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The Lawyer Who Codes: Why Kirk Sigmon chose Dartmouth Engineering
Kirk Sigmon isn’t your typical lawyer. As a partner and intellectual property attorney specializing in AI law, he constantly seeks to expand his knowledge in the rapidly evolving world of technology. But unlike many in his field, Kirk has taken a hands-on approach to truly understand the engineering behind the AI he works with every day. To do this, Kirk enrolled in the online Master’s of Engineering in Computer Engineering (MEng-CE) at Dartmouth, a program he describes as one that will, “pay off a bazillion times over” in his professional career.
A non-linear path to expertise
Kirk’s educational and career path speaks volumes to his passion for upskilling. He began with an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Japanese, followed by law school at Cornell. Early in his career, he moved to Japan, where he worked as a self-taught programmer before fully transitioning to intellectual property law.
Recognizing the limitations of his self-taught engineering knowledge, Kirk returned to school for a BS in Electrical Engineering at Arizona State University, and later earned an MBA from Temple University, all while maintaining his professional career.
“This electrical engineering degree entitled me to the patent bar,” he shares. “So I could become a patent lawyer like I am now. But as I got more senior, I realized I wanted to learn even more about AI.”
AI prevalence within law
When most people think of the legal industry, it’s not immediately apparent that AI is a major player. But in the world of IP law, Kirk is constantly working with clients who are asking him questions about data privacy ramifications and how they can protect their IP related to AI.
“My clients ask me these questions, and next thing you know, I’m looking into things like ‘How reversible is this machine learning model?’”
And while we’re not yet in the realm of AI committing crimes, Kirk is focused on exciting projects related to the AI components of things like self-driving cars or machine learning models that help to make businesses better. For these applications of his work, he was looking to take his existing engineering and self-taught programming experience a step further.
“We’re not quite at the, you know, robots are taking over the world AI situation yet, so until then, I am specializing in the actual nuts and bolts.”
Why another degree? And why Dartmouth?
Kirk discovered Dartmouth’s online Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering program while researching AI and completing courses on Coursera.
“The nature of IP law is such that we are constantly looking for ways to improve our engineering skills and improve our knowledge of what’s out there. I actually had already completed an IBM certificate on Coursera, and when I saw the Dartmouth program, I thought, ‘Oh, this is definitely something that would help me immensely.’”
The curriculum, which combines machine learning, deep learning, FPGA courses, and embedded systems, offered the exact blend of skills he needed.
“The program was comprehensive and touched on areas that were immediately useful for my work,” he says. “It was the perfect combination of AI knowledge and engineering fundamentals, and that’s really where the rubber hits the road.”
He noted that his work often brings him to rooms filled with engineering professionals, and he was eager to be as literate and capable in their fields as he could be. Knowing that Dartmouth had an excellent reputation and the online modality would fit his already busy life, the MEng was a perfect fit.
“I had heard nothing but good things, both about the school and their engineering department. Actually, one of the engineers I work with the closest is a graduate of Dartmouth Engineering. It was an easy decision.”
Applying learning in real time
Even while completing the program, Kirk is already seeing tangible benefits in his professional life. He works with autonomous vehicle companies, where his coursework in machine vision allows him to speak intelligently with engineers about cutting-edge technology.
“Most attorneys trying to present themselves as specialists in AI have never programmed anything in their life,” he says. “But having done the coding myself opens doors and gives me credibility.”
Kirk also integrates real-world legal scenarios into his coursework. One project he’s developing involves using language models to explore copyright boundaries, a proof of concept that ties directly into ongoing cases in AI law.
“The transferability of skills has been fantastic. It’s honestly all been immediately relevant to my career. I can speak more intelligently about the latest and greatest in technology, and that’s good for us, because it means that I can intelligently walk into a room full of engineers who have spent their entire lives working on this, and at least be somewhat functional.”
An engaging online experience
Despite being fully online, Dartmouth’s program provides a sense of community and engagement that Kirk finds invaluable. He highlights educators like Professor Chin (machine learning) and Professor Farnham (FPGAs and machine vision), who make significant efforts to ensure students feel connected and supported.
“The professors actually care. They know us by name, they know our work, and it feels like we’re actively part of the program,” Kirk says. “Even though the modality has changed, the experience is essentially the same.”
Kirk’s cohort is small at roughly 20 people, allowing for a more personalized and intimate experience compared to larger programs. And with hands-on courses that send kits directly to students’ doorsteps, the learning goes beyond theory to practical application.
He is excited about an upcoming visit to the campus and continues leaning into the Dartmouth community.
“As an online student, it doesn’t ever feel as if we are these, for lack of a better term, second-class citizens. We’re actively part of the program, and you can tell the professors are really passionate. And I want to be part of that, I want to genuinely engage.”
Finding a niche in his work
After an anticipated graduation in Spring 2026, Kirk will have five total degrees under his belt, an accomplishment that shows his determination and commitment to self-improvement. With the range of skillsets these credentials provide, Kirk has settled nicely into a professional niche that is serving him and his firm very well.
“Most attorneys aren’t versed in AI. Many have just read the Wikipedia summary, and they’ll go out there and hypothesize about AI taking over the world. However, many doors have been opened to me because I’ve actually done the coding, I know what I’m talking about, and I can prove it. My experience from Dartmouth is already paying dividends.”
