Definition of an Entertainment Lawyer
Entertainment lawyers practice several different types of law, representing various types of clients. They have the opportunity to be a part of the entertainment industry and lucrative entertainment deals. The field of entertainment law is based on general legal principles within intellectual property law.
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Identification
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Entertainment lawyers represent a broad range of clients such as actors, musicians, writers, sports figures, artists, colleges and universities, businesses, filmmakers and many more. Entertainment law covers several extensive legal topics that interconnect with the entertainment industry. Specifically, entertainment law deals with contract law, employment law, labor law, copyright law, trademark law and patent law. For example, entertainment lawyers negotiate sports, film and record contracts and register trademarks and copyrights for designs, logos, literary and music compositions and more. Entertainment lawyers are hired to represent clients when a party breaches terms in a contract, including failing to pay royalties or following distribution methods. Also, entertainment lawyers represent clients in infringement cases where their intellectual property is being used or sold without their authority.
Education and Training
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Through accredited law schools such as University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), Stanford University and New York University, students can pursue degrees in intellectual property with a focus in entertainment law. According to the U.S. News & World Report, each of these universities has been listed consecutively on top 10 lists for their intellectual property programs. It's no surprise that these universities are considered the best, because California and New York are the capitals of the entertainment industry.
Entertainment courses focus on teaching future lawyers about contracts, ethical issues and how to deal with public figures. As a law student gets closer to graduation, he should try to intern with an entertainment lawyer or firm. An internship will provide a new lawyer with the experience to handle the stress and responsibility that comes with representing entertainment clients who are consistently involved in new projects and may require their attorney to travel a great deal. In addition, lawyers can learn the administrative side to becoming an entertainment attorney. For instance, he will learn how to file copyright and trademark applications, draft and revise contracts and advise clients about royalties. Reputation is important in the entertainment business. Recommendations and references from employers and previous clients are helpful for lawyers who want to increase their client list in the entertainment industry.
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Salary
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Entertainment lawyers can expect to make a median salary of around $49,889 to $122,829, according to PayScale.com. Exact salaries depend on a variety of factors such as specialties, employment location, legal industry (law firms or nonprofits) and experience. Some lawyers base their legal fees on a value billing system where cost is based on earnings of the client, where others base their fees on a fixed percentage. Entertainment lawyers who also act as managers for actors, musicians and athletes can expect to make much more in terms of salary, because they earn a percentage of commissions and royalties from their client's success.
Issues Facing the Entertainment Industry
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Often, professional athletes and celebrities find themselves faced with complex legal problems after comments they have made. Public figures hire entertainment lawyers to help overcome such situations. In addition, writers, artists, directors and musicians hire attorneys to monitor copyright infringement for their published works. Athletes need lawyers to negotiate contracts that guarantee certain salary amounts, bonuses and incentives while playing for their teams. Also, lawyers help protect celebrities' privacy rights from reports, fans and photographers.
Considerations
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As an entertainment lawyer's career progresses, she may start to consider the scope and composition of her client list. As time passes, entertainment lawyers usually find themselves settling into a particular area of law such as contracts, benefits and overtime, and general labor issues involved in the entertainment industry. Entertainment lawyers may want to consider finding clients behind the scenes with crew members and technicians or work on pro-bono and nonprofit cases. Or, they may choose to continue to focus on a select group of high-profile clients or seek out new talent to represent.
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References
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