how is like to be entertainment lawyer

by Dr. Vella O'Reilly MD 8 min read

One of the key things entertainment lawyers do is examine and negotiate contracts and deals. Most of their day is spent meeting with clients, labels, and other lawyers. They then draft arrangements, land booking agentsor concert deals and deal with a myriad of other agreements.

Full Answer

When should you hire an entertainment lawyer?

The most common reason that an entertainer hires a lawyer is to review, draft, or negotiate a contract. But you might also hire a lawyer if you need to litigate, for example if your producer breaches a contract, or if your manager has stolen money from you.

What is the job description for an entertainment lawyer?

  • #1 thing is network. Meet people in the industry whenever you can. ...
  • Start to think about what you want to do and if being an Entertainment Attorney is really for you. ...
  • Try to learn. There are lots of books and blogs out there, lots of ways to learn about the industry. ...
  • Figure out what kind of music you like. ...

What is the curriculum of an entertainment law degree?

The Curriculum. As a first-year law student, you will follow a designated course of study that may cover many of the following subjects: Civil procedure —the process of adjudication in the United States such as jurisdiction and standing to sue, motions and pleadings, pretrial procedure, the structure of a lawsuit, and appellate review of ...

Do you need an entertainment lawyer?

You're finally getting roles in local plays or movies and you're seeking broader exposure. Or maybe you just wrote a screenplay and a few producers are showing interest. These are all perfect examples of times when you might need an attorney with a special knowledge of the entertainment business.

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Is being an entertainment lawyer hard?

Turns out, it's really difficult to break into. It now seems to me that people break into the entertainment law field in one of three ways: Good connections, great experience on the business side, or incredible credentials.

Is entertainment law stressful?

Just as well, most people practicing entertainment law are in the field because they like the substantive work as well as the clients. Yes, there are the time pressures and tight budgets to consider, all of which can create significant stress for attorneys.

Are entertainment lawyers in demand?

Entertainment Lawyer Growth Trend Jobs for lawyers, including entertainment lawyers, are expected to increase 9 percent in the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.

Do entertainment lawyers make a lot of money?

The average annual salary for Entertainment Attorneys is approximately $117,600. The salary range for Entertainment Attorneys runs from $77,000 to $186,000.

Do entertainment lawyers work with celebrities?

Who deals with an entertainment lawyer? Some entertainment attorneys work as a celebrity's personal lawyer, but the majority of work with celebrities' agents and managers. These clients have a team of business and legal advisors which include agents, managers, and other attorneys.

What kind of lawyer makes the most money?

Some of the highest-paid lawyers are:Medical Lawyers – Average $138,431. Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. ... Intellectual Property Attorneys – Average $128,913. ... Trial Attorneys – Average $97,158. ... Tax Attorneys – Average $101,204. ... Corporate Lawyers – $116,361.

Is entertainment law hard to break into?

2. Entertainment Law Is Competitive It's no secret that entertainment law is a competitive area of law in which to practice. Who wouldn't want to work with major musicians, actors, directors, and producers? For those reasons, entertainment law can be a hard niche to break into.

What should I study for entertainment law?

The common degree for entertainment lawyers is the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree....During this time, you may choose to study topics such as:Copyright law.First amendment practices.Intellectual property law.Negotiations.Income taxes.

How much do celebrity lawyers get paid?

Celebrity attorneys charge a flat fee plus a commission, and generally earn $100k – $2 million.

Can entertainment lawyers make millions?

The top entertainment lawyers in Hollywood are raking in millions each year. And they're probably letting their broke clients crash in their guest house on occasion. Assuming you do all the right things in law school, you should be able to find an entry-level job within nine months.

Who do entertainment lawyers work for?

One excellent example of this is an entertainment lawyer. Entertainment lawyers are hired by those in the entertainment industry to deal with creating or negotiating contracts as well as dealing with litigation, if necessary.

What is the role of an entertainment lawyer?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

What is entertainment lawyer?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

Is a manager or agent discounted?

The value of a manager or agent shouldn’t be discounted. The former can provide important career guidance. Both have industry connections. And the latter can secure project deals. However, it’s important to keep in mind that none of these services, those of an entertainment lawyer included, come free.

