how to become a compliance attorney

by Cydney Bauch Sr. 7 min read

  • Bachelor's degree in legal studies, business administration, or a related field
  • Significant experience in compliance and regulatory-related positions
  • Experience leading teams
  • Comprehensive knowledge of relevant regulatory agencies, developments, and key figures
  • Ability to support larger company strategic initiatives through compliance

Full Answer

How to become a compliance officer in the USA?

Qualifications to become a compliance attorney or chief compliance officer (CCO) are a bachelor’s degree and experience in a specific regulated area, such as the financial sector or health care. Large corporations may require a compliance certification in their industry.

What can you do with a degree in compliance?

Compliance also allows lawyers to marry their legal skills with other interests and strengths, like a passion for health care. Add in the good work-life balance, solid salaries, and other benefits, and it’s no wonder compliance is becoming a hot legal …

What are the requirements to get a compliance certification?

How to Become a Compliance Attorney. Qualifications to become a compliance attorney or chief compliance officer (CCO) are a bachelor’s degree and experience in a specific regulated area, such as the financial sector or health care. Large corporations may require a compliance certification in their industry. Some people in this career begin as corporate lawyers or in a …

What is a Certified Compliance&Ethics Professional?

Earn your master’s in compliance online from Fordham Law and explore how compliance law directly impacts your organization. Complete in as few as 12 months; GRE, GMAT, and LSAT scores not required to apply; Professionals who have …

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What qualifications do I need to work in compliance?

Typically, a bachelor's degree is the bare minimum education a compliance officer must have. There is no specific compliance officer degree. In many cases, people looking to pursue a compliance officer career will earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, finance or business.

How do I become a legal compliance officer?

To be hired as a Compliance Management Officer, often a minimum of five years experience will be needed. Salaries will increase as Compliance Officers move up to become Compliance Managers and by developing skills such as internal auditing, regulatory compliance and risk control, and anti-money laundering.Aug 21, 2017

Does a compliance officer need to be a lawyer?

So a compliance officer doesn't necessarily need to be a lawyer, able to investigate allegations of misconduct personally. He or she only needs the good judgment to know when to hand off a misconduct matter to the lawyers (either internally to the legal department, or externally to outside counsel).Sep 5, 2019

How do I start a career in compliance?

Degrees in engineering, law, and chemistry – along with economics, finance, and management – are great assets on a compliance resume. Those in the financial sector might need to carry securities licenses (more on that, below); professional certifications in a relevant field are also good choices.

What is the best compliance qualification?

Of course the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) tops the popularity stakes along with the CPA (certified public accountant) and MA or MS in finance. However there are other options. The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) offers a diploma in Investment Compliance.Sep 27, 2018

Is compliance a good job?

Compliance Officers rank #17 in Best Business Jobs. Jobs are ranked according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors. Read more about how we rank the best jobs.

What is compliance level?

Compliance levels indicate the degree of compliance that your organization has achieved for a program or a requirement. For example, you could define levels of 0-Lowest, 1- Very Low, 2-Low, 3-Medium Low, and so on.

What is a career in compliance?

Compliance Professionals ensure management and personnel are complying with the company's policies and procedures, as well as applicable laws and regulations. A strong compliance program is an essential component in identifying and mitigating the risk of fraud.

How do I become a compliance analyst?

A bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or any related field that's relevant in the industry. A master's degree is a preference and not a necessity. At least two to five years of experience in compliance auditing, compliance analysis, or as a compliance officer is needed.Oct 28, 2020

Is compliance a boring job?

Working in compliance can be boring In fact, working in compliance is not that exciting since you mainly have to deal with boring legal stuff and if you are not the type of person who is really keen on working on those topics, chances are that you will lose motivation pretty soon.

How do I get compliance with no experience?

A great route for people with little experience is by working with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence controls, experts say. Banks often hire for these roles on a temporary basis, said Owen, giving prospective compliance employees an opportunity for exposure.Oct 1, 2014

How hard is the Crcm exam?

