what does a sports and entertainment lawyer do

by Cletus Sawayn 7 min read

Sports and entertainment lawyers should have a solid background in contract law, copyright law, intellectual property and litigation. The main job duty is negotiating contracts for a sports or entertainment star, company or producer.

Sports and entertainment attorneys represent such clients as athletes, entertainers, and related organizations, and work in areas of law such as contracts, torts, labor and employment, corporate finance, intellectual property, and antitrust law.

Full Answer

Why become a sports and entertainment lawyer?

You’ll adapt to changing times and technology Whether it is a change in technology or change in the laws, you must stay up-to-date and be on the leading edge of your industry. Sports and Entertainment Law requires flexibility, adaption to change, and innovation.

What kind of services do entertainment lawyers provide?

Key areas of service include entertainment finance, development and production agreements, sales and distribution agreements, advertising contracts, publishing, licensing, and merchandising agreements, and talent agreements. How can I become a sports or entertainment lawyer?

What can you do with a sports law degree?

You’ll be a jack of all trades Sports and Entertainment Law encompasses several legal areas, just applied to athletes and entertainers. Depending on what your client needs, you may be expected to handle anything from criminal matters to contract disputes, estate planning to intellectual property issues.

Are You on the leading edge of sports and entertainment law?

Whether it is a change in technology or change in the laws, you must stay up-to-date and be on the leading edge of your industry. Sports and Entertainment Law requires flexibility, adaption to change, and innovation.

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What is the role of a sport lawyer?

What does a sports lawyer do? Sports lawyers represent the legal interests of their clients, which can include individual players, athletes, coaching staff, and even entire teams. It's their job to take care of the stuff that happens off the pitch, ensuring their clients can remain 100% focused on their performances.

What is the function of a lawyer in the entertainment industry?

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 do entertainment lawyers do on a daily basis?

Entertainment lawyers focus on the following tasks: Preparing and negotiating development and production contracts, and distribution deals; Working with financial agreements, loans, and investment documents; Reviewing contracts and analyzing a client's rights.

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.

Is entertainment law stressful?

Just as well, most people practicing entertainment law are in the field because they like the substantive work as well as the clients. Yes, there are the time pressures and tight budgets to consider, all of which can create significant stress for attorneys.

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 kind of lawyer makes the most money?

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.

How do I become a successful entertainment lawyer?

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.

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.

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.

How much do celebrity lawyers get paid?

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

How much do entertainment lawyers make in LA?

The salaries of Entertainment Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA range from $10,055 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $20,503 . The middle 57% of Entertainment Lawyers makes between $20,514 and $59,659, with the top 86% making $187,200.

What is sports and entertainment law?

Sports and Entertainment Law encompasses several legal areas, just applied to athletes and entertainers. Depending on what your client needs, you may be expected to handle anything from criminal matters to contract disputes, estate planning to intellectual property issues. The range is very wide, so you must be able to deliver in several different areas. If you do not have an expertise in an area that is requested of you, you should know another lawyer who is to ensure your client always gets the best representation.

Why is sports and entertainment law important?

Sports and Entertainment Law is a desirable career path for many aspiring lawyers because it incorporates their love for entertainers and athletes with the practice of law. Not to mention, the fact that famous people are confiding and trusting you to advocate on their behalf. The reality is that this career path incorporates many other areas ...

How to become an entertainment lawyer?

There are many different types of Sports and Entertainment lawyers. Check out the ABA’s Entertainment Law 101 for a breakdown in the different types of areas you can specialize in as an Entertainment lawyer. The article also includes these tips: 1 Know your stuff. Study contract law, intellectual property, tax, corporate, and any applicable entertainment guild law. 2 Attorney before groupie. Appreciate your client’s talent but never be in awe of them. If you are a fan first, you will be unable to perform the cold calculations necessary to properly advise and help them. 3 Location, location, location. Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville are key hubs where the deals get done. 4 Study the culture. Read entertainment biographies and industry news periodicals ( Variety, Billboard, etc.). Whatever others in your biz watch, read, or listen to, you must as well.

Do you have to specialize in sports law?

You’ll probably have to specialize first. There are not many sports and entertainment law lawyers who are fresh out of law school. The immediate years after law school are typically spent developing an expertise in a substantive area of law in order to gain the experience necessary to properly represent an athlete or an entertainer ...

Is practicing law a nine to five job?

Practicing law in this area is not a nine to five type of job. Your clients will need your time and attention around the clock. Be prepared to never have the same workday twice!

How to become a sports and entertainment lawyer?

The path to becoming a sports and entertainment lawyer starts by hitting the books to earn an undergraduate degree. A pre-law degree is a good choice for undergraduate schooling, but many law schools look for students with more diverse backgrounds and undergraduate degrees such as business, journalism and social sciences. After earning a bachelor’s degree, aspiring lawyers take the Law School Admission Test and apply to law schools. Some of the top law schools for sports and entertainment lawyers include UCLA School of Law, USC Gould School of Law and Harvard Law School. Sports and entertainment lawyers should have a solid background in contract law, copyright law, intellectual property and litigation.

How much do sports lawyers make?

Most sports and entertainment lawyers charge per transaction, earning a certain percentage of each contract they help negotiate. Yearly salaries vary from state to state, with lawyers in Indiana earning just over $96,000 a year and those in New York over $110,000. The average across all states is $120,000, according to Law Crossing.

How can a lawyer gain and maintain clients?

To gain and maintain clients, a lawyer should be personable and able to relate well to people, as many earn clients through word-of-mouth. Because most sports and entertainment stars live and work in big cities, a lawyer should be flexible and willing to move to cities like New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.

What schools do sports lawyers go to?

Some of the top law schools for sports and entertainment lawyers include UCLA School of Law, USC Gould School of Law and Harvard Law School.

Do musicians belong to unions?

Musicians do not belong to unions, while actors do, so a lawyer may have to negotiate contracts among the union, actor and movie or television company. Working with athletes and sports teams involves negotiating sponsorships, managing risk and insurance, and advising on contract matters. A sports and entertainment lawyer also helps ...

What is an entertainment lawyer?

An entertainment lawyer is a law professional who specializes in legal matters related to the entertainment industry. Entertainment lawyers may focus on advising clients on entertainment contract laws, intellectual property or entertainment labor laws.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

An entertainment lawyer can specialize in certain entertainment industries or legal aspects. Their duties can vary depending on their area of specialization, but common responsibilities can include:

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.

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?

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

Entertainment Lawyer Description

In this post we look at what is an entertainment lawyer and when you might need one. In addition to providing an entertainment lawyer definition, we’ll also cover how to find one so that you know where to turn and what to look for when selecting an entertainment lawyer.

Entertainment Lawyer Definition

An entertainment lawyer practices a specialized type of law specific to the entertainment industry. When you think about what is an entertainment lawyer, an image of a slick Hollywood type looking to take advantage of a naïve performer may come to mind.

Entertainment Attorney 101

First things first: if you are in the entertainment industry and have questions about contracts, copyright claims or infringement, or any other legal information related to your creative work, do not seek advice from a non-industry lawyer.

When and Why You Need an Entertainment Lawyer

As a screenwriter, director, musical artist, fiction writer, or a performer with a public image or voice, you own creative copyright.

What to Look for in Hiring an Entertainment Attorney

Now that you understand the role of the entertainment lawyer, it is good to think about what you need help with and select an entertainment attorney carefully. Entertainment lawyers can help with a variety of scenarios and provide critical advice for key moments in your career.

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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.

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.

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.

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