how to approach an entertainment lawyer

1. Referrals. Generally, the best approach is to ask people you know who are in the music business and who have previously hired an entertainment attorney. Find out whether they had a good experience, whether the legal matters the attorney handled were similar to the legal matters you need help with, and whether the attorney’s fees were reasonable.

Full Answer

Do you need an entertainment lawyer?

Do you need an entertainment lawyer on a one-time basis, or do you need to keep a lawyer on retainer? If you're new to the business and this is your first contract, you probably don't need to put a lawyer on a (costly) retainer.

Do I need an entertainment attorney to review a submission release?

Obviously, you should have an entertainment attorney review the submission release so you may understand what you’re signing and determine if the submission release is a one-sided agreement or is unfair.

Do I need a lawyer in the music industry?

She has worked in the music industry for over two decades. If you're entering into any kind of deal in the music industry where money and contracts are involved, you should probably hire an entertainment or music lawyer.

Should I hire a lawyer?

If you get a bad feeling or just don't hit it off with a candidate, don't feel any obligation to hire them. After you have had your initial meetings with your short list, choose the lawyer that has the skills for your particular case at a price you can afford. It is also important that you feel comfortable with your lawyer.

How do entertainment lawyers find clients?

If you work in the entertainment industry, odds are you already know someone who has an entertainment lawyer. That's why how to find an entertainment lawyer usually begins with word-of-mouth referrals. But referrals are just a starting point.

How do you approach a lawyer?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

What does entertainment law handle?

Entertainment law, also referred to as media law, is legal services provided to the entertainment industry. These services in entertainment law overlap with intellectual property law. Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the "Right of Publicity".

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.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

What to say when you contact a lawyer?

0:081:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo here are a few tips.MoreSo here are a few tips.

What are the four sources of entertainment law?

Primary SourcesThe Constitution. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8. ... Statutes. Federal statutes relavant to various aspects of the entertainment industry include, but are not limited to: ... Regulations. Federal administrative regulations are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. ... Case Law.

How do I know what kind of lawyer I want to be?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?

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.

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 highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

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.

What to Know Before You Seek an Attorney to Represent You

Heather McDonald wrote about music careers for The Balance Careers. She has worked in the music industry for over two decades.

Determine Your Needs

Music lawyers are under the umbrella of entertainment law, and many specialize in a certain part of the music industry. Understanding what you need legal help with will make it easier for you to find a lawyer who is up to the task. Knowing whether you are looking to build a long-term relationship with a lawyer is also something to consider.

How to Find a Lawyer

Once you know what you need from a lawyer, start asking those in your music industry circles. You are almost certain to know someone who has had to visit a lawyer for a music industry issue before.

Meet With Your Short List

Whether you do it by phone or in person, have a brief question and answer session with your short list of lawyers. Find out what they specialize in, how soon they can work on your case, how much they charge and what their payment terms are. If you get a bad feeling or just don't hit it off with a candidate, don't feel any obligation to hire them.

How to get a good lawyer to take your case?

“If you want to improve your chances of securing the best lawyer to take your case, you need to prepare before you meet them,” advises attorney Stephen Babcock. “Get your story, facts, and proof together well before your first meeting.” This not only ensures that you understand your own needs, but it helps a good lawyer to ascertain whether he or she can actually help you. “We want the best clients too. Proving you’re organized and reliable helps us.”

Why is it important to approach a lawyer with honesty?

“ Winning cases can be lost because of a client who lies or exaggerates just as easily as because of a lawyer who tells the client what the client wants to hear instead of what is true.” So when dealing with attorneys, don’t just look for honesty—be honest.

Should a lawyer stay out of court?

In fact, a lawyer should try to stay out of court. “In my experience, a good lawyer always finds every opportunity to keep a case from being decided by a judge, and only relents on trying a case before the bench when all alternatives have been exhausted,” attorney, Jason Cruz says.

Do you need a lawyer to write a demand letter?

On reading a demand letter, the other person will often say, “this isn’t worth the trouble” and they quickly settle. But here’s a secret from Knight: You don’t need a lawyer to write a demand letter. You can do it yourself. Just make it look as formal as possible, and you may find your dispute goes away—no charge to you.

