what is the duties of an entertainment lawyer

The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in entertainment lawyer roles:

• Meet with clients who work in the entertainment industry to better understand needs and concerns
• Negotiate contracts with agencies and employers on behalf of clients
• File suits on behalf of clients for issues like copyright infringement, defamation, or liability
• Litigate in trials on behalf of clients who’ve been accused of wrongdoing

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Full Answer

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. ...

How much does an entertainment lawyer cost?

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).

How to become an entertainment attorney?

• The Great Resignation and the pandemic added responsibilities and changed priorities for Hollywood HR execs.
• Insider is highlighting 7 top HR execs at Disney, NBCUniversal, and more entertainment companies.
• The execs said that competition for workers in areas like data science has intensified.

What do entertainment lawyers charge?

Most lawyers bill under one (or several) of the following arrangements:

• Hourly rate: this is the most common way for a lawyer to bill. ...
• Retainer fee: many lawyers require a retainer fee up front, which is something like a down payment on the case. ...
• Flat fee: a lawyer may offer a flat fee for a specific, simple, and well-defined legal case. ...

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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.

What does entertainment law handle?

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".

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.

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.

What should I study for entertainment law?

The common degree for entertainment lawyers is the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree....During this time, you may choose to study topics such as:Copyright law.First amendment practices.Intellectual property law.Negotiations.Income taxes.

What type of lawyer gets paid most?

Medical Lawyers typically make the highest yearly salary. This type of lawyer provides their clients with a variety of legal advisement and services related to medical law. This includes the areas of health care law, personal injury, medical malpractice and a variety of other related areas.

Who is the highest paid lawyer?

Top 10 Highest Paid Lawyer In The WorldRichard Scruggs — Net Worth: $1.7 Billion.Joe Jamail Jr. ... Willie Gary — Net Worth: $100 Million. ... Roy Black — Net Worth: $65 Million. ... Robert Shapiro — Net Worth: $50 Million. ... John Branca – Net Worth: $50 Million. ... Erin Brockovich – Net Worth: $42 Million. ... More items...•

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.

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.

Is entertainment law hard to break into?

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.

How much do celebrity lawyers get paid?

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

Why do entertainment lawyers need to be familiar with the entertainment industry?

Because the industry utilizes so many different fields of practice, entertainment lawyers must have extensive knowledge about multiple legal categories. They must also be familiar with various sectors of the entertainment industry, though some choose to work in just one sector such as music or film.

Where do entertainment lawyers work?

Entertainment lawyers can work in law firms or as in-house counsel for corporations. This type of attorney tends to practice in entertainment hubs such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Nashville, though some find employment across the nation.

How to become an entertainment lawyer?

The first step one must take to become an entertainment lawyer is earning a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. After completing the four years of undergraduate study, the student then takes the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

What do lawyers do after graduation?

After graduating, many lawyers begin their careers by working as law clerks after graduation. Since it is a very specialized field, it is not uncommon for entertainment lawyers to work in a different area of law before finding a job in the entertainment industry.

What is entertainment law?

Entertainment law, sometimes referred to as “media law,” provides various legal services to individuals and businesses involved in the entertainment industry. This area of law covers all different types of media including: Film. Music. Publishing.

What is a masters in law?

A Master of Law degree (M.L. or LL.M) is available for students wanting to take a closer look at the law after receiving their Juris Doctorate degree. The degree is internationally recognized, and it can broaden a person’s career horizons.

Do attorneys need retainers?

Regardless of whether the attorney charges hourly or a flat rate fee, they may also require a retainer. A retainer is a portion of the estimated total costs paid to the lawyer up front. The retainer is put into a special account and is used as the lawyer works on the case.

What do entertainment lawyers do?

Some entertainment lawyers represent individual persons, such as actors or musicians, while others work to protect the trademark rights of major production companies from infringement on characters, plot lines, and brand names . Entertainment lawyers are additionally found in the political arena of the entertainment industry, working to represent bodies of workers such as actors, directors, or writers by working for the unions affiliated with such groups. Regardless of the specific role an entertainment lawyer plays in the field, they will have many of the same duties and responsibilities shared by other types of attorneys.

How much do entertainment lawyers make?

According to Payscale.com in August 2019, entertainment lawyers earned a median salary of $87,000 per year, including bonuses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( www.bls.gov) predicts that the employment of all lawyers should grow by about 4% between 2019 and 2029, which is as fast as average compared to other job sectors.

What is the job of a lawyer?

Unless they are self-employed with a few small-scale clients, lawyers typically act as supervisors to support staff, such as legal assistants, paralegals, and/or secretaries. Day-to-day tasks include conducting research regarding specific matters or cases at hand to prepare for court or negotiation.

How to become an entertainment lawyer?

A prospective entertainment lawyer must attain a high school diploma or the equivalent, followed by a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. He or she then must take the Law School Admission Test and apply to law school. If possible, an aspiring entertainment lawyer should choose a school that specializes in entertainment law. Upon graduation, he or she will receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.). After passing his or her state bar exam, an entertainment lawyer should seek employment at a firm specializing in this discipline.

Do attorneys have to communicate with clients?

All attorneys must communicate well with not only members of their legal team, but most especially with clients and prospective clients. Although some administrative duties will be fulfilled by others, attorneys must be organized and adept at preparing and filing legal documents.

