how to find a great entertainment lawyer

What is it like to work as an entertainment lawyer?

Entertainment lawyers provide services to the entertainment industry, including film, music, television, theater, publishing, visual arts, and multimedia. They also represent sports stars and other celebrities. Entertainment lawyers negotiate and write contracts, deal with intellectual property issues, and practice employment and labor law.

Where are the best law firms in the entertainment industry?

How do entertainment attorneys Bill their actors?

Where can I find a lawyer to represent an actor?

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. National Tier 1 in Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television. 34 No. of National Rankings. 127 No. of Regional Rankings. Compare. Fox Rothschild LLP. National Tier 1 in Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television. 29 No. of National Rankings. 196 No. of Regional Rankings.

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.

What do entertainment attorneys do?

Entertainment lawyers specialize in representing and protecting the interests of creatives working in the expansive entertainment industry. This can encompass film, music, sports, theater, and even publishing.

How much do top entertainment lawyers make?

Salary Ranges for Entertainment Lawyers The salaries of Entertainment Lawyers in the US range from $10,018 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $18,674 . The middle 57% of Entertainment Lawyers makes between $18,674 and $74,346, with the top 86% making $187,200.

How do entertainment lawyers make money?

Anyone who wants to become an entertainment lawyer must get a law degree with a specialization in contracts, intellectual property and entertainment law. In return, they can expect to earn salaries that are well above average compared to most occupations.

How much does it cost to hire an entertainment lawyer?

Some attorneys bill on a fixed-fee basis, in which you pay a set amount for services (expect to pay $5,000 to $25,000 to negotiate a major entertainment deal, for instance). The so-called "billable hour" is still the most common method of payment.

Who needs entertainment lawyers?

If you are a talent manager, entertainer or involved in the media industry, you should get in touch with an entertainment lawyer.

Who is Drake's lawyer?

In court documents obtained by Radar Online, Drake's lawyer, Stanton “Larry” Stein, sayid Collins has no legal representation and that she hung up on him when he called to discuss her “frivolous” lawsuit.

Where do entertainment lawyers make the most money?

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Entertainment Attorney JobsCityAnnual SalaryWeekly PayManhattan, NY$103,718$1,995Barnstable Town, MA$102,913$1,979Cambridge, MA$102,724$1,975San Mateo, CA$101,937$1,9606 more rows

What does entertainment law consist of?

Overview. Entertainment law covers an area of law that involves media of all different types (e.g. TV, film, music, publishing, advertising, Internet & news media, etc.)

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 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 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?

How to find entertainment lawyers?

Do a general search online. If all other possible sources have failed, you can just search online for “entertainment lawyers.” You are likely to find many. Use this as a starting point, but realize that almost anyone can post online and claim to do anything. A lawyer who wrote one single contract ten years ago can claim to be an entertainment lawyer. Just be cautious and read what you see online carefully.

How to know if an attorney is good?

Get a referral from friends or colleagues. Sometimes, the best measure of an attorney is how he has performed and satisfied other people. If you have friends, particularly those who are also in the entertainment business, ask them for the names of attorneys they have used.

How to end a working relationship with an attorney?

When your attorney has completed whatever you need him or her to do for you (this could be in a week, or it could be in several years), you need to close up the working relationship with a letter. Make it clear in the letter that you have made your final payment, and the attorney no longer represents you. This will avoid any troublesome situations of the attorney entering into any deals on your behalf that you may not want. It will also give you some evidence in case the attorney continues to bill you beyond your authorization.

What to ask a prospective attorney?

Ask the prospective attorney to describe what he or she can do for you. If you are just starting out in the entertainment business, you may want someone who can help you make progress. Ask the attorney for his or her vision of the possibilities for the future.

How to ask an attorney about similar clients?

Ask about similar clients and outcomes. Describe what you need the attorney to do for you, and ask him or her to relate experiences with similar clients.

How to interview an attorney?

Ask questions that will help you decide if the attorney is someone you will want to work with and who can do what you need.

How to get a referral for entertainment?

You may be able to contact one of these organizations and get a referral to lawyers who provide services to entertainers. A specific group, the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, in the name for separate organizations that exist in many large cities to provide free or reduced-cost legal work to entertainers and artists. Look for the VLA in your area.

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.

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.

Do lawyers charge for text messages?

They may—and likely will—charge for every phone call, email and even text message exchanged. As with the rate itself, be clear about how your lawyer might charge for each communication and whether something more informal like a text may not fall under the same contractual terms as an email or phone call. It could end up saving you a considerable sum.

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.

What is a legal consultation?

A legal consultation is much like an interview—both for you and the lawyer. It’s important to fully utilize the time you have by coming prepared with questions, such as:

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.

When Should You Consider Hiring an Attorney?

Certainly, you should consult with an experienced entertainment attorney before you sign a contract of any significance. An experienced entertainment attorney can also be very useful as a sounding board for ideas and strategies you have, and as a source of contacts to music business professionals who can help you move ahead in the music business.

How to Find an Entertainment Attorney

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.

Music Connection

Published since 1977, Music Connection magazine is a monthly music trade publication catering to musicians, industry pro’s, and support services. Music Connection exists to serve artists and music people, to offer connections to the unconnected and to provide exclusive information that can help our readers take their music to the next level.

Why do people practice entertainment law?

Most people practicing entertainment law are in the field because they like the substantive work as well as the clients. It is unusual to find entertainment transactional attorneys who hate the actual work. However, time pressure and tight budgets, and clients under pressure from those factors, can create significant stress for attorneys.

What is entertainment law?

This work involves legal concepts across multiple subject areas, including intellectual property, contracts, business associations, securities law, and labor and employment law. In addition to understanding these substantive areas of law, entertainment law attorneys help clients with projects that are not necessarily considered traditional legal work, but have legal and business implications, such as reviewing and commenting on pitches and budgets for television series, films, mobile apps, or other entertainment projects.

How has technology impacted the entertainment industry?

Technology trends. The digital revolution and the resulting changes in the music industry and in television/film distribution have dramatically impacted the entertainment business, such as the development of streaming music and video as distribution platforms. These changes have in turn affected legal practice and industry norms.

Why do new issues come up in the entertainment industry?

New issues often come up even for routine matters, whether because of the relationship of the parties, new technology, or other developments in the entertainment industry. These changes help keep the work interesting and allow attorneys to continue learning and growing.

What is entertainment transactional law?

Although entertainment law encompasses all of the sectors of the entertainment industry, entertainment transactional attorneys tend to focus on one or two entertainment sectors, as each sector has its own industry norms. For example, attorneys serving music industry clients often specialize in that sector. Similarly, other attorneys focus on ...

Do entertainment lawyers work at premieres?

They enjoy helping creators, financiers and distributors bring their projects to life and to an audience. Although entertainment lawyers may attend film premieres and entertainment awards shows, the day-to-day work is not nearly as glamorous.

How much do entertainment lawyers make?

Entertainment lawyers made salaries closer to the industry average in Los Angeles and Dallas -- $87,000 and $82,000, respectively.

What do movie stars need to become an entertainment lawyer?

Anyone who wants to become an entertainment lawyer must get a law degree . In return, they can expect to earn salaries that are well above average compared to most occupations.

What is the expected growth rate for entertainment lawyers?

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The predicted growth rate for all occupations is 14 percent.