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What do Entertainment Lawyers do?
Last Updated on: 22nd July 2025, 02:28 am
What is the purpose of an entertainment lawyer?
Entertainment lawyers help clients in the entertainment industry understand legal issues and protect their rights. They provide legal services to individuals and companies in areas like film, TV, music, publishing, theater, sports, digital media, and more.
What are the 5 main things than an entertainment lawyer does?
Some of the main things entertainment lawyers do include:
| – Negotiating contracts | Entertainment attorneys review, draft, negotiate, and sometimes litigate agreements like record deals, licensing contracts, employment agreements with producers, option/purchase agreements, profit participation agreements, and more. |
| – Protecting intellectual property | They help clients register copyrights, trademarks, patents, and understand how to legally protect creative ideas and work. |
| – Navigating industry regulations | Entertainment lawyers keep up with complex industry regulations around things like royalties, residuals, unions, standards and practices, FCC regulations, state film commission incentives, and more to ensure compliance. |
| – Handling litigation | When conflicts arise over contracts, rights, royalties payments, credits/billing, defamation, privacy rights, and other issues, entertainment lawyers can represent clients in mediation, arbitration, or court litigation. |
What major is best for an entertainment lawyer?
To become an entertainment lawyer, there are a few common steps:
- Earn an undergraduate degree
Attend law school and earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree
Pass the bar exam to become licensed in your state
Gain experience through internships or clerkships during law school
Many entertainment lawyers start their careers at general practice law firms to gain foundational experience before specializing. Over time, they may transition into boutique law firms or open their own practices focused entirely on entertainment law.It’s also common for entertainment lawyers to have experience working within the entertainment industry first before going to law school. This hands-on background provides helpful context for representing clients down the road. For example, someone might work for five years as a talent agent or music producer and then decide to get their law degree and become an entertainment lawyer.No matter their path, the most successful entertainment attorneys are those passionate about entertainment and staying on top of industry trends and developments. It’s a very relationship-driven field, so building strong networks is also key.