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.

UP NEXT

Legal and insurance issues are not most creatives’ favorite topic! Nonetheless they are vital to any production. In addition to realizing all the details of the creative vision for your project and managing the production tech and details, it is also good to have someone on your team looking out for liability.

Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards

Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.

Entertainment Lawyer: Understanding Their Importance

In some instances, general law may help you to understand the various requirements in your industry. For example, drafting up an employment contract may be something that looks relatively similar for a wide variety of business models.

What Role Do They Play in Your Business?

Of course, the above definition is a very broad overview of the responsibility of an entertainment lawyer in your day-to-day business. The work that they undertake on behalf of your company is essential to keeping your company and its employees protected as you continue operations.

Why Might You Need to Enlist the Help of an Entertainment Lawyer?

Asking when you should reach out to an entertainment lawyer depends entirely on your individual situation. However, looking deeper into an entertainment lawyer's role can help you better understand if and when you'll need to take advantage of their services.

How Do I Go About Hiring an Entertainment Lawyer?

Although this guide dives deeper into what an entertainment lawyer is and what role they play, the truth is that there are all kinds of entertainment lawyers that specialize in various areas of law as well as provide specific services designed specifically for the situation you may find yourself in when you seek out their help.

Meet some of our Lawyers

Diana is a registered patent attorney and licensed to practice law in Florida and in federal courts in Florida and in Texas. For nearly a decade, Diana has been known as the go-to brand builder, business protector, and rights negotiator.

What Does An Entertainment Lawyer Do?

In short, entertainment lawyers work with filmmakers to provide legal advice and counsel on a range of specialty topics. Entertainment lawyers mainly work with producers and executive producers. However, talent such as actors, directors, and writers may also need to hire one during their career.

Do You Need An Entertainment Lawyer?

The answer to whether or not you need an entertainment lawyer is: it depends. While beginning filmmakers and screenwriters typically don’t need a lawyer to start out, as your career advances, you may find yourself needing professional legal advice.

How To Find An Entertainment Lawyer?

Like all jobs in the film industry, most work comes through recommendations. If you know anyone who has previously hired an entertainment lawyer, ask them about their experience. Alternatively, a production company you know might be able to endorse a firm.

What Is The Cost Of An Entertainment Lawyer?

Whether you hire through a law firm or work with a freelancer, every individual will have a unique cost. Most lawyers have an hourly wage, but you can negotiate a flat fee for their services throughout the whole project. Many lawyers will also give a free consultation and use this time to ask straightforward about their services and costs.

In Conclusion

Entertainment lawyers advise and provide essential legal advice for filmmakers. Finding a good lawyer can be difficult, and you will need to negotiate terms in detail before hiring. They are also expensive, and you should consider their cost during your early budget breakdown.

The role of an entertainment attorney in the entertainment industry

This article has been written by Neha Varhadi, pursuing a Diploma in Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Laws from LawSikho.

Introduction

Entertainment law is also commonly known as Media Law. It deals with the legal services provided within the entertainment and media industry. Some law fields are extremely specific.

What is Entertainment law?

Entertainment practically, represents motion pictures, television shows, cinema, plays, etc. It represents glamour, creativity, diligence, and imagination.

Conclusion

As the field of entertainment is constantly evolving so is the law relating thereto. With the current escalation in technology the interest in searching and acquiring new, unique, and different mediums of entertainment like web series, OTT platforms, etc. is on the rise.

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.

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.

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.

Is an entertainment lawyer an employee?

Is an entertainment lawyer hired as an employee or contractor? 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. 16.

Do entertainment lawyers charge hourly?

Very commonly, lawyers charge an hourly rate, but it’s possible to hire one who uses flat rates for particular services as well. Should you hire an entertainment lawyer for a court case, you may even be able to negotiate having their fee—or contingency rate—come out of the expected settlement.

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.

What do entertainment lawyers do?

One of the key things entertainment lawyers do is examine and negotiate contracts and deals. Most of their day is spent meeting with clients, labels, and other lawyers. They then draft arrangements, land booking agents or concert deals and deal with a myriad of other agreements. Not to be confused with a music manager, ...

Why do artists need entertainment lawyers?

This article highlights many key reasons why artists should have an entertainment lawyer. They can help propel your career and then sustain your success by negotiating great deals to landing new sponsorship deals. But before you reach out to entertainment lawyers, make sure to list the reasons you need one, and what you specifically need legal help with. We have listed some great entertainment lawyers, however, before getting in touch with these lawyers, ensure they specialise in the type of legal issues you need help with. Do your research and look at their success rates and who they’ve worked with, and read their reviews.

Who is the best music lawyer in London?

Senior associate solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, Butler-Ball has often been referred to as one of the best music lawyers in London. She has many years’ experience in advising clients in the media and entertainment industries. Butler-Ball advises both individuals and businesses working in music, film, TV, and digital media. She holds a certificate in Legal Rights and Trade Practices in the Creative Industries from UCL Faculty of Laws. The biggest highlights of her career so far has been acting for recording artists on their deals, with some being signed to major record labels such as Sony Music. Much of her recent work also includes providing legal advice to digital media companies and publishers.