how to become a talent entertainment lawyer

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.
Pass the bar examination. After graduating from a law program, aspiring lawyers must take and pass the bar exam. ...
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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

What should I study for entertainment law?

Bachelor's Degrees.Corrections.Criminal Justice.Criminology.Forensic Science.Homeland Security.Law Enforcement Administration.Legal Studies.More items...•

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...•

How much do celebrity lawyers get paid?

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

How do I get a job in entertainment law?

My suggestion would be to make a list of top lawyers, law firms, media companies dealing with media and entertainment law. You can find their information online. Almost all of them have a careers page or contact details. Just get in touch with them and ask about their internship programme or hiring procedure and apply!

How competitive is entertainment law?

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 do entertainment attorneys 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.

How long is law school for entertainment law?

Program Length Students can complete the program in 12 months.

What does entertainment law consist of?

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".

Where can I study entertainment law in South Africa?

the University of JohannesburgNow for the first time in South Africa executives can obtain a certificate in Entertainment Law from the University of Johannesburg.

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. For example, If you are at a negotiating stage with a company or an individual has violated a contract, you will need an entertainment lawyer to manage all disputes.

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. Litigators are interested in working on media and entertainment deals. A company’s decision-makers in the entertainment industry. The information gained in this sector is equally beneficial to movie directors.

What is entertainment lawyer?

Entertainment Lawyers manage all legal matters for Writers, Directors, Producers, Actors, and sometimes below the line crew. This includes contractual agreements, negotiations, advice, and counseling.

Who do entertainment attorneys work with?

Entertainment Attorneys may also work with Actors, Directors, Screenwriters, and studio execs.

Why did Herman go to law school?

I went to law school thinking that I might pursue a career as a Talent Agent because a legal background is common in those jobs.

How to stay informed about the entertainment industry?

Stay informed about the entertainment industry by reading the trades and online publications.

Is there a way around law school?

Herman says there’s no way around law school for this field, and she recommends starting as early as possible: “For starters, law school is the starting ground, with a focus on intellectual property, negotiations, and contracts. But beyond traditional education, it’s important to understand the industry as a business, because it’s always changing.

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.

What is entertainment law?

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:

Is entertainment law a fast paced career?

Practicing entertainment law can be a fast-paced and challenging career that provides a rewarding and steady job about how to become an entertainment lawyer.

Is continuing education mandatory in entertainment law?

The old ones are being revised, and a lot of cases are being created and trying to be resolved. Continuing your education isn’t mandatory in the legal field, but if you’re planning to pursue a career path how to become an entertainment lawyer in a specific field, such as an entertainment lawyer, professional development ...

Can a private attorney work as an in-house counsel?

They can work as in-house counsel wherein the client is the employer, or as a private attorney who can have individual talents or corporate entities as clients.

Can entertainment lawyers practice outside of major cities?

Entertainment lawyers can still practice outside these cities; however, work can be limited. Unlike in the past, a lot of production in the entertainment industry takes place in minor cities today. Other entertainers, local bands, radio talents, and television talents residing in their city also need entertainment lawyers on their side. Although entertainment lawyers won’t get to practice full-time outside major cities , they can still handle entertainment cases for their litigation and transactional law practice.

What do entertainment lawyers major in?

Many Entertainment Lawyers majored in Legal Studies or Music Industry Studies as undergraduates. A degree in Music Industry Studies or something similar can give the future Lawyer an understanding of the many areas of the music business before they hunker down and dive deep into the law at law school.

What is entertainment attorney?

Entertainment Attorneys help their clients to understand legal agreements, ensuring that the terms are in their clients’ best interests. They work with Recording Groups, Record Producers, Songwriters, Music Publishers, Record Label Executives, Music Producers, and Composers. They negotiate recording, merchandising, touring and publishing contracts, as well as Producer agreements.

How much do entertainment attorneys make?

