This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aurora Bryant, 40, senior legal data intelligence lead at Relativity in New York. Her prior and current roles have been verified by Business Insider. This piece has been edited for length and clarity. Aurora never anticipated her career would unfold as it has. Inspired by late-night readings of John Grisham novels in fifth grade, she was drawn to the concept of justice and set her sights on becoming a lawyer. She remained committed, attended law school, and spent 15 years practicing law, including a decade at the US Department of Justice (DOJ). At 40, she no longer practices law but leads legal data intelligence at Relativity, applying AI to solve complex legal problems. Although the shift to AI was both daunting and thrilling, she is grateful for the transition. Aurora’s dream job was working as a trial attorney at the DOJ. She studied economics at Tulane University while clerking at a law firm, then earned her law degree from Northwestern University in 2010. After working over a year at a New Orleans law firm and a nonprofit, she joined a civil rights organization in 2011, litigating housing and lending discrimination cases in Louisiana. In 2015, she realized her dream by joining the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D. C. , where she worked for over ten years. Unlike previous roles, her work impacted people nationwide, especially by aiding victims of unlawful discrimination, which she found fulfilling.

However, limited resources and outdated technology at the DOJ often caused inefficiencies, sparking her interest in legal tech innovation. Three years ago, Aurora knew little about AI beyond worrying headlines about fake legal briefs. As a trial attorney, she engaged with DOJ groups focused on eDiscovery—the electronic collection and review of legal evidence—and attended relevant conferences starting in 2018, observing AI’s growing legal applications. In 2023, she switched to an eLitigation Counsel position within the DOJ, developing templates and best practices to improve eDiscovery in the Civil Rights Division. Still frustrated by technological constraints, she realized her future lay beyond the DOJ and began exploring new opportunities. In mid-2025, she accepted a role at Relativity, fully immersing herself in legal technology. Aurora believes that just as computers became essential tools two decades ago, AI will soon be crucial for legal professionals. At Relativity, she collaborates with data scientists, engineers, product leaders, designers, and clients to create generative AI solutions tailored to attorneys’ needs. She continues to learn daily, even writing some code recently. Her journey has taught her the importance of understanding one’s goals, passions, and unique contributions before choosing a path. Drawing on 15 years of legal experience, she helps optimize products that enhance investigations and litigation. She finds bringing innovative tools to civil rights case teams more sustainable and rewarding than constant courtroom adversarial work. Though initially intimidating, her career pivot was empowering, allowing her to embrace innovation fully. Aurora emphasizes stepping outside comfort zones, acknowledging lawyers’ natural risk aversion but framing change not as risk, but an exciting chance to develop new expertise. The unpredictability of her current role excites her, and she eagerly embraces ongoing learning—whether coding more or exploring new challenges—looking forward to what the future holds.