Here is a list of duties an entertainment lawyer can do – Negotiating Contracts Protecting copyright Creating all legal paperwork Manage union/non-union issues
They secure talent releases and advise their clients on jobs and contracts. An entertainment attorney can serve as a liaison between the talent and other professionals, from agents and tax preparers to networks and venues. Entertainment attorneys can also facilitate distribution deals for entertainment projects.
Like other attorneys, an entertainment attorney spends three years earning a law degree after receiving a bachelor’s degree. But an entertainment attorney chooses to focus on entertainment, most often graduating from a law school that offers a specialization in entertainment law.
The practical result is that in the music business an agent’s job is to book tours and appearances, and in the motion picture business an agent’s job is to get their clients roles in movies. (One exception to the rule is that a manager may look for and negotiate record contracts on behalf of music clients).
Many times, an actor or musician will need to achieve some degree of success on their own before reputable agents and managers will even consider working with them. If agents and managers start sniffing around, you know your career is headed in the right direction.
What does an entertainment lawyer do?Assisting with the negotiation process for entertainment contracts.Drafting deal and payment agreements regarding bookings or events.Advising clients on legal matters and answering questions related to the entertainment industry.Establishing intellectual property rights for clients.More items...•
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.
The average annual salary for Entertainment Attorneys is approximately $117,600. The salary range for Entertainment Attorneys runs from $77,000 to $186,000.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•
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.
My suggestion would be to make a list of top lawyers, law firms, media companies dealing with media and entertainment law. You can find their information online. Almost all of them have a careers page or contact details. Just get in touch with them and ask about their internship programme or hiring procedure and apply!
Primary SourcesThe Constitution. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8. ... Statutes. Federal statutes relavant to various aspects of the entertainment industry include, but are not limited to: ... Regulations. Federal administrative regulations are codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. ... Case Law.
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.
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:
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.
If you are interested in becoming an entertainment lawyer, consider following these steps:
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.
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.
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.
As a screenwriter, director, musical artist, fiction writer, or a performer with a public image or voice, you own creative copyright.
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.
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.
Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.
Entertainment lawyers are often brought in for a specific task within someone’s entertainment career.
Entertainment law is the epitome of no one-size-fits-all industry. It’s difficult to generalize the role and distill it down to an average day, as a lawyer’s workload and clientele can change daily, but one can expect a fast-paced, agile and monied work environment.
In Hollywood, it’s not always what you know, but who you know, as they say. When it comes to entertainment law, it’s both. Knowing the law inside and out and being able to advocate on a client’s behalf is key.
The general process for entertainment lawyers is no different than other areas of law. After earning a bachelor’s degree, one must take the LSATs, enroll in and graduate from law school and pass the bar exam. From there, an internship or work at a firm will lend experience and offer opportunities to network and practice working with clients.
As an entertainment attorney, there are a few ways to obtain work. Working at a law firm that specializes in entertainment law, such as well-known Loeb & Loeb, Alter Kendrick & Baron, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, means you may represent a variety of entertainment cases on a one-off or consistent basis.
While an entertainer may be wondering if they should choose between an agent or an attorney, or don’t understand the difference, each brings a host of specific expertise. Attorneys, obviously, have studied the law and passed the bar exam, certifying their knowledge and validity to practice.
Put simply, if you find yourself in a situation where legal matters are being discussed, hiring an entertainment attorney would behoove you. If you are a writer launching your first book and are negotiating a contract, or are a singer signing rights to a song, a lawyer would be a key component of that legal work.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.