Sports Law at Marquette or Tulane Forum

[el madrileno]

ETA: I know a guy who went to a school better than Tulane/Marquette to practice "sports law." No joke, he's now a commission-based stadium seating salesman with ~$200,000

Somebody* is going to see this, stop reading, and think 200k/year salary.

*me for a split second

[Johann]

Fun, exciting, and/or meaningful activities don't become viable career paths just because somebody has stapled the word "law" to them.

See also:

Entertainment
International
Human Rights
Space

i cant believe a tenured professor who also gets to make money publishing that law school is a scam (what many on this forum spend way more hours doing for free) would tell someone they shouldn't pursue fun, exciting or meaningful activities.

[lacrossebrother]

Do JD/MBA at which ever one is cheaper and network like a mofo and win a couple writing contests on sports law and you'll be fine.

[North]

Do JD/MBA at which ever one is cheaper and network like a mofo and win a couple writing contests on sports law and you'll be fine.

Or just hang a shingle with a small business loan from dad, right lax.

[lacrossebrother]

Do JD/MBA at which ever one is cheaper and network like a mofo and win a couple writing contests on sports law and you'll be fine.

Or just hang a shingle with a small business loan from dad, right lax.

Feel free to pretend that friends and family and second mortgages aren't common sources of startup funds. The fact you grew up in fucking plainsville doesn't mean that everyone needs to constantly subject themselves to your fucking deadbeat, never take a risk advice though.

[North]

Do JD/MBA at which ever one is cheaper and network like a mofo and win a couple writing contests on sports law and you'll be fine.

Or just hang a shingle with a small business loan from dad, right lax.

Feel free to pretend that friends and family and second mortgages aren't common sources of startup funds. The fact you grew up in fucking plainsville doesn't mean that everyone needs to constantly subject themselves to your fucking deadbeat, never take a risk[*][/color] advice though.

*stupid risk based on unrealistic understanding of even the best case outcome

[lacrossebrother]

Ya I'm sure there's tons of tulane jd/mba's who go to school on minimal scholarhsips who try to network with the scores of ncaa/pro sports workers in new orleans who hit rock bottom by not finding an agency to take them and have to do something ghastly like labor law after the couple of years of attending conferences and shit, so I do apologize.

[North]

Ya I'm sure there's tons of tulane jd/mba's who go to school on minimal scholarhsips who try to network with the scores of ncaa/pro sports workers in new orleans who hit rock bottom by not finding an agency to take them and have to do something ghastly like labor law after the couple of years of attending conferences and shit, so I do apologize.

Even your sarcastic, point-making posts are filled with entitled, rich kid bullshit that 0L's reading might actually base decisions off (and as always when responding to lax's lizard brained trollling, this is what I'm concerned about).

Lol @ rock bottom being a job Practicing Labor Law after taking a couple years to just attend conferences and network (funded by that second mortgage, rite). [link to Vale thread]

[lacrossebrother]

Dude 90% of the vale thread is 3Ls. AKA people who haven't graduated. It's absurd.

[North]

Dude 90% of the vale thread is 3Ls. AKA people who haven't graduated. It's absurd.

Don't worry, LST measures employment at 9 months after graduation.

Tulane: 52%
Marquette: 51.5%

ETA: the other 50% is busy negotiating interest rates on their small business loans and ~networking hard~ at sports law conferences, right lax.

Oh that's right, you went to Tulane (lax paid for this by working the night shift at jimmy johns and playing in a street band and other assorted bootstrapping, FYI). Now it makes sense.

[wons]

I generally assume that when people say they want to practice "sports law," it means they would like to be a player agent or general counsel for a franchise or something to that effect.

Exactly, obviously it's not what I expect straight out of law school, but someday I would love to move in-house with a professional sports league or franchise.

Why? What do you think a lawyer at a league or franchise does, and how do you think it differs from a lawyer at, say, a supermarket chain or a tire manufacturer.