Do entertainment lawyers provide free consultations?

Yes, most entertainment lawyers will provide a brief complimentary consultation. Keep in mind, though, that this consultation isn’t about getting free information for a legal issue. Rather, the consultation is to determine if that particular lawyer will be a good fit for your needs. 10.

Is an entertainment lawyer an employee?

Is an entertainment lawyer hired as an employee or contractor? Unless you are potentially forming a company that would require the ongoing services of an entertainment lawyer, they would not be hired as an employee. Rather, they are a contractor who is part of a law firm or the proprietor of their own business. 16.

Do entertainment lawyers charge hourly?

Very commonly, lawyers charge an hourly rate, but it’s possible to hire one who uses flat rates for particular services as well. Should you hire an entertainment lawyer for a court case, you may even be able to negotiate having their fee—or contingency rate—come out of the expected settlement.

Does a junior associate make more than a senior partner?

Well, that depends on several factors. For one, a junior associate at a law firm will not have an hourly rate as high as a senior partner. Two, the nature of the work itself can impact overall salary. Three, the more clients a lawyer has, the higher the salary they are likely to make.

Can an emerging creative lawyer be an entertainment lawyer?

And while true that these professionals can foster your career and provide some of the same benefits as an entertainment lawyer, namely industry connections and career advice, neither have the legal expertise of an entertainment lawyer.

Who is an Entertainment Lawyer?

According to Schroder, entertainment lawyers protect their client’s intellectual property rights, represent them in court over disputes, negotiate contracts, show them ways to maximize earnings, and help them manage their taxes, etc. Entertainment lawyers are required by production houses, directors, celebrities, etc.

How to Become an Entertainment Lawyer?

Aspiring lawyers must first complete a bachelor’s degree program before applying to law school. The American Bar Association advises choosing a major that will both challenge and excite future law students to achieve their goals.

What is Media Law?

The media industry is massive, encompassing publishing, newspapers, television, radio, film, and the internet. As a result, it is necessary to comprehend the laws that govern these fields. The law that controls media infrastructure, establishes limits on media communication and protects intellectual property is covered in the Media Law course.

Who Should Do Media Law?

A Media law course is for law students who desire to work as in-house advisers for corporations in the media and entertainment industry. Law students interested in working in a firm’s Technology, Media, and Telecom (TMT) practice. Independent practitioners looking to work in the media and entertainment business as contract drafters.

Types of Media Law Courses

Diploma, PG 1- Year and LLM studies in media law are available, with durations ranging from one to five years. The following table summarises the eligibility, duration, and admission procedures for each of the three courses.

Top 10 Colleges for Entertainment Law Abroad

The USA stands #1 when it comes to pursuing entertainment law courses abroad. As per Indeed.com, entertainment lawyers are in huge demand and expected to grow in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago. Here are some of the finest law schools for entertainment law abroad:

What is an entertainment lawyer?

An entertainment lawyer is a law professional who specializes in legal matters related to the entertainment industry. Entertainment lawyers may focus on advising clients on entertainment contract laws, intellectual property or entertainment labor laws.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

An entertainment lawyer can specialize in certain entertainment industries or legal aspects. Their duties can vary depending on their area of specialization, but common responsibilities can include:

Where does an entertainment lawyer work?

Entertainment lawyers can work in a law firm or they may work directly for a large entertainment company. Many entertainment lawyers live in or near large cities because cities tend to have more entertainment opportunities. An entertainment lawyer may choose to work in a certain location depending on their specialty.

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?

If you are interested in becoming an entertainment lawyer, consider following these steps:

Entertainment Lawyer Description

In this post we look at what is an entertainment lawyer and when you might need one. In addition to providing an entertainment lawyer definition, we’ll also cover how to find one so that you know where to turn and what to look for when selecting an entertainment lawyer.

Entertainment Lawyer Definition

An entertainment lawyer practices a specialized type of law specific to the entertainment industry. When you think about what is an entertainment lawyer, an image of a slick Hollywood type looking to take advantage of a naĂŻve performer may come to mind.

Entertainment Attorney 101

First things first: if you are in the entertainment industry and have questions about contracts, copyright claims or infringement, or any other legal information related to your creative work, do not seek advice from a non-industry lawyer.

