The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Westin Scholar Award was presented this year to Ilana Blumenthal ’22.
The award was created in 2020 as a way to “support students who are identified by their professors as future leaders in the field of privacy or data protection,” according to the IAPP.
Each year, participating law schools select one of their students for the award, which includes a $1,000 prize, two years of membership with the IAPP, and access to IAPP virtual training and certifications, among other perks.
Blumenthal said that she was “very excited” to hear that she had been selected for the award. “It’s great to be part of a community that is interested in what I’m interested in, especially as someone who is entering the workforce,” she said. “I also have the opportunity to do certifications, which are so useful in terms of continuing my education and making sure that I’m keeping abreast of such a changing field.”
The changing nature of the field was partly what appealed to her about privacy law, said Blumenthal. In the summer before her 1L year she worked as an intern in the Privacy Office of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, where she “fell in love with privacy law,” she said, and enjoyed working in an environment where she “would constantly be learning.”
It also allowed her the opportunity to combine her interest in technology with her legal studies.
Blumenthal has a background in computer science and knew that she wanted to remain in the technology space but wasn’t sure what form that would take. Once at Fordham Law, she had the chance to take courses on the legal implications of blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, computer crimes, and information privacy, as well as a particularly inspiring course, Technological Change and the Law, taught by Professors Olivier Sylvain and Ron Lazebnik, she said.
Blumenthal also participated in the Law School’s Center on Law and Information Policy Decennial Fellows Program and was a board member for The Information Law Society and The Blockchain Law Society.
As a recent graduate, Blumenthal says she hopes to pursue a career in the tech sector, working in either privacy or cybersecurity. Her technology background is sure to be a valuable asset in a space that combines the legal complexities of privacy law with highly technical programming and computer skills. “I am a lawyer, but before I can do what I need to do, I need to know what’s going on, which is true of any legal proceeding … you need to situate yourself before you can do [the legal work required],” Blumenthal said.
IAPP president and CEO J. Trevor Hughes extended congratulations to Blumenthal, and also highlighted the changing nature of the privacy law field. “The industry of privacy is fast growing and constantly evolving. We’ve created this award as a way to put the privacy profession at the forefront of students’ minds as they explore potential career opportunities,” said Hughes. “We look forward to seeing the good work [Blumenthal] will bring to the field of privacy.”