This is an important thing for all y'all to understand before you go to law school - being a lawyer means that you practice law. If you practice law for the Yankees, you are practicing law. You are not playing baseball for the Yankees. You are negotiating immaterial terms of form supply contracts with vendors, or you are making sure that the security documentation was properly filed for your credit facility from JP Morgan. You sit in an office from 9 to 6 and push paper. This is what a lawyer does, and it isn't sexier because you do it for one type of company versus another.

[jingosaur]

In other words, it is essentially a tie-breaker if law school attended, previous law experience, and previous "networking" (connections made with the firm previously, attitude and knowledge of sports, etc.) are all equal.

The problem is that you'll be competing for these jobs against people who did better in law school than you, went to better schools, and have stronger work experience. And when one of those people don't get the job, someone who's gotten in through nepotism or casually knowing several professional athletes or front office execs is getting the job.

Pick your school based on general employment prospect of that school. 99% of people in "sports law" got into it because of pure luck and coincidence that they knew the right people or were in the right place at the right time.

[Dream_weaver32]

I generally assume that when people say they want to practice "sports law," it means they would like to be a player agent or general counsel for a franchise or something to that effect.

Exactly, obviously it's not what I expect straight out of law school, but someday I would love to move in-house with a professional sports league or franchise.

Why? What do you think a lawyer at a league or franchise does, and how do you think it differs from a lawyer at, say, a supermarket chain or a tire manufacturer.

This is an important thing for all y'all to understand before you go to law school - being a lawyer means that you practice law. If you practice law for the Yankees, you are practicing law. You are not playing baseball for the Yankees. You are negotiating immaterial terms of form supply contracts with vendors, or you are making sure that the security documentation was properly filed for your credit facility from JP Morgan. You sit in an office from 9 to 6 and push paper. This is what a lawyer does, and it isn't sexier because you do it for one type of company versus another.

I'm not arguing, in fact I'm agreeing! I will attend the best school I can for the best COA, with plans of biglaw. I was merely agreeing with the assessment that by saying sports law, I mean that my goal would be counsel within a sports franchise.

[timbs4339]

This is an important thing for all y'all to understand before you go to law school - being a lawyer means that you practice law. If you practice law for the Yankees, you are practicing law. You are not playing baseball for the Yankees. You are negotiating immaterial terms of form supply contracts with vendors, or you are making sure that the security documentation was properly filed for your credit facility from JP Morgan. You sit in an office from 9 to 6 and push paper. This is what a lawyer does, and it isn't sexier because you do it for one type of company versus another.

Um rong

A Day in the Life of a Sports Lawyer:

8:30: Wake up in king-size bed to full view of Miami skyline. Soak in outdoor Jacuzzi while reviewing client’s latest endorsement deal on your iPad.

9:30: Call pasty lawyer for the sports drink company. Talk about how much client enjoys Powerade. Throw out a seven-figure number. Lawyer meekly assents.

10:00: Roll through town in brand-new Gallardo (a gift from an NASCAR driver who shall not be named). Take a call from the distraught parents of a first-round draft pick. In flyover country twang, they explain their son’s in a little trouble with the police.

10:15: Arrive at your downtown office. There’s white marble and a two-story fountain in the lobby. Ask cute, perky assistant with dirty blonde hair to get you the name of a local judge. Assistant wonders why you’re asking her to get local judge’s number, since in 2017 everyone has the numbers in their GoogleGlass.

11:00: Call with local judge who happens to be a season ticket holder. After you explain the situation, he signs an order for your client’s release as long as you keep him away from farm animals.

12:30: Lunch with Rival Sports Lawyer where you discuss competing views on the profession. He thinks clients are just meat to be grinded out. You think each client is a special snowflake.

2:00: Check fantasy sports league. You’re number one. Fondly reminisce how being champ of your fantasy football league in college and leading your team to victory at the UVA softball tournament B division (two years in a row!) first brought you to the attention of Big Time Sports Law Firm.

