how to find an entertainment lawyer

There are several ways 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. ...
2. Music Business Directories. There are music business directories which list entertainment attorneys, often by geographical area. ...
3. Music Business Conferences. ...

Full Answer

Who are the clients of an entertainment attorney?

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.

What background do I need to become an entertainment lawyer?

The first step in finding an entertainment attorney is to be sure you know your goals. Often, the best way to locate an attorney is through referrals from other entertainers. It's also possible to locate, interview, and hire a entertainment attorney through an online directory, such as Nolo's Lawyer Directory , which splits attorneys into different practice areas (copyright, business, …

What is it like to be an in-house attorney?

Feb 23, 2022 · How to Find an Entertainment Attorney There are several ways 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.

What do attorneys love most about being part of projects?

Oct 23, 2014 · If you don’t have a good network going, there are plenty of online directories that provide up-to-date lists of entertainment lawyers and their contact information. Websites like Connection magazine, Production Hub, Lawyers.com, and similar sites are good places to start, but you can also find entertainment lawyers simply by doing a Google search.

How do I choose an entertainment lawyer?

Choosing an Entertainment LawyerExpertise -- Look for someone who has the specific background you need, in this case, handling contracts within the music industry.Experience -- Focus on finding a lawyer or firm that has years of experience in the area you need.More items...

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.

Do entertainment lawyers work with celebrities?

3. Entertainment Lawyers Have a Diverse Clientele For many attorneys, this is a reality, but many more do not work directly with celebrities. In fact, entertainment lawyers have a wide variety of clients. To start, not all entertainment lawyers are independent entities.Jun 15, 2020

What are the 4 types of lawyers?

Here's an overview of the most common types of lawyers.Personal Injury Lawyer. ... Estate Planning Lawyer. ... Bankruptcy Lawyer. ... Intellectual Property Lawyer. ... Employment Lawyer. ... Corporate Lawyer. ... Immigration Lawyer. ... Criminal Lawyer.More items...

How can I study entertainment law?

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?Earn a bachelor's degree. The first step to becoming an entertainment lawyer is earning a bachelor's degree. ... Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) ... Apply for law school. ... Earn a law degree. ... Consider a certificate. ... Pass the bar examination. ... Gain professional experience.Apr 8, 2021

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

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 do entertainment lawyers do on a daily basis?

1. What do entertainment attorneys do in a typical day? Lawyers within the practice field of entertainment law break their typical day down to events much like those below: They draft and negotiate development and production contracts with writing, directing, acting and recording talent.

How much do family lawyers make?

The average salary for a family lawyer is $117,367 per year in the United States.

What type of lawyer is most in demand?

The Top 10 Lawyer Types You're Most Likely to NeedCivil Litigation Lawyer (a.k.a. Trial Attorney) ... Criminal Defense Lawyer. ... Defamation Lawyer (a.k.a. Libel and Slander Attorney) ... Business Lawyer (litigation or transactional) ... Family Lawyer (a.k.a. Domestic Relations Attorney; a.k.a. Divorce Lawyer) ... Traffic Lawyer.More items...•Dec 31, 2015

How much do criminal lawyers make?

The salaries of Criminal Lawyers in the US range from $21,204 to $556,465 , with a median salary of $102,507 . The middle 57% of Criminal Lawyers makes between $102,507 and $253,785, with the top 86% making $556,465.

How many years do you have to study to be a lawyer?

It usually takes seven years to become a lawyer, including four years of undergraduate study and three years of law school. However, many people choose to get a job in the legal field before applying to law school in order to strengthen their application.Feb 23, 2021

Why do entertainers hire lawyers?

The most common reason that an entertainer hires a lawyer is to review, draft, or negotiate a contract.

How to choose an attorney?

Don't choose an attorney purely based on his or her "know-how." Consider also style and personality. While these qualities might seem superficial, remember that you may spend long hours working together. You may prefer to be represented by an attorney whose style and demeanor correspond with yours. Do you want someone aggressive? Ambitious? Accommodating? Serious? Boisterous?

What is retainer in a lawyer?

Many attorneys ask for a retainer, which is an advance payment for legal work. The amount of the retainer is included in the attorney-client fee agreement. The fee agreement is negotiated between you and your lawyer and establishes the payments and the lawyer's responsibilities.

How much do attorneys charge per hour?

Understand up front that most attorneys bill on an hourly basis (often between $300 and $700 an hour) and send a bill at the end of each month. 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).

Should entertainers love their attorney?

An entertainer does not need to love his or her attorney, but should at least respect and trust the attorney's abilities as a hired professional. As a general rule, you should switch attorneys (fire one and hire another) if you are unhappy with the services you've received.

Is the internet secure?

The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties. Entertainment professionals often need the services of lawyers. Whether you are an actor, director, dancer, or musician, there are various legal services that could prove essential to your career.

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.

Which states offer competitive financial advantages for productions?

Many states outside of California and New York offer competitive financial advantages for productions, making it attractive to creatives on a budget to film in these other locations with local crew and other resources at their disposal.

How much does a retainer cost?

It may start at $1000 for contractual and/or advisement issues and go up to $100,000 should they be retained for litigation. Before agreeing to any terms with an entertainment lawyer, inquire about their retainer fee.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property, or IP, is big business. From a screenwriter’s spec script to a musician’s original song, anything created within this industry necessitates protection from those who may want to buy it, option it, license it—or infringe upon it with unauthorized use. An entertainment lawyer can see to it that a client’s intellectual property is handled properly and protected when copyright or trademark issues arise.

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.

Is entertainment lawyer specialized?

The nature of work for an entertainment lawyer is highly specialized. That in part explains the costly fees for them. However, it also indicates the extensive education they must attain to be skilled at their job.

Where is Anna Keizer?

Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and is currently in post-production on the short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and is executive producing.

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.

How to maintain a relationship with a lawyer?

The number one key to maintaining a relationship with your lawyer is to keep the communication going. Be extremely clear about what you want, and if you don’t understand something, ask the lawyer to explain. Do as much reading on the subject as you can so you’re able to actually participate in the discussion and understand the impact of the decisions. Remember – this is your career, and you want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into, especially before signing any kind of contract. The more you personally know, the better decisions you can make.

Who is Dave Kusek?

Dave Kusek is the founder of the New Artist Model, an online music business school for independent musicians, performers, recording artists, producers, managers, and songwriters. He has worked with musicians his entire career, providing tools, mentoring, and knowledge necessary to be successful in the music industry.

What is entertainment lawyer?

Entertainment lawyers are sometimes called on to evaluate financial plans, production budgets, business plans, and creative pitches. This experience can be valuable for moving from legal work to a business development or hybrid business/legal role, such as in the business affairs department of a studio or network.

What is a junior associate?

Junior associates generally work with senior associates or directly with partners. However, junior associates can gain responsibility quickly for some deals, including drafting and negotiating simpler production agreements, such as releases, talent agreements and independent contractor agreements. Law firm entertainment attorneys also consult ...