Do most cases settle outside the courtroom?

In choosing your attorney and your plan of action in resolving a dispute, it’s important to consider that despite what you see on television, most cases never see the inside of a courtroom. Typically, they’re settled outside the courtroom because of the time and expense involved, according to attorney Darren Heitner, author of How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know.

How to stand out in Hollywood?

1. Understand what makes a great idea in Hollywood. Development executives, the people who review ideas and choose what gets made, are constantly bombarded with ideas. To stand out you need to know what kind of ideas are going to capture their attention.

How to pitch a studio?

Find out if they accept unsolicited pitches. The best way to do this is through their website. Find phone numbers, emails for assistants, and anything that talks about idea generation (such as "how to pitch").

How many testimonials does wikihow have?

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 12 testimonials and 83% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

What is the key to finding an inspired writing partner?

Collaboration is key. Finding an inspired writing partner divides the work and expands your network.

What to do if you know the budget for a movie?

The Budget (Optional): If you are convinced that you know the budget, roughly, for the show/movie, bring it along. Especially if it is low. This shows you know how the production game works, and that you can give a specific dollar amount on the deal. Again, this is only effective if the idea is low-budget.

Do you need to pitch your idea to Hollywood?

Know that you'll need an effective pitch to sell your idea. More likely than not, you'll need to pitch your idea again once Hollywood executives bring you in. There are a lot of different stages that need to OK your idea before it gets made, and not all them have time for advance research on your idea. You need to enter ready to knock them out.

Is it necessary to sell your idea to Hollywood?

If you've published before, or have industry experience, you could consider hiring an agent, though it is not strictly necessary. While not strictly necessary, selling your idea to Hollywood is easiest if you're in Hollywood.

What is the obligation to pay for the protected ideas?

Obligation to Pay for the Protected Ideas. A submission release should state that the production company will pay you a fair market value if it uses your protected ideas, that is, any portion of your screenplay that is protected by copyright. A submission release may attempt to limit the liability of a production company or agent.

Why do production companies want submissions?

From the viewpoint of the production company, it wants a submission release with sweeping language in order to protect itself from potential claims. On the other hand, the extreme scope of the submission release should be a deterrent to you for fear that your script or idea will be stolen and used without just compensation.

Why should you keep accurate records of screenplays?

Because the circumstances concerning the submission of a screenplay idea and the receiving party’s response may be critical to establishing an implied-in-fact contract, you should maintain complete and accurate records of any communications concerning your ideas.

Can a production company be subject to a breach of contract claim?

The production company does not want to be subjected to a breach of contract claim based on the theory that the mere submission of material created an implied obligation of payment if any part of the material is used by the production company, even if the material used is otherwise unprotectable. A submission release also relieves ...

Can a production company accept unsolicited material?

Production companies and many agents have serious concerns in accepting unsolicited material. A company’s receipt of unsolicited screenplays or ideas may expose it to liability, such as litigation for copyright infringement, breach of a confidential relationship or breach of an express or implied contract, especially if it should turn out that the production company (or a client of the agent) develops a similar project.

Did Jesus speak about entertainment choices?

Jesus didn’t speak directly on the topic of entertainment choices. Neither did the apostles or any of the biblical authors. Three strikes and you’re out in building a biblically based approach to entertainment it would seem.

Is the Law of Love a free pass?

Rather, it is a calling to higher accountability. No longer can we justify immoral entertainment on the grounds that the Bible doesn’t specifically forbid it. Instead, we are held accountable by our love relationship with God and our love of other people. The Law of Love goes beyond what is expressly prohibited in scripture.

What should opposing counsel convey to opposing counsel?

On the one hand, they should convey to opposing counsel that they are ready, willing and able to take the case all the way through trial. After all, most litigators’ best alternative to settling the case — a critical element of leverage — is trying it.

Do lawyers negotiate?

The fact is, lawyers negotiate constantly. Whether you’re trying to settle a lawsuit or attempting to close a merger, you’re negotiating. Yet relatively few lawyers have ever learned the strategies and techniques of effective negotiation. Instead, most lawyers negotiate instinctively or intuitively. It’s natural.