3:45: Trip to Dolphins training camp to negotiate new contract. Although you switched to soccer in elementary school because your Mom said “tackle football” was too dangerous, you can tell just from watching a few minutes of practice that your client’s an integral part of the team’s offensive scheme. This and a withering barrage of statistics wring another $3 million out of the GM.

5:00: Call with frantic GMs from three different MLB teams. There’s a six player trade they need done before the trade deadline at midnight. You think this rush of adrenaline must be what it’s like to pitch game 7 on three days of rest. You do a line of coke because Miami.

9:30: Deal of the century is done. Everyone calls you with congrats. Sexy blonde ESPN correspondent calls you to do a private interview.

10:00: Arrive at South Beach club wearing sharp suit with open collar. Walk past stunned club goers. Table in the VIP section with various professional athletes. They express admiration at what you do.

11:35: Spot a former Heat dancer who you helped secure a modeling contract at favorable terms. She glides over to you, looks deeply into your eyes, and whispers seductively “take advantage of three year federal deferment programs by calling us at 1-800-SHW-MUNY.”

8:45 AM: Wake up in a cold sweat with an unpaid student loan bill stuck to your forehead. You have an hour to get to Pinecrest to cover a $350 home closing. Before leaving, you check your fantasy sports standings. You’re third, behind a junior DA and the guy who picks players based on how many endorsement deals they have.

[North]

Loooooooooooooool timbs

[AReasonableMan]

The best shot you have at any kind of job is from on campus recruiting. In this situation, the firm pays the school and uses employee time to actively try to hire people from your school. Otherwise, sports law or not, you are one of thousands of people spamming a recruiter's email. A sports agency doesn't need fifteen fresh JD's per year. Your best bet at sports law is going to be a big firm that has a legitimate sports law practice. Most of the JD's in powerful sports positions like commissioners and such started off at a big firm.

[P.J.Fry]

I generally assume that when people say they want to practice "sports law," it means they would like to be a player agent or general counsel for a franchise or something to that effect.

Exactly, obviously it's not what I expect straight out of law school, but someday I would love to move in-house with a professional sports league or franchise.

Why? What do you think a lawyer at a league or franchise does, and how do you think it differs from a lawyer at, say, a supermarket chain or a tire manufacturer.

This is an important thing for all y'all to understand before you go to law school - being a lawyer means that you practice law. If you practice law for the Yankees, you are practicing law. You are not playing baseball for the Yankees. You are negotiating immaterial terms of form supply contracts with vendors, or you are making sure that the security documentation was properly filed for your credit facility from JP Morgan. You sit in an office from 9 to 6 and push paper. This is what a lawyer does, and it isn't sexier because you do it for one type of company versus another.

Although I'm not saying anything about the chances of actually getting a "sports law" job, I can definitely see the appeal to it. Obviously you aren't going to end up being Jerry MacGuire, and yes, you might actually have to practice law, do some paperwork, negotiate boring contracts etc.. That being said, the advice constantly given out to law students when seeking jobs is to find an area of law you are interested in. If you are a huge sports fanatic, and there is an opportunity to represent one of your favorite teams or players, how could that not be exciting - at least as far as the practice of law can actually be exciting?

As a personal anecdote, my aunt was part of the Edmonton Oilers' legal team back in the Wayne Gretzky era. She definitely has some pretty cool stories from her time with the team. I'm sure there were plenty of boring times too.

[ilikebaseball]

never really understood the idea of going to law school to practice "sports law." I haven't done any research, but I feel like it ends up happening to maybe 1%? I also feel like you shouldnt go to a law school that specializes in sports law. I know for damn sure that if I was an owner and had to hire someone I would hire the Harvard real estate law grad over the Tulane sports law grad

[North]

never really understood the idea of going to law school to practice "sports law." I haven't done any research, but I feel like it ends up happening to maybe 1%? I also feel like you shouldnt go to a law school that specializes in sports law. I know for damn sure that if I was an owner and had to hire someone I would hire the Harvard real estate law grad over the Tulane sports law grad

One of my good bros at UVA is going to a firm that does sports law and will likely end up doing work for the practice group. Dude has zero demonstrated interest in the practice, but good grades and LR. The firm never asked why, if he wanted to come to a firm that did sports law, he didn't consider the ~strong~ sports law certificate programs at Tulane or Marquette over his T14.

