Looking for Cities & Schools for Entertainment Law (Music) Forum

[?uesto]

Hey all, hopefully this isn't too pre-mature, but I want to get as much perspective and insight as I can as early as possible.

I'm still in undergrad, in my fourth year (I still have another two (or maybe three) semesters after this Fall though). I'm studying Political Science with a minor in Music Business at Florida Atlantic University, and currently have a 2.5 GPA. I messed around a lot my first two years and have been playing catch up since. Not proud of it; I know I'm better than that, but it's where I'm at.

I'm a musician and I made the decision a little over a year ago to pursue a law degree for a career in the music industry. I've always been a strong reader and writer and have been interested in politics, and history, and other social and economic topics. Since I started playing music, and soon after that, realizing that I can't make much money just playing, I decided working on the business end of the music industry would afford me more opportunities to make a comfortable living, still be able to play, and maybe teach a college class or do volunteer work in the community or abroad.

So I'm looking at law schools that are in areas that with a strong music community, that has a strong musical and music business community, and as a result, potential employers, partners, and clients. I live in South Florida, and though it's no Nashville or New York, but in terms of Latin music and Electronic music, the scene is quite thriving (though I can't stand that type of music and I don't speak much Spanish). So a few cities/schools I'm looking at include the following, and I was hoping to get your guys' take on them. If any more information from me is needed, please ask. Like I said, I hope this thread isn't too premature or vague, just trying to collect as much information and insight as I can.

I still don't know if I'd be interested contracts and other transactional law or more litigation. I'm interested in aspects of both, and from what I understand, these are the two primary areas of entertainment law, and most attorneys really only do one or the other.

Law school will be paid for by a combination of family, myself, loans, and hopefully a scholarship or two. The advice I've received is to go for the best school you can get into, and worry about cost later.

University of Miami, Miami, FL: Incredible music program, great business school, acclaimed music-business joint program, and great law school. Local, and close to my family, but not in a huge music city (though I do have a fair share of contacts already through playing, studying, and working at a local well-respected music store). $44,626 per year.
Florida International University, Miami, FL: Local, public alternative where I can be close to the music community of UM as well as be near my family, and still get a JD. $20,597 per year.
Belmont University, Nashville, TN: Great college, great law school in one of THE music towns in the country that's growing exponentially. The school also has a great music and music business program. I have family who are established songwriters and friends who already have some great gigs playing, touring, and recording albums. I also REALLY like Tennessee; mountains, natural areas in general, whiskey, cheap living, small, friendly place, and Memphis is under 3 hours from N-Ville. $36,430 per year.
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN: Another great school in Nashville. Not as catered to music and entertainment industry as Belmont, but still a decent (albeit expensive) school in Nashville. $48,160 per year.
Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, LA: Prestigious law school in New Orleans, (I've seen it called it the Ivy League school of the South). I'm not entirely sure about going to law school in N'awlins. I've only been once, but I love the city. I know Louisiana mostly goes by the Napoleonic Code, and I'm not sure if or how this would affect contract or copyright law. If I have my law degree from a Louisiana school, can I only take the bar there? Can I practice anywhere else? Would any of this affect practicing entertainment law outside of the state? Can anyone speak on the industry and the employment culture there as it pertains to music? $48,456 per year.
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX: Haven't been to Austin, to be honest, I've hardly been to Texas, but I've read a bit on Austin's rising music scene and the school and the city has piqued my interest. $49,244 per year (out of state).

I don't think I'm interested in California or New York for the two simple reasons of cost of living, and amount of attorneys and hopeful attorneys that are already there. Any thoughts on my search are welcomed.

Thanks!

[TheSpanishMain]

Hah, you're right. Vanderbilt is a decent school, but it's no Belmont.

There's a lot here, but in short: law school specialties are irrelevant and the niche job you're pursuing is probably exceedingly rare.

[pancakes3]

All law school related research is premature until you have a satisfactory answer to:

What are you going to do if/when you don't find a job within Entertainment Law (Music)?

[FSK]

Move to LA and work in the business end of things. The law end is a shit hole, and with your GPA you're not going to have a good shot at all.