Entertainment Attorney salaries can range from $77,000 to $186,000. Moo says “there are a couple different ways” Entertainment Attorneys are paid. “The flat fee for reviewing contracts is the most common because it’s the most affordable, especially for newer musicians.

What do people think of entertainment attorneys?

When most people think of Entertainment Attorneys they envision a flashy, high-powered office and an intense workload. While this is certainly the case at many big-name firms, other Attorneys find this type of corporate environment doesn’t sit well with their creative clients.

Do music lawyers get paid?

Music Lawyers on staff at law firms receive a regular salary. On the other hand, Music Lawyers who work for themselves (aka freelancers) charge a set fee for certain services and longer-term project, an hourly rate for shorter-term projects, and a retainer for regular, ongoing projects.

Do you have to wait for someone to hand you something?

You have to go out and do it yourself, and then you have value in the entertainment industry. That’s creating value.”. “Don’t wait for someone to hand you something. When you’re in school you should try to get internships to learn how the industry is set up.

Do entertainment law firms have business hours?

Most entertainment law firms have set business hours, yet at the same time Attorneys have to be willing to put in the work whenever it’s necessary, whether that means studying contracts over the weekend or meeting clients for dinner. “I do stuff when I need to do stuff,” Moo says.

What is a good back up plan for an entertainer?

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, if not more, useful as they give a deeper understanding of the material in a broader context.

What is networking in law?

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.

Is entertainment law a legal field?

One of the most enviable fields in the legal world, entertainment law, sparks almost as much attention among law students as the celebrities who comprise the client base. Reputably a near-impossible industry to enter, it may be wise to take a few steps to test-drive the industry before you sign up for that entertainment concentration. Like Hollywood, entertainment law is not always what it seems.

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?

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

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. For example, if they want to pursue film law, they may work in a city with multiple movie studios.

1. Entertainment Lawyers: The 20 Most Asked Questions

Jun 24, 2020 — To become an entertainment lawyer, candidates must complete a bachelor’s degree, which is mandatory before being allowed to apply to law schools ‎What does an entertainment lawyer do? · ‎Do you need an entertainment lawyer? (1) …

2. How to Become an Entertainment Attorney – Careers in Music

Jul 3, 2020 — Many Entertainment Lawyers majored in Legal Studies or Music Industry Studies as undergraduates. A degree in Music Industry Studies or something (4) …

3. 7 Things You Should Know About Entertainment Law

Jun 15, 2020 — Entertainment lawyers work in everything from the music industry to the film industry to visual arts. If you are watching a movie, reading a (7) …

4. Entertainment Lawyer: What Is It? and How to Become One?

The qualifications for an entertainment lawyer start with earning a bachelor’s degree and taking the LSAT examination. From here you can apply to law schools, (9) …

5. How to Become a Music Attorney: 8 Steps – wikiHow

8 steps1.Understand the skills required to be a music attorney. As a music attorney, you will represent musicians in the music industry. You will be responsible for 2.Learn about the music industry.

6. Find the Best Entertainment Law Jobs in 2021 (3 new)

Aug 9, 2021 — To begin your journey of becoming an entertainment lawyer, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree. As far as your major goes, (17) …

8. Power Lawyers 2020: Top 11 Entertainment Law Schools

Apr 2, 2020 — Top Entertainment Law Schools: 11 Colleges and Universities Where Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers Got Started · Harvard Law School · UCLA (24) …

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.

What to do if you already have an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles?

If you already have an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles or entertainment lawyer in NYC, consult with them about how to move forward in such circumstances . Depending on the nature of your role on the project, they can advise about seeking in-state legal advice.

Why is an entertainment lawyer important?

Especially when it comes to negotiating contracts and handling potential litigation matters, an entertainment lawyer is key to best protecting your interests.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in California?

Between a conventional four-year undergraduate program, law school and bar exam success on the first try, a person looking to be licensed as a California entertainment lawyer may do so in approximately seven years.

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.

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.

Can an entertainment lawyer be hired as an employee?

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.