Advice for prospective applicants
Kirk certainly doesn’t make light of the workload or difficulty of the coursework. The rigorous curriculum and prestige of the university are two things he recognizes aren’t for everyone. However, the self-pride in his progress is palpable.
“I’m very pleased by the coursework, and it’s something that I enjoy, for lack of a better term, bragging about. Because it allows me to show, like, look, ‘this is not something that I’m just doing for a feather in my hat, this is not the standard nighttime course where they give me a bunch of A’s and send me home. This is real, hard coursework.’ And I’m very proud that I’ve done very well in it.”
His advice for future Dartmouth students? Brush up on the basics.
“The best prep you can do is something Coursera already offers, which is sort of a lead-up program. The C Programming with Linux Specialization is a couple-week course where you’re getting yourself back up to speed. And the critical aspect of that is, it is a good tester to say, ‘Hey, how realistic can it be for me to sit down and spend 20-30 hours a week learning, watching videos, getting back up to speed, and still work, and have a family, and have friends.”
Lifelong learning in action
Currently based in Washington, D.C., Kirk plans to visit Dartmouth’s campus in the fall to engage further with the community and see the engineering department firsthand. But even from afar, he is already reaping the rewards of the program, applying new skills to both his legal practice and lecturing engagements around the world.
“Being able to understand AI at a technical level isn’t just interesting, it’s immediately relevant to my work and gives me authority in a space where most lawyers have none,” he says.
Kirk Sigmon’s journey is a reminder that education and expertise don’t always follow a straight line. By combining law, engineering, and AI, he has carved out a niche that allows him to influence both the technology and legal landscapes, proving that with curiosity and dedication, the boundaries between disciplines can be bridged and championed.
From Educator to Online Learner: Chuck’s Learning Journey with the Pitt MDS
For more than two decades, Charles “Chuck” Allias built his career in emergency medical services (EMS). As an educator and program director, he trained the next generation of paramedics and EMTs, designing programs that met national standards, coaching students through tough exams, and finding new ways to boost their success rates.
Data was always part of the job. Chuck would analyze test scores to predict who might excel, identify areas where students needed support, and use insights to improve outcomes. How’d he do? Quite simply, his approach worked, and he improved his program’s pass rate by 20%. Still, despite using data in practice, he had never studied it formally. His background was in health and physical education, with a master’s in exercise science.
So when Chuck enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s Master of Data Science (MDS) degree program, it initially felt like “learning a foreign language”. But with support and persistence, he quickly found his footing, and now, just over a year later, he’s thriving in the program and nearing graduation.
Jumping back into the classroom
“It wasn’t easy for me to jump into data science,” Chuck admits. “I’ve been on the other side of the classroom for years, so being a student again, especially in a field where I didn’t have much prior experience, was eye-opening.”
Pitt’s performance-based admissions made the transition approachable, but Chuck still had to adjust. Summer sessions were accelerated, and online learning required a different kind of discipline. “At first, not having that face-to-face interaction was daunting. But the group office hours and the support from peers really helped. The Slack community has been forgiving, collaborative, and encouraging, especially for those of us in this first online cohort.”
Balancing full-time work, family, and grad school
On top of his coursework, Chuck works full-time, is married, and has two kids, one in college and one about to graduate high school. “Juggling everything and adding school wasn’t easy,” he says. “But I have a great support system. I set aside evenings and weekends to study, and what makes it manageable is that on Coursera, you can see the curriculum a few weeks ahead. That helps me plan around work and family commitments.”
He takes six credits most semesters, but pushed to nine this fall so he can finish faster. By the end of this year, Chuck will have completed all 30 credits of the program in just over a year.
Real-world impact, right away
Even before finishing, Chuck is already applying what he’s learning. He’s built dashboards at work, used new tools to analyze student success rates, and explored how AI could shape the future of medical education.
“As an educator, you can’t stay stagnant,” Chuck explains. “If I taught the way I did 20 years ago, my students wouldn’t have what they need to succeed today. The same is true in data science; everything is a moving target. You have to constantly better yourself.”
Why Pitt’s MDS was the right fit
For Chuck, the decision came down to three things: flexibility, affordability, and reputation.
- Flexibility: Fully online, with the ability to balance courses alongside a demanding job and family life.
- Affordability: A pay-as-you-go tuition structure that made the degree accessible without a financial burden.
- Reputation: “Having a degree from Pitt carries weight,” he says. “It’s a recognized university, and that matters.”
Looking ahead
With just nine credits to go, Chuck can see the finish line. He’s excited to attend Pitt’s in-person graduation and is already considering how to leverage his degree, whether by advancing further in higher education leadership or exploring new career paths in data and analytics.
“This program has opened the door to new possibilities,” Chuck says. “I’ve always been interested in computers and data analytics, and now I have the skills to pursue those goals. With AI becoming more central to everything we do, you need to understand how it works. This degree gives me that foundation.”
His advice for future students? Stay the course. “You’re going to hit challenges, especially if you’re new to data science like I was. But it’s worth it. Be adaptable, lean on the resources Pitt provides, and trust that you can succeed, even if you’ve been out of the classroom for years.”
Whether you’re like Chuck, coming from a non-technical background, or already working with data, Pitt’s online Master of Data Science is designed to fit into your life and expand your career opportunities. Explore the full degree program today!