If you really really want to practice whatever you imagine sports law to be, then the same TLS advice still applies. Retake the LSAT until you can go to a T14 (preferably with $$$), and then get great grades.

Nobody's hiring sports lawyers, whatever that unicorn job entails, from fucking Tulane.

[AReasonableMan]

never really understood the idea of going to law school to practice "sports law." I haven't done any research, but I feel like it ends up happening to maybe 1%? I also feel like you shouldnt go to a law school that specializes in sports law. I know for damn sure that if I was an owner and had to hire someone I would hire the Harvard real estate law grad over the Tulane sports law grad

One of my good bros at UVA is going to a firm that does sports law and will likely end up doing work for the practice group. Dude has zero demonstrated interest in the practice, but good grades and LR. The firm never asked why, if he wanted to come to a firm that did sports law, he didn't consider the ~strong~ sports law certificate programs at Tulane or Marquette over his T14.

If you really really want to practice whatever you imagine sports law to be, then the same TLS advice still applies. Retake the LSAT until you can go to a T14 (preferably with $$$), and then get great grades.

Nobody's hiring sports lawyers, whatever that unicorn job entails, from fucking Tulane.

Makes sense. Lawyering is a skill. Take athleticism. If LeBron James had pursued football instead of basketball, he would be an all pro wide receiver. If Antonio Gates stuck with basketball, he would have had an NBA career. The best "sports lawyers" could have been some of the best M&A lawyers. Clients don't care about your demonstrated interest or passion. They aren't paying to bang you. They want somebody who will do a good job, and create minimal stress. While some interest is probably necessary to keeping up with changes in the field showing you're not a flight risk, most people are interested in sports.

If specialty rankings have any value at all it is in stuff that is in demand but most aren't interested in like Native American law or something. The rule of thumb should be if you mention the area of law to a random person at a bar and they think your job seems awesome then a specialty degree is useless.

[Nomo]

If you want to represent athletes your best bet is to delay law school and spend time making connections with tons of athletes.

Other than that there really isn't that much that is special about "sports law." Players unions are by and large represented by biglaw partners who specialize in labor law. Some partners might eventually develop expertise in collective bargaining agreements in a particular sports league - but its really just a subset of labor law. You can say similar things about arena financing, public/private partnerships, anti-trust, licensing, etc. Nobody wants a "sports law" lawyer to handle their trademark case, they want a trademark lawyer. Even at Proseker Rose the "sports law" group is made up lawyers who primarily work in traditional practice areas, and only work in sports when a sports case intersects with their area of expertise.

There are a few exceptions. For instance, I know that a former NCAA compliance investigator set up a small firm representing colleges that are under NCAA investigation. But the exceptions are extremely niche.

[deadpanic]

Another anecdote but had a friend that was dead set on "sports law." Got the certificate, was on the sports law journal (lol), gave presentations about it, thought he made some connections--had a genuine interest in the field. Long story short, he does doc review now for about $18/hour. That is a much more likely outcome from Marquette or Tulane.

[pancakes3]

Tagliabue went to NYU. Goodell worked his way up from an intern position and doesn't even have a law degree.

http://www.martindale.com/Profile/Profi ... gId=434936

Not a single Marquette or Tulane grad in the lot of them.

[patogordo]

goodell's dad was also a congressman. that helps.

[AReasonableMan]

goodell's dad was also a congressman. that helps.

explains his self destructive behavior (i'm going to single handedly take on responsibility for all off the field issues which can only lead to me being hated, and has no shot at boosting my public image).