Depending on your opinion of rockstars, being a lawyer who deals with some of the biggest stars in the music industry may sound like a dream job or a nightmare. Whatever your opinion, entertainment law is a unique field of law with its own set of rewards and challenges.
What Is Entertainment Law?
John Branca age 70, has been one of the top entertainmentattornies for decades, working with some of the biggest names in the industry. According to John Branca attorney, being an attorney to rockstars is only 10% to 20% about the law.
So what is entertainment law exactly? Entertainment law is a broad category of law that touches many different aspects of the entertainment industry. It includes topics such as intellectual property, employment law, and contracts. As John Branca attorney noted, entertainment lawyers often wear many different hats, serving not only as attornies but also as business advisers, accountants, investment bankers, therapists, and sometimes even spiritual consultants.
Who Hires Entertainment Lawyers?
Entertainment lawyers may work for large companies, such as movie studios or record labels, or individual clients, such as actors, singers, athletes, and musicians. Some clients may work in more than one industry, such as actors who also sing or athletes who appear in commercials. Additionally, many celebrities run charities or businesses that may not strictly be related to the entertainment industry.
What Skills Do Entertainment Lawyers Need?
Entertainment lawyers need many of the same skills as attorneys who practice in other areas. They need to have a strong grasp of the law with a particular emphasis on legal issues that impact the entertainment industry. They need strong interpersonal and communication skills to be able to work well with high-powered clients and large corporations that may sometimes have contentious relationships or frequent disputes. They also need strong research and writing skills and the ability to think critically and analytically. People working in this field should be prepared to work long hours and may need to travel extensively. Finally, entertainment lawyers may be called upon to make statements to the public on behalf of their clients, so they need to be good at public speaking.
The field of entertainment law is a challenging one. It isn’t a job for wallflowers or people who don’t like dealing with strong personalities. However, due to the fast-changing world of entertainment, it can be a rewarding career for those who enjoy always having a new problem to solve.
