Best schools - Sports & Entertainment, IP Forum

[marsilni]

I want to work in Los Angeles at a firm that specializes in sports and entertainment, hopefully segueing into a job as an agent, manager or studio executive (all modest aspirations, I know). Will the school I go to affect my ability to work at such a firm? Ideally I'd like to go to Harvard, but lately I've been thinking that I might be better off going to a CA school (Stanford, Berekely, UCLA), or at least a school that is renown for its IP or entertainment program. Since Harvard has a reputation for producing corporate lawyers that want to work on the East Coast (NYC) does that make it harder to land a job at a West Coast firm?

[JWicker10]

Ideally a lot of people would like to go to Harvard. How about you give us all some stats such as LSDAS UG GPA as well as your LSAT score so we can discuss what schools are realistically feasible for you to get into.

[marsilni]

177, 3.91 (BS in economics, political science minor)

[mbw]

177, 3.91 (BS in economics, political science minor)

Harvard. I have friend there right now who went there with a similar plan.

ETA: If you don't get into HLS (which you will with those numbers, unless you're a felon or complete misfit - and even then...) look for a full ride from the school with the best property program -- not specifically IP, but general property, with a good IP as well. A lot of people will tell you that specialties in law school don't matter -- however, when it comes to niche fields, I think they're wrong -- connections matter, and having a good mentor with mojo might be the key to breaking into a tight field.

[smalltown]

connections matter, and having a good mentor with mojo might be the key to breaking into a tight field.

Yep. I know less about entertainment law than sports law, but sports law is just law - contracts, labor, IP, sometimes federal legislation like Title IX if you're in collegiate athletics. I went to the Sports Lawyers Association conference this year and have a summer job in sports law, and what I saw at the conference was that the top of the game is made up of the same schools as any other field of law - Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, etc. If you can get into Harvard, I'd suggest that over a school in Los Angeles. That just reaches so far over all else.

For those that don't have the stats like yours and want to get into sports law, I'd suggest going to a school that has an FBS athletic department or a major basketball program, or is close to a major metro market with multiple pro teams. That way you can get your foot in the door, and after that, it's more about you and your abilities than your school and your grades.

It's important to realize what an agent really does. League contracts are pretty much just fitting numbers into standard formulas, and endorsement contracts are relatively the same. A huge amount of time is spent being a gopher and facilitator for everything your client needs, from advice on how to pay rent to dinner reservations for their girlfriends. And it's cut throat and an unethical practice area. But it can be very lucrative.

With those numbers, you have plenty of options, though. You keep on that track and make a few connections and you'll have your pick of what to do.

[mbw]

^
Funny, since I'm in a very niche field not far off from entertainment law, I naturally pointed the OP to the areas which benefit my career path, without thinking about Sports Law and the distinct areas of law (labor, contract) also implicated. My bad. So yes, if you're focused more on sports than entertainment (and specifically, contract over property and/or intellectual property,) ignore my previous advice. Except the part about the mentor. Find a mentor in your field.

[smalltown]

Except the part about the mentor. Find a mentor in your field.

You bet. This is essential. Not just for networking, but for reassurance that the sky is not falling. And return the favor.

[nealric]

177, 3.91 (BS in economics, political science minor)

Stanford or Yale- only Harvard if you don't get into either of those.

[JWicker10]

I think this is a flame. When did you take the LSAT and why'd you wait to apply?