how to be an entertainment lawyer

by Electa Bartoletti 6 min read

  1. Earn a bachelor's degree. The first step to becoming an entertainment lawyer is earning a bachelor's degree. ...
  2. Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) After graduating with a bachelor's degree, aspiring entertainment lawyers can apply to law schools. ...
  3. Apply for law school. After passing the LSAT, you can begin applying for law school programs. Consider researching and exploring programs in your desired field.
  4. Earn a law degree. The next step in becoming an entertainment lawyer is earning a law degree. The common degree for entertainment lawyers is the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
  5. Consider a certificate. Some law schools offer an entertainment law certificate. This can help you begin or advance your career.
  6. Pass the bar examination. After graduating from a law program, aspiring lawyers must take and pass the bar exam. ...
  7. Gain professional experience. After passing the bar exam, lawyers can begin practicing law. Many entertainment lawyers begin their careers as legal associates.

Full Answer

When should you hire an entertainment lawyer?

Your career as an entertainment lawyer will start the same way as the career of any lawyer - with a law degree. You can begin this process by enrolling in a bachelor's degree program. Law schools don't require you to major in a specific subject, but you may choose to enter a pre-law program, which incorporates specific courses designed to prepare you for law school.

What is the job description for an entertainment lawyer?

Mar 26, 2019 · The Importance of Entertainment Law. Review legal documents such as licensing agreements, recording agreements, bank loans, appearance release, investments, and sponsorship deals. Work on financial agreements. Prepare form agreements. Facilitate deals in distribution. Negotiate and draft contracts. ...

What is the curriculum of an entertainment law degree?

Do you need an entertainment lawyer?

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Is entertainment law hard to get into?

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.Jun 15, 2020

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

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 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.Apr 8, 2021

Where do entertainment lawyers make the most money?

Average salaries for entertainment lawyers vary by city. For example, Law Crossing reports that average salaries were highest in Los Angeles where they earned ​$165,000​ per year. Those working in Glendale and San Franciso averaged ​$164,500​ per year. New York City entertainment lawyers averaged ​$161,000​.Jan 20, 2022

What type of law pays the most?

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.Dec 18, 2020

How long do you have to be in school to be a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school—4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Most states and jurisdictions require lawyers to complete a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).Sep 8, 2021

What is the best law school in the world?

Harvard UniversityTop 10 Law Schools in the World Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019RankName of InstitutionLocation1Harvard UniversityUnited States2University of OxfordUnited Kingdom3University of CambridgeUK8 more rows

Is Berkeley a top law school?

University of California--Berkeley is ranked No. 9 in Best Law Schools. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Is UCLA law school good?

UCLA is the highest ranked law school in Southern California, placing 15th in the most recent U.S. News & World Report ranking.

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.

What is the highest paying job?

AnesthesiologistsHighest-Paying CareersRankOccupation2020 Median wagesAnnual1Anesthesiologists$100.00+2General Internal Medicine Physicians$100.00+3Obstetricians and Gynecologists$100.00+7 more rows

How much do Nintendo lawyers make?

The salary starts at $115,882 per year and goes up to $115,882 per year for the highest level of seniority.Mar 24, 2020

What is Entertainment Law?

Entertainment law specifically impacts the entertainment industry. It’s a collection of different types of laws, which are related to the media and entertainment industry. It includes litigation and transaction laws, and also impacts the laws such as state and federal laws, common laws created on the court, and rules created by government agencies.

What areas of the Entertainment Industry are Covered by Entertainment law?

Entertainment law covers different areas of the entertainment industry, which have their own specific policies, rules and regulations, agreements, and others. These include:

Who are Practicing Entertainment Law?

Both transactional and litigation lawyers are practicing entertainment law or casino laws. However, most lawyers in entertainment law specialize in just one type of practice, since it’s more practical than doing both litigation and transactional law.

Where is Entertainment Law being Practiced?

Most entertainment lawyers can be found in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City since these cities provide more jobs to do, and a majority of production studios are operating in these areas.

The Importance of Entertainment Law

Entertainment lawyers can fill several roles, which depend on what their specialization is and what their clients need. Here are some of their functions, which also show their significance in the industry:

What is industry guide?

While we tend to avoid reading more books then assigned, an industry guide is a refreshing and inspiring break from casebooks. Wandering through the entertainment section of your law library may reveal little jewels that breathe an inspiring perspective on career paths in ways you may not have considered. Legal books that give law student advice is such as Entertainment Careers for Lawyers is useful, as is a quick browse at non-legal books that give an overview of what it’s like to enter the industry.

Who is Nicholas La Terza?

Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer, Nicholas La Terza who teaches entertainment law at UCLA, UC Irvine and the University of Miami tells his students to be in the know about the industry. For example, if you want to work with film producers, he says you must be able to name your five favorite producers.

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Be in The Know, But Don’T Be A Fan

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Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer, Nicholas La Terza who teaches entertainment law at UCLA, UC Irvine and the University of Miami tells his students to be in the know about the industry. For example, if you want to work with film producers, he says you must be able to name your five favorite producers. If you h…
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Books

  • While we tend to avoid reading more books then assigned, an industry guide is a refreshing and inspiring break from casebooks. Wandering through the entertainment section of your law library may reveal little jewels that breathe an inspiring perspective on career paths in ways you may not have considered. Legal books that give law student advice is such as Entertainment Careers for …
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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 networking opportunities. Because location …
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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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