Individuals or businesses involved in the entertainment industry, which includes television, film, radio, recording, theater, publishing, and digital media, can seek legal help from an entertainment lawyer. Despite the wide variety of media, entertainment law can be divided into two main categories: transactions and litigation. A lawyer who works in the entertainment industry can specialize in a variety of areas that fall under these broad headings. Some law schools specialize in training future entertainment lawyers, and the majority of those who choose this path work in specific media hubs.
Because of the wide range of potential problems and opportunities that the entertainment industry presents, anyone interested in becoming an entertainment lawyer should be well-versed in a variety of legal fields. Lawyers representing an actor or musician, for example, must be familiar with contract law as well as intellectual property law in order to protect their clients. Lawyers who represent film producers are frequently required to understand the fundamentals of distribution rights. Lawyers can assist networks in defending themselves against costly lawsuits. On any given day, anything tangentially related to any media could come to the attention of an entertainment lawyer.
Transaction-based law, the more common of the two types of entertainment law, necessitates a lawyer’s focus on contracts. Lawyers in this position may be responsible for drafting agreements for their clients, negotiating better deals, or ensuring that the agreements are followed. Lawyers who specialize in both defending their clients from lawsuits and filing and pursuing lawsuits on their clients’ behalf practice litigation-based law.
A variety of job descriptions for an entertainment lawyer exist within these two categories. Talent agreements and contracts; labor negotiations with union crews on television, film, or theater sets; equipment and space rental for the performing arts; licensing and regulatory issues; copyright protection; and production liability concerns are all possible responsibilities. The rise of digital media has given rise to a whole new set of potential entertainment law issues.
Many entertainment lawyers attend law schools with specialized entertainment law programs. Lawyers who are fortunate enough to land a job in this highly competitive field usually start as associates in large firms that specialize in entertainment law. It’s also a good idea for aspiring entertainment lawyers to relocate to a region of their country that is heavily involved in the entertainment industry. In the United States, for example, most entertainment lawyers are concentrated in the areas of Los Angeles and New York City, which account for the majority of the country’s film, television, music, theater, and publishing output.