When and Why You Need an Entertainment Lawyer

As a screenwriter, director, musical artist, fiction writer, or a performer with a public image or voice, you own creative copyright.

What to Look for in Hiring an Entertainment Attorney

Now that you understand the role of the entertainment lawyer, it is good to think about what you need help with and select an entertainment attorney carefully. Entertainment lawyers can help with a variety of scenarios and provide critical advice for key moments in your career.

UP NEXT

Legal and insurance issues are not most creatives’ favorite topic! Nonetheless they are vital to any production. In addition to realizing all the details of the creative vision for your project and managing the production tech and details, it is also good to have someone on your team looking out for liability.

Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards

Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.

Entertainment Lawyer: Understanding Their Importance

In some instances, general law may help you to understand the various requirements in your industry. For example, drafting up an employment contract may be something that looks relatively similar for a wide variety of business models.

What Role Do They Play in Your Business?

Of course, the above definition is a very broad overview of the responsibility of an entertainment lawyer in your day-to-day business. The work that they undertake on behalf of your company is essential to keeping your company and its employees protected as you continue operations.

Why Might You Need to Enlist the Help of an Entertainment Lawyer?

Asking when you should reach out to an entertainment lawyer depends entirely on your individual situation. However, looking deeper into an entertainment lawyer's role can help you better understand if and when you'll need to take advantage of their services.

How Do I Go About Hiring an Entertainment Lawyer?

Although this guide dives deeper into what an entertainment lawyer is and what role they play, the truth is that there are all kinds of entertainment lawyers that specialize in various areas of law as well as provide specific services designed specifically for the situation you may find yourself in when you seek out their help.

Meet some of our Lawyers

Diana is a registered patent attorney and licensed to practice law in Florida and in federal courts in Florida and in Texas. For nearly a decade, Diana has been known as the go-to brand builder, business protector, and rights negotiator.

An Interview With Karen Segall of Electus Digital on What It's Like to Work in Entertainment Law

Karen Segall, 34, isn’t exactly your typical lawyer. It was an interest in the arts mixed with her aptitude for legal work (not to mention her curiosity for the “behind-the-scenes” aspect of production) that proved to be the winning combination for her success in entertainment law.

Her Starting Point

How did your BA in political science from Emory University prepare you for law school at Penn and ultimately, the career you have now? What skills and lessons did you learn during your undergrad and grad school experiences that you still apply to your everyday life?

Her Big Break

Your job as an attorney must require that you stay organized and on top of things at all times. How do you manage to keep everything straight? What tools/resources do you utilize (ie. iPhone, apps, etc.)?

Her Perspective

What do you think it is about your personality that makes you so well suited for entertainment law? Was there a precise moment when you felt that you were a success in your field?

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Be in The Know, But Don’T Be A Fan

Books

Networking

  • Networking can entail more than just going to legal events. For example, there may be music conferences or film festival workshops where you can meet executives and learn from non-lawyers. Your own school’s music and communication school bulletin board is one place to start for local events. Once there, it may be as simple as asking for help. Networking nowadays also t…
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Conference Materials

  • As law students, we may not always have the money or the time to go to conferences in person, but thankfully materials from conferences are often posted online after the conference or available with an email request to the organization. The ABA posts materials from conferences to their website which are available to view and download with a free student account. While some …
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Internships

  • Many ex-entertainment attorneys say they were originally drawn by the flash of the industry but the initial excitement quickly subsided upon realizing it entails reading contracts and drafting memos much like any other law job. Securing an internship early can help you realize whether you like the field to begin with, as well as provide further net...
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Independent Research

  • Writing for the Law Review on a subject related to the field of interest is another way to show prospective lawyers your interest. A friend who wrote on a Netflix case for his Business Law Review then landed an internship with NBC. If Law Review sounds appealing, you may wish to read what you need to know about getting onto Law Review. But you could also volunteer to be …
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Broad Curriculum

  • As a back-up plan, in case the field is not what you expect, it always helps to have a broad array of courses taken. Also, practitioners recommend a strong foundation in related areas such as tax law, immigration, intellectual property, and contracts. Some schools offer courses specifically geared towards these areas for entertainers, but the general, introductory course may be just as…
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