why being a lawyer can help as a sports agent

Sports lawyers often serve as agents as well as legal negotiators. Sports law involves more than just athletes; coaches, trainers, managers and athletic trainers need sports contracts, too. Lawyers who practice sports law are often both the contract drafters and the negotiators when millions of dollars are on the line.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer to become a sports agent?

May 23, 2018 · A lawyer by trade, Scott Boras turned his skills to negotiating sports contracts. In the process, he landed billions for his clients and earned hundreds of millions for himself. Forbes named him back-to-back "The World's Most Powerful Sports Agent." But that's not important to you right now. What you want to know is, how do you get there. As a wise man -- not Jerry …

What kind of lawyer practises sports law?

Feb 18, 2021 · Simply put, if you need legal help and advice, you should always speak with a sports lawyer vs. sports agent. Attorneys are the only professionals who can guide you through legal challenges. Plus, some attorneys work as sports agents, which means that they can serve clients in both capacities.

What is the difference between sports agency and sports law?

Oct 30, 2013 · While many agents are indeed lawyers, being a lawyer is not required. Most of your responsibilities as a sports agent will be recruiting new clients and managing the lives of your current clients. Contract negotiations only occur once every several years per client.

What does a sports agent do?

Aug 25, 2016 · So while you, the sports agent, focus on recruiting talent and servicing their day-to-day needs, you can have access to a sports lawyer who can review documents come contract time, which is usually only once every few years anyhow. Bottom line: you don’t need a law degree to be a sports agent, all you need is SMWW.com!

Should all sports agents be lawyers?

A law degree is not necessary to become a sports agent. Period. Many sports agents are lawyers - Scott Boras, Arn Tellum, Ben Dogra – but it is not a prerequisite or a mandate for success and here is why: As a sports agent, your primary concern is to take care of your clients business and personal affairs.Aug 25, 2016

Why do athletes need lawyers?

Athletes, coaches, managers, and agents all use sports lawyers to represent their interests in everything from contract negotiation to defamation suits. Even more complex legal issues, such as what is considered gender discrimination in sports, are sometimes fought by sports lawyers.

Do most sports agents go to law school?

The most successful agents have attended a variety of law schools. Some are in the top tier, others you may have never heard of before. A few have decent Sports Law programs while others do not even have a single Sports Law class (like my lovely UF Law).

What are some benefits of being a lawyer?

Benefits for LawyersMedical and dental plans.Short- and long-term disability plans.Health care reimbursement account through pre-tax deductions.401(k) retirement savings plan.Domestic partner benefits.Life insurance.Firm-paid business travel accident insurance.Firm-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance.More items...

What is the importance of sports law?

Aside from conduct or harm on the players part, sports law plays an instrumental role in making sure that players aren't being discriminated upon due to their religion, race, or stature. By keeping employers in check from biased practices, sports as a whole can involve a much larger array of talented individuals.

Why are most athlete agents also lawyers?

A background in contract law can boost a sports agent's credibility and help save the athlete the expense of hiring both an attorney to examine the terms of the contract and an agent to promote their career. Many sports agents are also attorneys or have degrees in law.

How do you become a sports lawyer?

Students interested in pursuing sports law must get themselves enrolled for a law course initially. Either they sign up for the 5 years integrated course in India or they take up any law-related subject in their undergrad and then go on to pursue a three year LLB degree.Apr 14, 2021

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Medical lawyers are among the highest-paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.

How much do sports lawyers make?

Sports legal positions may differ based on particular positions. According to PayScale, sports agents make an average of $51,699 every year. On the other hand, sports attorneys have considerably higher salaries, amounting to a colossal $95,000 per year.

Why are lawyers so important?

Lawyers are advocates and advisors for our society. They work to represent individuals and corporations in civil trials, and to promote justice in criminal trials. Attorneys work as advisors to their clients, informing them of their rights, the processes of law and help them navigate the sometimes-tricky legal system.Apr 18, 2012

Why do I love being a lawyer?

You Get to Help People You do help people, whether you're a criminal prosecutor or an insurance defense attorney. That's one of the great things of working directly with clients: you're always solving someone's problems.Dec 31, 2015

What are lawyers afraid of?

Some of lawyers' most common fears include: Feeling that their offices or cases are out of control. Changing familiar procedures. Looking foolish by asking certain questions.Nov 1, 2015

What is the difference between a sports lawyer and a sports agent?

Sports lawyers and sports agents follow two separate career paths and assist clients in very different ways. Sports lawyers oversee their client’s legal protection while a sports agent is assigned to take care of clients’ needs, such as marketing, travel booking, and more.

What is sports law?

Sports law is an umbrella term that refers to athletes, athletics, and sports organizations’ legal issues. While there are not necessarily legal sections that address sports specifically, sports laws draw upon several other bodies.

What is a corporate lawyer?

A business-oriented, proactive, and problem-solving corporate lawyer with in-house counsel experience ensuring the legality of commercial transactions. Adept in reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and generally overseeing policies, procedures, handbooks, corporate documents, and contracts. Proven track record of helping lead domestic and international companies by ensuring they are functioning in complete compliance with local and international rules and regulations.

What is sports law?

Sports Law. Sports law is the collection of the many different types of law that impact the sports industry. Sports law might involve issues that relate to professional or Olympic athletes. It also relates to laws that govern youth and amateur sports. There are many different types of law that impact the sports industry like contract law, ...

Where do lawyers work?

Lawyers who work for professional sports teams live in the cities where the teams operate. Lawyers who work for professional athletes either live in major entertainment hubs like New York or Los Angeles or they work in the cities where the athletes and other professionals work.