[timbs4339]

You're not going to like this because it's not the easy way to proceed, but you need to go to Nashville, or NYC, or LA (or stay in Miami) and try to work in the music industry on the business side before going for a law degree. If you have contacts who are working in the industry, hit them up and say you are willing to start out on the bottom rung. Only when you have a clear path for how a law degree will help you advance in the industry should you consider law school.

Entertainment law is one of those specialties where there are way more interested applicants then there are jobs for entry-levels. It's like sports law. The jobs go to experienced attorneys who do very narrow work. You're finding a lot of specialty programs because law schools know this and are looking to capitalize on people who think that they'll be hanging out with Taylor Swift and Jay-Z in between negotiating contracts. Not because those programs help you get jobs.

[Mal Reynolds]

Good luck; follow your dreams!

[FSK]

Good luck; follow your dreams!

Semicolon gave the troll away.

[Mal Reynolds]

Good luck; follow your dreams!

Semicolon gave the troll away.

?

[?uesto]

All law school related research is premature until you have a satisfactory answer to:

What are you going to do if/when you don't find a job within Entertainment Law (Music)?

I don't have a very specific goal on a backup, but I am very interested in areas within constitutional law (1st, 2nd, 4th amendment-type law) as well as criminal defense law. And regarding "finding a job," is it very difficult to make a livable wage working on your own as an attorney? I figure working at a firm or getting a job as someone's in-house counsel will earn you tons of experience and contacts, but is it very difficult to get out there, meet people, and get a clientele that can earn you enough money to survive?

Move to LA and work in the business end of things. The law end is a shit hole, and with your GPA you're not going to have a good shot at all.

What would you suggest to someone at my stage in the game? What types of things should I be focusing on, who are the types of people I should be getting in with, and what should I be able to offer at this point?

You're not going to like this because it's not the easy way to proceed, but you need to go to Nashville, or NYC, or LA (or stay in Miami) and try to work in the music industry on the business side before going for a law degree. If you have contacts who are working in the industry, hit them up and say you are willing to start out on the bottom rung. Only when you have a clear path for how a law degree will help you advance in the industry should you consider law school.

Entertainment law is one of those specialties where there are way more interested applicants then there are jobs for entry-levels. It's like sports law. The jobs go to experienced attorneys who do very narrow work. You're finding a lot of specialty programs because law schools know this and are looking to capitalize on people who think that they'll be hanging out with Taylor Swift and Jay-Z in between negotiating contracts. Not because those programs help you get jobs.

I'm not looking to be repping the major players. I know it will take a lot of work and a lot of patience, but I would think that establishing yourself in a city with clientele of all means can help support a steady income, even if I won't make millions. I'm not looking for law schools with specialty programs. I'm looking for law schools that are in cities that have a scene and have potential employment prospects. I'll humbly ask the same of you as I did flawschoolkid, What would you suggest to someone at my stage in the game, and what types of "bottom rung" positions should I be looking for? Is something like an internship at LiveNation all that helpful?

Thanks for all the responses. Looking forward to talking more on this.

[EricHosmer]

Go to Yale and get top 10%. That seems to be the answer to 99% of all of mankind's problems.

[timbs4339]

And regarding "finding a job," is it very difficult to make a livable wage working on your own as an attorney? I figure working at a firm or getting a job as someone's in-house counsel will earn you tons of experience and contacts, but is it very difficult to get out there, meet people, and get a clientele that can earn you enough money to survive?

The problem is getting a job in the first place. You have to worry about that before you even worry about whether the salary is enough to pay back your loans. And you have to worry about that before worrying about whether the job is the type that will lead to your ideal career path.

For example, if you want to do "blue collar" criminal defense, the best job is to start out in the public defender's office. You'll make a livable wage (45K in most places, up to 60 in major northeast or CA metros) not factoring in debt. But then you're tracked onto a subset of criminal law- trial work. You can work there for 10 years and be the best damn PD there is and nobody is going to hire you to negotiate contracts.

Same with working for a small firm. If you can get the job, expect 40-45K at the beginning. Livable, but not with a lot of debt. That's why getting an LSAT and coming back with a full scholly is so important.

I'm not looking to be repping the major players.

Understood. I was just saying, because you mentioned the specialty programs, that they are made to sucker in the person who steps off the bus wanting to be the next Scott Boras or whoever the film/TV/music agent equivalent of Scott Boras is.