While it is not very difficult to obtain ongoing compliance education, the continuing education requirement for the CRCM is fairly demanding as the certification requires sixty (60) continuing education credits to be obtained every three years.Apr 8, 2019

Can a lawyer become a compliance officer?

Lawyers can make excellent compliance officers. However, a compliance officer does not have to be a lawyer. In the end, a compliance officer has to be intelligent, hard working, and most importantly, has to possess integrity and strong interpersonal skills.Aug 29, 2017

Is compliance a good career?

Compliance is an occupation with a lot of career advancement potential. It often covers interesting work with an important objective to protect the organization from within. Salary levels are also attractive compared to Operations, Risk and administrative Legal positions.Mar 10, 2020

What does a legal compliance officer do?

As a compliance officer, you're responsible for ensuring a company complies with its outside regulatory requirements and internal policies. In short, you're responsible for making sure that your employer plays by the rules.

What does an ethics and compliance attorney do?

A compliance attorney, or corporate compliance officer (CCO), oversees ethics and regulatory compliance policies for an organization. Their responsibility is to make sure a company and its employees follow industry standards as well as state and federal law.

How do I start a career in compliance?

Degrees in engineering, law, and chemistry – along with economics, finance, and management – are great assets on a compliance resume. Those in the financial sector might need to carry securities licenses (more on that, below); professional certifications in a relevant field are also good choices.

What is compliance level?

Compliance levels indicate the degree of compliance that your organization has achieved for a program or a requirement. For example, you could define levels of 0-Lowest, 1- Very Low, 2-Low, 3-Medium Low, and so on.

Is compliance well paid?

THIS could this be the best-paid job you have never heard of. Research by recruiter Randstad reveals salaries in the compliance sector rose 11 per cent this year, compared to the nationwide average of 3.8 per cent.Dec 13, 2019

Is compliance a tough job?

Working in compliance is not that stressful You will also not have that much stress as a compliance officer. Sure, sometimes you will have to deal with really annoying colleagues and will have to explain to them how they should implement certain rules and regulations for quite a long time.

Are compliance jobs in demand?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.2 percent employment growth for compliance officers between 2020 and 2030. In that period, an estimated 21,600 jobs should open up.

What qualifications do I need to work in compliance?

Typically, a bachelor's degree is the bare minimum education a compliance officer must have. There is no specific compliance officer degree. In many cases, people looking to pursue a compliance officer career will earn a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, finance or business.

Does a compliance officer need to be a lawyer?

So a compliance officer doesn't necessarily need to be a lawyer, able to investigate allegations of misconduct personally. He or she only needs the good judgment to know when to hand off a misconduct matter to the lawyers (either internally to the legal department, or externally to outside counsel).Sep 5, 2019

How do I become a good compliance officer?

Ethical and principled: These are the single most important qualities of a compliance manager. Fair and modest: Willing to scrutinize all the facts without making a snap judgment and interview any relevant employees for their perspective. Proactive: A honed alertness and vigilance to potential breaches in compliance.

Is compliance part of legal?

Compliance is a management, not a legal function.”12 Another way to view the distinction is that legal assists in defining and establishing the appropriate company standards, while compliance supports in implementing and monitor- ing those processes that ensure the estab- lished standards are being met.

What is the difference between compliance and legal?

Legal counsel is primarily in charge of contract drafting, negotiation, and review; compliance handles violations of the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, or other wrongdoing by those employed or engaged by the organization.

What is a corporate compliance?

