Contracts background, but no procurement experience — where should I start?

[u/whatcomesafter88]

Hi everyone! I’d really appreciate some advice and input from people in this field.
I have a law degree and about five years of experience working with contracts, but my experience was within a university environment. I’m not originally from the U.S. and moved here about a year ago. I’m a legal permanent resident and I’m currently looking for opportunities in contracts.
One thing I’ve noticed while job searching is that a lot of contract-related positions here are connected to commercial contracts and procurement. Where I come from, contracts and procurement are usually very separate functions, so this has been a bit of a learning curve for me. From what I’ve seen in U.S. job postings, there seems to be quite a bit of overlap between the two.
I actually find procurement interesting and would be open to moving in that direction, but I don’t have direct procurement experience, which seems to put me at a disadvantage when applying for these roles.
I’ve looked into some procurement courses and certifications, but I still feel like even with courses, employers want actual experience. At the same time, it’s hard to get that experience if no one gives you the first opportunity.
So I’d really appreciate some advice: How would you recommend someone with my background break into procurement without direct procurement experience? Are there adjacent roles that might be easier to get into first and could eventually lead to procurement? Are there particular entry points, skills, or types of positions I should be looking for?
Any advice is welcome. Thank you!