I know it will take a lot of work and a lot of patience, but I would think that establishing yourself in a city with clientele of all means can help support a steady income, even if I won't make millions. I'm looking for law schools that are in cities that have a scene and have potential employment prospects. I'll humbly ask the same of you as I did flawschoolkid, What would you suggest to someone at my stage in the game, and what types of "bottom rung" positions should I be looking for? Is something like an internship at LiveNation all that helpful?

Yes, it's better to be in a big city. But I'm not sure what you want to do. Do you want to work for an established firm? Okay, but these people don't really hire entry-levels since there are so many experienced lawyers to pick from. Do you want to start your own practice and represent other people in the indie scene? Okay, but this requires a huge capital investment if only to live on, since by definition, the people you'll be representing will have no money. And anyone who could possibly become a decent, paying client is going to have an agent who will use a lawyer with 10+ years of experience in the field over a newbie who doesn't know the first thing about how to practice law.

I can't really help you on breaking into the business. From my limited interaction with young wannabe agents/promoters, it does seem like the type of industry where you have to work for free as a gofer to break in.

Do a forum search for "entertainment law" or "entertainment industry." Even better, you said you have contacts already in the industry. Call them. Ask them these questions or ask them to put you in touch with someone who knows the answer to these question- their manager/promoter/agent. Then do whatever that is for two or three years, then determine if law school is for you.

[paranoia4ya]

You have to enter law school assuming it is unlikely that you will start off doing mostly entertainment law. People will not give you their business without experience. Most work in these areas go to large firms and the labels. Smaller firms will usually hire people with experience from either of these two places. Therefore, it would make the most sense to go to a lawschool in a major music city that places people into biglaw. There is a lot of luck involved, and it will be up to you to sell yourself. you cant expect to sit back and let the clients roll in. I'd pick vandy with scholly.

[TheSpanishMain]

I'd pick vandy with scholly.

I don't think that's likely to be an option with a 2.5 GPA.

[?uesto]

I'd pick vandy with scholly.

I don't think that's likely to be an option with a 2.5 GPA.

It's on the rise. I know it's tough coming back from where I was, but I think a 3.2 is well within my reach (if that changes anything).

[pancakes3]

I'd pick vandy with scholly.

I don't think that's likely to be an option with a 2.5 GPA.

It's on the rise. I know it's tough coming back from where I was, but I think a 3.2 is well within my reach (if that changes anything).

If you're a senior, a 3.2 is mathematically impossible.

[jingosaur]

timbs, please make a "day in the life" of a music lawyer post.

OP, to have any chance at music law, you either need to do really well at a top 6 or so school (and I doubt that would even work) or already have major ties to the music industry with established artists basically saying that they'll hire you as their agent if you become a lawyer. You appear to have neither of those right now.

Maybe try to get into the music industry out of undergrad, if you're serious about this, study for the LSAT in your spare time, and then come back once you have some work experience and an LSAT score.

Also keep in mind that you don't have to have a JD to be on the business side of the music industry. And getting a JD doesn't really improve your chances of getting into the business side.

[romothesavior]

First, you need to get your GPA up over 3.0, if it is still possible. (Sidenote: How is a 3.2 still possible if you're a senior?) Given your poor GPA, you'll need an LSAT in the upper 160s/170s to even consider going to law school. Unless you can crush the LSAT, trying to go to law school with a sub-3.0 GPA and no work experience is going to leave you without any decent options.

Most of the schools you listed are simply not worth attending in light of their job placement. The best two schools on your list (Vandy and UT) are unlikely to take you given your poor GPA, and even if they do, the price tag may not be manageable. Again, you need to get your GPA up and crush the LSAT. Please do some research on job placement statistics if you haven't already. Poke around the data posted here on TLS, and go play with the "School Reports" on Law School Transparency. The market is brutal for graduates from most of the schools you have listed here.

Finally, you need to have a better idea of what it is that you're looking to do exactly. Do you understand what "entertainment law" is? (Hint: You won't be the next Ari Gold.) Most importantly, if (more likely when) you don't get your dream job, are you going to be happy practicing law?

[Young Marino]

Don't go to law school wanting to work in sports law, entertainment law, international human rights law, etc. These jobs are nearly nonexistent and if they're out there, they're probably taken by a T6 grad. Going to law school for one of these "specialties" is like going to college to major in philosophy. I'm an FAU alum myself so I hope you represent the university well. Good luck!

