Cody Phillips MUM 2702, Professor Calle Miami Dade College Spring 2008

Career description  A copyright/entertainment lawyer establishes the rights of creative works and intellectual property and protects them from theft and unauthorized use.  These lawyers work for film studios, book publishers, and record companies, but may also represent individual artists.

Skills  To be successful in the law field one should possess great writing, researching, analytic, networking, and speaking skills. As well as being highly self-motivated and always prepared to learn.  For this career path no musical talent is necessary, but any background in music and the arts can help you communicate with your clients more effectively.  A four year (bachelor’s) degree is required to apply for law school.

Education  Ultimately to be able to practice in this field, one must complete law school (J.D., three years); which is entered upon completion of a bachelor’s degree.  Although no particular focus is required to enter law school, it is beneficial to take intellectually challenging courses; ones that build writing and analytic skills and focus on researched projects and class discussions.  Applicants must take the LSAT test to be considered for law school entrance.

Colleges offering law degrees  University of Southern California – Gould School of law  NYU Law  Columbia Law School

Education and training costs  $64,000 - $66,000 per year for the J.D. This includes cost of living estimates. Tuition averages around $43,000 per year.  Most schools offer grants/scholarships to cover some of the costs. The rest can be covered with federal Stafford loans and federal Graduate PLUS loans.  Most students will work will attending law school, but it is mostly for experience rather than trying to cover the cost of their education.

Markets and disciplines  This work encompasses contract, copyright, intellectual property, trademark, corporate, first amendment, and licensing law as well as litigation.  Spans all markets that intellectual property, copyrights and creative expression touch including: music, art, sports, film, publishing, software manufacturing, etc.

Locations  While this form of law (intellectual property rights) can be practiced anywhere, the centers for entertainment (New York, Los Angeles, Nashville) offer a good starting point for work.

Employability  In ,000 people were employed as lawyers. 27% of whom were considered self-employed.  Job competition is intense, so many lawyers take jobs outside there field of interest or ones they feel overqualified for.  A graduate’s academic achievements, flexibility, willingness to relocate, and work experience will play a large role in landing a job.

Security and benefits  Employment is expected to grow 11% over the next decade. This grow is tied to the growth of the population and of overall business transactions.  This job growth will come from increased demand in the areas of health care, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust, and environmental law.  Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made to retirement plans on their behalf. Lawyers who practice independently are covered only if they arrange and pay for such benefits themselves.

Salaries  In May 2006, the median annual earnings of lawyers were $102,470. The middle half of the occupation earned between $69,910 and $145,600.  Average salaries for lawyers 9 months after graduation in 2005 was $60,000 with some earning as much as $85,000.

Advancement  To stay at the top in this field lawyers most constantly be keeping up with new laws/codes and always be willing to learn.  In 2006, 43 States and jurisdictions required lawyers to participate in mandatory continuing legal education. Many law schools and State and local bar associations provide continuing education courses that help lawyers stay abreast of recent developments. Some States allow continuing education credits to be obtained through participation in seminars on the Internet.  This career can be fulfilled from within a large firm or in a government position, but can be highly satisfying and more free with self-employment.

Flexibility  This field is all about being able to work in many different disciplines at any given time.  Being knowledgeable about contract, copyright, licensing, and intellectual property law will only broaden your opportunities in this line of work.

Pluses  High paying.  Always in demand/needed.  Can be very rewarding personally.  Many different avenues available for employment.

Minuses  Can be very challenging work and require long hours.  Requires a very long and expensive education.  Requires one to always be keeping up with current law practices.

Summary  A copyright/entertainment lawyer is a career that has a chance to take someone many different places and meet a lot of diverse people. To be prepared for this career one must be very educated across multiple areas, possess many skills, and be willing to be an eternal student. While it seems like a career that takes a lot of preparation to get into, it also seems like one that could provide a lifetime of great work.

Recommendations  Go to the best possible school that you can get in to.  While in school always do the best you can, this is preparation for the rest of your life.  Focus your studies on as many areas related to intellectual property and the entertainment business as possible.  Always be willing to learn.  Network within the law/entertainment field as quickly and extensively as you can.

References Baskerville, D. (2001). Music business handbook and career guide (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Columbia Law: Columbia Law School. (2008). Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: eHow.com. (2008). How to Become a Copyright Lawyer. eHow Careers & Work Editor. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: lawyer.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art. lawyer.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art Lawcrossing. (2008). Entertainment Law - Glamor By Association? Erica Winter. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: Lawgirl.com. (2003). Getting in to law school & Launching a career in entertainment law. Jodi Sax. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: New York University School of Law. (2008). Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: USC Gould School of Law. (2008) Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008). Occupational Outlook Handbook - Lawyers. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from: