talent! Go back to recording and skip the boring stuff.
Read and listen here

How Social Work Impacts the Lawyer Mental Health Crisis feat. Sara Ellis

Sara Ellis, a Lawyers Depression Project board member and social work student, explains why the legal community must create better messaging and more empathy for mental health issues.
Read and listen here

©2025 You Are A Lawyer LLC.
All rights reserved.