[iamgeorgebush]

First, you need to get your GPA up over 3.0, if it is still possible. (Sidenote: How is a 3.2 still possible if you're a senior?) Given your poor GPA, you'll need an LSAT in the upper 160s/170s to even consider going to law school. Unless you can crush the LSAT, trying to go to law school with a sub-3.0 GPA and no work experience is going to leave you without any decent options.

Most of the schools you listed are simply not worth attending in light of their job placement. The best two schools on your list (Vandy and UT) are unlikely to take you given your poor GPA, and even if they do, the price tag may not be manageable. Again, you need to get your GPA up and crush the LSAT. Please do some research on job placement statistics if you haven't already. Poke around the data posted here on TLS, and go play with the "School Reports" on Law School Transparency. The market is brutal for graduates from most of the schools you have listed here.

Finally, you need to have a better idea of what it is that you're looking to do exactly. Do you understand what "entertainment law" is? (Hint: You won't be the next Ari Gold.) Most importantly, if (more likely when) you don't get your dream job, are you going to be happy practicing law?

Hate to say it, OP, but the above poster has it right.

If you want to work in the music biz, I'd recommend entering it from the business side of things. They tend to be less fussy about GPA than law schools. Get an internship for this summer at some sort of music company (LiveNation would be great, of course, but there are many others out there), work really hard while you're there, and network, network, network. Once you've done that, leverage your contacts for an entry-level job in the business side of things, and accept that you may have to take a part-time job or another internship after you graduate before you get something full-time. Feel free to PM me if you want more advice.

[Young Marino]

First, you need to get your GPA up over 3.0, if it is still possible. (Sidenote: How is a 3.2 still possible if you're a senior?) Given your poor GPA, you'll need an LSAT in the upper 160s/170s to even consider going to law school. Unless you can crush the LSAT, trying to go to law school with a sub-3.0 GPA and no work experience is going to leave you without any decent options.

Most of the schools you listed are simply not worth attending in light of their job placement. The best two schools on your list (Vandy and UT) are unlikely to take you given your poor GPA, and even if they do, the price tag may not be manageable. Again, you need to get your GPA up and crush the LSAT. Please do some research on job placement statistics if you haven't already. Poke around the data posted here on TLS, and go play with the "School Reports" on Law School Transparency. The market is brutal for graduates from most of the schools you have listed here.

Finally, you need to have a better idea of what it is that you're looking to do exactly. Do you understand what "entertainment law" is? (Hint: You won't be the next Ari Gold.) Most importantly, if (more likely when) you don't get your dream job, are you going to be happy practicing law?

Hate to say it, OP, but the above poster has it right.

If you want to work in the music biz, I'd recommend entering it from the business side of things. They tend to be less fussy about GPA than law schools. Get an internship for this summer at some sort of music company (LiveNation would be great, of course, but there are many others out there), work really hard while you're there, and network, network, network. Once you've done that, leverage your contacts for an entry-level job in the business side of things, and accept that you may have to take a part-time job or another internship after you graduate before you get something full-time. Feel free to PM me if you want more advice.

To second this, Live Nation has a huge presence in West Palm Beach which is pretty close to FAU so you may want to look into that.

[TheSpanishMain]

To second this, Live Nation has a huge presence in West Palm Beach which is pretty close to FAU so you may want to look into that.

If you're talking about FAMU, it has an employment score of like 35%. No one should ever go there.

Why does Florida have so many shitty law schools? There are like four with LST scores below 40%. They have more dumpsters than most states have schools. What the ever loving fuck is wrong with that state?

[pancakes3]

To second this, Live Nation has a huge presence in West Palm Beach which is pretty close to FAU so you may want to look into that.

If you're talking about FAMU, it has an employment score of like 35%. No one should ever go there.

Why does Florida have so many shitty law schools? There are like four with LST scores below 40%. What the ever loving fuck is wrong with that state?

I think YM is talking about the OP just getting an internship/job with Live Nation after graduating [from Florida Atlantic University] instead of going to law school period.

No disagreements with how terrible Florida is though.

[TheSpanishMain]

Ah, gotcha. My bad.

Still, stay away from 90% of Florida law schools everyone.