What are the different types of sports law?

There are many different types of law that impact the sports industry like contract law, personal injury law, trademark, criminal law, and athletic administration. Sports lawyers live and work throughout the United States.

Is sports law personal property?

Sports law may include personal property law. Sports memorabilia may be an issue in sports law. Sports law may determine who owns an item of sports memorabilia when ownership is in dispute. Alternatively, when a divorce involves sports memorabilia, sports law may involve family law.

What is the purpose of trademark law?

Trademark law might protect the team that they play for. If an athlete gets hurt inside or outside the field of play, personal injury law might come into play. In addition to professional athletes, sports law reaches the youngest children that play sports. Rules for coach training and safety equipment might impact young athletes.

What is contract law?

Contract law in sports law. Perhaps the most well known area of sports law is contract law. Contracts between professional athletes and the teams that employ them are of critical importance. For star athletes, contracts can involve millions of dollars. A contract must carefully spell out terms of performance.

What is trademark infringement?

Professional sports teams depend on their trademarks. Trademark infringement is a challenging area of sports law for the attorneys who work to enforce trademarks on behalf of college and professional sports teams. Merchandising is often as critical to the income of a college or professional team as ticket sales. Sports lawyers perform a critical function enforcing the trademark rights of the teams they represent.

What does a sports agent do?

Sports agents represent the interest of athletes, particularly in contract negotiations. They also handle sponsorships, public relations, and financial planning. Professional athletes often are signing their first professional contracts in their late teens or early 20s and rarely have the experience or education to fully understand ...

What do sports agents need to know?

Agents need to be able to identify comparable players whose contracts might serve as a baseline for what their clients are seeking. Sports agents should be able to present complete statistical analyses that show their clients are des erving of the contracts they are seeking .

What degree do sports agents need?

Many sports agents are graduates of sports management programs at the undergraduate level who then go on to add a law degree. Agents who do not have a law degree generally need to work with someone who does have the legal expertise to review contracts and advise accordingly.

Who is Frank Angst?

Frank Angst is an award-winning sportswriter with nearly 20 years experience. He wrote about sports professions for The Balance Careers. Sports agents represent the interest of athletes, particularly in contract negotiations. They also handle sponsorships, public relations, and financial planning.

Why do athletes need agents?

This helps them make long-term contract decisions. Agents help athletes get a great reputation. Great agents are able to then match their clients to the right team and help them get the best package available. Thanks to the reputation the agent helped build, the athlete will be in high demand.

Why do athletes need sponsorships?

Since professional athletic careers tend to be short, sponsorships provide a longer career certainty. Athletes count on their agents to help them make as much money as possible in a short time span, which is where sponsorships truly help out. Agents are able to accept disappointment with grace.

Who talked about Dwight Howard?

For example, Dan Fegan used this tactic in 2011 when he talked about Dwight Howard, a basketball player for Orlando Magic. The press talked for what seemed like forever about Howard and how he was possibly becoming a free agent. This was great for his career. Agents know how to generate interest in an athlete.

Who is Tom Condon?

For example, Tom Condon, a former football player who eventually became an agent, took his father’s advice and went to law school as his career as an athlete started to wind down. Eventually, Condon became known as a great sports athlete who was praised for his tough negotiating skills.

What does a sports agent do?

A sports agent's duties often include: Traveling to high schools and colleges to meet and recruit new players. Negotiating contracts that may involve signing new players, writing contract extensions or signing endorsement deals. Managing their client's daily finances and investments. Overseeing a player's marketing strategies and brand promotions.

What are the skills needed for a sports agent?

There are several soft and hard skills that can be beneficial for sports agents. These include: 1 Communication skills: Sports agents must be able to communicate with their clients, coordinate with their coworkers and address the general public to carry out their duties successfully. 2 Organizational skills: Sports agents are responsible for their clients' finances, assets, contracts and more. They must be able to keep track of necessary tasks and finish assignments in a timely manner. 3 Sales skills: Part of a sports agent's job is securing endorsement deals, negotiating contract changes and arranging marketing campaigns. They must be able to pitch their vision effectively to others to ensure their cooperation.

How many hours do sports agents work?

They typically work 40-hour schedules but are often required to work evenings or weekends. They may be required to travel whenever their clients play games in different cities and states. The sports industry is fast-paced and competitive, so sports agents often have to function well under pressure.

Do sports agents need a license?

Some states require that all sports agents have a license and be registered in the state in which they plan to work. The requirements for licensure vary by state, so you will have to conduct your own research before applying. Typically, licensure will involve submitting an application, paying a fee and submitting to a thorough background check.

What are the disadvantages of being an attorney?

2. There is more information for clients to determine which person is the right one to choose for representation (such as formal evaluations) Disadvantages: 1.

When was the Sports Agent blog created?

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Advocacy

Athletes are not negotiators, and they have to prove their worth against people who are paid to negotiate. Take LeBron James, for example – if basketball was not a salary capped sport, he could conceivably negotiate an otherworldly salary.

Marketing

There are other areas besides being a relay point with a team. Agents are often big parts of negotiating endorsement deals. Players who are marketed well are players that end up commanding more money for their services from teams.

What Is Sports Law?

Sports Law Continues to Grow and Change

Who Practices Sports Law?

Why Become A Sports Lawyer?

• Attorneys who practice sports law have the opportunity to practice their craft in an exciting arena. They have the opportunity to practice law in a high-profile and influential field. For attorneys who enjoy sports, a specialization in sports law can be a challenging way to stay active in the world of sports while earning an income in a unique area...

See more on legalcareerpath.com

Turning A Game Into A Profession