Corporate compliance covers both internal policies and procedures, as well as federal and state laws. Enforcing compliance helps your company prevent and detect violations of rules, which protects your organization from fines and lawsuits.Dec 22, 2020

Healthcare Compliance Certifications

  • If you work or wish to work in healthcare as a compliance professional, it’s important to consider obtaining a healthcare compliance certification for several reasons. Healthcare is a complicated industry that is often high-risk. Obtaining a healthcare compliance certification may help you to mitigate risks. Plus, employing someone who is certified in healthcare compliance may be benef…
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Corporate Compliance Certifications

  • The corporate world is dynamic, changes rapidly, and could be high-risk. Therefore, compliance professionals are important members of corporate organizations. Obtaining certification in corporate compliance may not only help ensure your organization is meeting compliance standards, but it may also help you stand out in your field and may lead to rewarding job opportu…
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Compliance Certifications in Banking, It, and Privacy

  • The fields of banking, IT, and privacy represent high-stakes environments where compliance is important. Obtaining a certification in banking, IT, or privacy compliance may help your organization mitigate risks and more effectively implement compliance practices. Obtaining these certifications may also help you stand out to employers due to the added level of knowledge an…
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Frequently Asked Questions About Compliance Certifications

  • There are a variety of factors you should consider if you want to pursue a compliance certification. Whether you are interested in a healthcare compliance certification or one in corporate compliance, there are key facts you should be aware of. The following section will answer some common questions related to compliance certifications. Compliance certification…
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Job Description

  • The compliance officer or manager positions are available in a myriad of industries, but job duties and responsibilities of individuals who hold a compliance officer position are similar. The primary duty of any compliance officer is to ensure a company is being run legally and ethically, complying with all applicable industry regulations. This job duty begins with an in-depth analys
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Compliance and Ethical Procedures

  • Compliance officers also share information regarding compliant behavior and ethical procedureswith management, employees, and C-suite executives. In industries where regulatory burdens are high, compliance officers spend a substantial portion of their time developing, improving, and distributing compliance programs to company employees.
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Compliance and Risk Management

  • Individuals who hold compliance officer positions are also responsible for reviewing the current and prospective risk a business enterprise faces. The information regarding business- or industry-specific risks is passed along to high-level executives to establish internal controls to minimize exposure. A compliance officer must continually review the risks that face the organization alon…
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Skills and Qualifications

  • Generally speaking, all compliance workers need analytical, investigative, and decision-making skills. For obvious reasons, it's best if the officer has some experience working in whichever industry he intends to serve in a compliance capacity. No two compliance officers face the same challenges, and the nature of the job is such that every officer becomes a perpetual student: Reg…
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Salary Ranges

  • According to BLS 2019 statistics, the latest available as of this writing, annual salaries for compliance professions range from $38,920 to $109,950, and hourly wages from $18.71 to $52.86. A lower-income earner in a compliance officer position is more likely to have minimal past work experience or hold a degree not directly related to the industry in which he works. 2 A wo…
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Career Paths

  • There are compliance jobs in almost every field, which can make it a difficult career path to prepare for. For example, a compliance officer working at HSBC or Wells Fargo has very different responsibilities and educational requirements than a compliance officer working for Dow Chemical or Exxon Mobil. An aspiring compliance professional should identify those industries f…
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Public Sector Compliance Careers

  • According to the BLS, the top three employers of compliance officers are the federal government, state governments, and local governments. In fact, local governments (those with OES designations) employ more compliance officers (28,820 as of 2019) than private companies (19,360) albeit at lower pay.2 Even though state and local public sector compliance jobs gener…
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What Is Financial Compliance?

  • Before drilling down into how to become a financial firm's compliance officer or a member of a compliance team, it is important first to understand what that job entails. To be clear, the duties of compliance personnel vary by firm and job description; however, the following are tasks that are typically accomplished by compliance departments: 1. Ensuring that the company adheres to mi…
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Financial Industry Compliance Careers

  • As mentioned above, the financial industry is a ripe field for those interested in a compliance-related career. The compliance department of a bank, brokerage or investment management firm works to ensure that all of the employees and officers comply not only with Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) regulations but also Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA…
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Training Requirements

  • A position as a compliance officer or manager is not typically deemed as entry-level employment. Bachelor's degrees are usually a minimum requirement, and some employers may look for advanced degrees, like a law degree or a master's degree in business administration(MBA), especially to qualify for a higher-level position. Compliance officers in other sectors have the op…
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