how to get lawyer jobs in board game industry

by Fabian Waters V 4 min read

Do you need a lawyer to start a game company?

The biggest hurdle as an attorney focused in the tech and game field is that most startups don’t even consider needing a lawyer. It’s not that they are against the idea, it’s that the thought has literally never crossed their mind.

How do I get a job in the games industry?

If you want to work in the games industry but you don't know where to start, the GamesIndustry.biz Academy can help you to find out which sector is right for you and how to land your first job. We'll be covering every key discipline in the games industry, from level design to games journalism, programming to marketing, and everything in between.

Are board games considered work made for hire?

Luckily for game developers, most work done for the game by another person would fall under the first two (for copyright purposes, a board game would be seen as a “collective work”). Then there must be a written agreement that specifies that the particular work should be categorized as a work made for hire.

Is the legal field becoming more approachable to game companies?

As the tech field grows, the legal field is starting to become more approachable. Lawyers are notoriously against change, but we can’t sit with our arms crossed as the rest of the world flies by. (I mean, come on, are you still having clients use a pen to sign a retainer?) What Are the Main Legal Concerns For Game Companies?

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The GamesIndustry.biz Academy guides to finding games industry jobs in all sectors, from game design to journalism to games PR and more

Looking for a job in the games industry? Discover hundreds of positions worldwide at jobs.gamesindustry.biz.

Working in the games industry

If you want to work in the games industry but you don't know where to start, the GamesIndustry.biz Academy can help you to find out which sector is right for you and how to land your first job. We'll be covering every key discipline in the games industry, from level design to games journalism, programming to marketing, and everything in between.

More GamesIndustry.biz Academy guides to Working in Games

Our guides to working in games cover various perspectives, from hiring to retention, to landing the job of your dream or creating the right company culture:

Recent Listings on Tabletop Jobs February 2022

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Recent Listings on Tabletop Jobs July 2021

The July Tabletop Games Job List is here! Here are all of the jobs I know of this month. I will be updating this list daily. Recently added jobs will be bolded.

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Hotels & Casinos

  • When considering a legal career in gaming law, the first opportunity that comes to mind (for most) is working within the legal department of a Hotel & Casino (“Casino”) as in-house counsel.
See more on law.unlv.edu

Gaming Companies

  • Like Casinos, gaming companies are the innovators in the gaming industry, creating new gaming methods, physical and computerized technology, and other intricate developments related to gaming. Cashless wagering systems (think, fantasy football), mobile and interstate gaming devices, player tracking systems, and automatic shufflers are just a few of the notable innovatio…
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State Government

  • The Governor’s Office
    Attorneys working within a governor’s office are knowledgeable about the legal and political issues that arise in the gaming industry throughout a particular state. A gaming attorney working in the governor’s office advises the Governor and other senior government officials on legal, poli…
  • State Gaming Regulatory Bodies and State/Local Legislatures
    State regulators and legislatures create the laws and administrative processes relating to licensing applicants, conducting investigations and audits, ruling on disciplinary hearings, and adopting and enforcing regulations and laws.
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Law Firms

  • Outside Counsel
    Attorneys representing clients in the gaming law industry may act in an advisory, litigation, or transactional capacity by: providing their clients with advice to mitigate risk of a regulatory audit, representing their client in a lucrative real-estate acquisition, or representing their client in forma…
  • Lobbyist
    Gaming lobbyists represent their client’s interests before state legislative and regulatory bodies. A gaming lobbyist understands the political structure and process, the relevant government officials to address, and the most effective manner to convey a client’s interests.
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Native American Gaming Attorney

  • Tribal attorneys represent Native American Tribes or third-parties engaging in a business transaction on Native American land. Tribal attorneys face many of the same substantive legal issues, facts, and types of practices described by the attorneys in the sections above. However, in addition to being knowledgeable regarding state law and regulations, tribal gaming attorneys mu…
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