Julie Rooney, a member of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Deputy General Counsel & Head of U.S. Privacy at OpenX, became a lawyer because she views the legal profession as the perfect way to make ethics and philosophy practical and applicable to the real world. A former philosophy major, Rooney is particularly fascinated by privacy law and the ethical questions it raises. “I’ve always loved learning about various topics in depth,” Rooney explains. “I like problems and topics that are nuanced and require thoughtful, complex conversations. That’s why I love privacy work.”
Rooney lives in upstate New York with her wife and their beloved dog, Zelda. She earned her J.D. at Vanderbilt University Law School before joining Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as a Litigation Associate in 2018. In May 2021, she moved to OpenX, a programmatic advertising technology company. Initially serving as Legal Director (U.S.), Rooney became Deputy General Counsel & Head of U.S. Privacy in 2022. “I went in-house earlier than most people do,” Rooney explains. “But I was doing a lot of crossover corporate work alongside privacy compliance and general litigation at my former firm. A special opportunity presented itself and I made the career change.” The move from firm to in-house went very well for Rooney, who loves her current position and company. Much of her work now includes contracts, auditing, privacy compliance, and general legal advice, meaning Rooney has the joy of delving into the complicated and nuanced conversations that made her so interested in law as an undergraduate student. “Privacy is a very quickly evolving space,” Rooney says. “The ethics, norms, and legal standards that govern it are evolving or just being created right now, which I find fascinating.” In other words, she loves her job.
While working in-house has been a great fit for Rooney in most ways, she does miss the opportunities to connect with other LGBTQ+ attorneys that working in a large law firm provided. “My company, and particularly my legal team, are quite small relative to a big firm, which means I don’t have a large affinity group in my current position,” she explains. “I also did a lot of pro bono work in my prior position and wanted to stay connected to folks who would know about opportunities to continue offering my services there.” Her desire to build and maintain a strong network of other LGBTQ+ attorneys after leaving Big Law inspired her to become more involved with the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. After becoming a member, Rooney joined the LGBTQ+ Bar’s Membership Committee and New Lawyers Division, two volunteer groups that promote membership and engagement with the LGBTQ+ Bar, particularly amongst the newest members of the profession. “Becoming more engaged and involved with the Bar has been such a great experience for me,” Rooney says. “I love seeing membership grow and the progress that is being made by members of the New Lawyers Division. It is really an honor!”
Rooney’s favorite aspect of National LGBTQ+ Bar membership is the opportunity for networking, both at the Bar’s Annual Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair and at year-round events. “It is easy to forget about or ignore networking opportunities,” Rooney says. “But by being so involved with the LGBTQ+ Bar, I’m more engaged than ever. It’s made such a difference.” Last year, she had the opportunity to plan events for Lavender Law® and to speak on two panels, including one from the New Lawyers’ Division titled, “Real Advice About Finding and Living Your Professional Truth.” The planning work and execution of those events are a highlight of Rooney’s membership and involvement with the Bar. “Lavender Law® in general is just such a wonderful part of the LGBTQ+ Bar’s work,” Rooney continues. “Conversations are just easy there.” She loves that the conference provides a unique space where LGBTQ+ attorneys from across the country have the opportunity to connect and collaborate. “There is something so special about being surrounded by so many other other ‘out’ attorneys. It is only in a space like that when you realize how much you have to hold back in other spaces or how much you carry as an LGBTQ+ professional. It is very refreshing to be around other LGBTQ+ attorneys.”
Aside from Lavender Law®, Rooney sees LGBTQ+ Bar membership as a source of ongoing support during uncertain times. “It is invaluable to me to have and keep connections with other ‘out’ lawyers. I love the camaraderie and opportunities that that brings,” Rooney says. She believes that the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association is more important now than ever, as the LGBTQ+ community is forced to renew our efforts to protect and advance our hard won rights. “It matters that we can connect with one another, both for support and to help move LGBTQ+ people into positions that matter,” Rooney continues. The LGBTQ+ Bar provides LGBTQ+ legal professionals and law students across the country with a community to lean on for support, advice, and professional success. That network is becoming increasingly important in states where LGBTQ+ rights, particularly transgender rights, are under attack. “To me, the LGBTQ+ Bar is all about connection. That ability to connect at a national level ensures that nobody feels alone.”
The LGBTQ+ Bar is proud to count Julie Rooney amongst our membership, and we thank her for her service on the Membership Committee and the New Lawyers Division. To learn more about how you can get more involved in the work of the LGBTQ+ Bar, email info@lgbtqbar.org.