Syracuse University College of Law alumni are putting their legal training to work at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various industries, combining law with other expertise to drive real impact.
Melissa Vierling L’07
Assistant General Counsel, Technology Contracts, IP, and AI Attorney, Primerica, Inc.; Co-founder AI Governance Collective (AIGC); Speaker on Legal AI
It took more than 20 years for Melissa Vierling’s L’07 undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and her Syracuse Law degree to come together. But “the day I was told I would be the legal advisor for AI at my company was truly rewarding,” she says.
She began her career at Lockheed Martin, a global aerospace, defense, and security company, working as a senior technical program manager and systems engineer. While at Lockheed, she enrolled part-time at Syracuse Law, which offered a certificate in technological commercialization & management that aligned with her interests in IP, technology, and program management.
Three years ago, she started at Primerica, Inc., and became assistant general counsel for the legal technology group. In this role, she focuses on technology transactions, intellectual property, and AI governance, as well as evaluating technology and AI tools, and helping implement corporate policies. As an AI lawyer—a relatively new role in law—she works closely with information technology and cybersecurity teams advising on the adoption and use of AI and helps develop internal training on responsible AI use.
“My career in technology and program management taught me to understand the system, anticipate risks, and solve complex problems. I bring that same mindset to law. Defense systems are high-stakes, but safeguarding people’s information and privacy carries its own important responsibility,” she says.
Advice to law students: “You don’t need to become an ‘AI lawyer’ to work with AI. It touches so many areas of law. Lawyers should know how to use AI tools, understand how AI tools manage data, and have knowledge of its risks, especially around bias and privacy. Think about what excites you, and do what makes you happy. AI will almost certainly be part of it.”