Career Clinic: What are my chances of making it in media law?

Having worked in one of London's leading media firms for a number of years, I can honestly say: what makes you think the media world is less "corporate"? You are still negotiating commercial contracts, financing arrangements and disputes, admittedly with more interesting subject matter. It isn't as glamorous as it sounds, margins are tight (which means you have to work harder to meet budget) and some of the clients are eccentric/downright bonkers to say the least. Complete your TC and see how you feel after that. IP, general commercial and (depending what you want to do) litigation skills are required if you do decide to pursue a career in media law, so concentrate on getting experience in those areas in your TC. But don't be surprised if it isn't what you imagine it to be!

Associate -21 May 2009 | 10:11

You have to think about what being a media lawyer entails. One of the things would be IP law. So make sure you do an IP seat during your training contract. Also, network by going to events, etc. Contact media lawyers and ask for their advice - most should be happy to offer career guidance.

Metallica -21 May 2009 | 10:58

Frankly, given the current state of the TC market, you should sit tight with your top 20 TC and thank your lucky stars that it hasn't been deferred or withdrawn.As the poster above asked, why do you think media law won't be so "corporate"? What do you actually mean by that?

Anonymous -21 May 2009 | 14:19

So you're saying that you essentially bluffed your way through an interview at what is likely to be a heavily corporate firm? Bad start.As for media law, it's all to do with the corporate elements of the work, especially financing. Labels are meaningless - charities law and media law are very corporate, regardless of their titles.

20 Regal -21 May 2009 | 14:38

Take a look at people around you - redundancies all round. You are at a top 20 firm - be thankful and stop whinging about something irrelevant. For the record, media law is about drafting media contracts, and most will tell you, once you've drafted one, and as they get more complex, you are concentrating on the T&Cs, and their effects. To an extent, what it is about is largely irrelevant to your role.

Anonymous -21 May 2009 | 16:00

I disagree with the negative point of view shown by some of the above posters. I expect, when applying for a TC, your aim was to obtain a TC at a reputable firm and in this climate, who wouldn't want to be offered a place at a top 20 firm? As for bluffing, it sounds to me as if you are a little unsure of what you want, and were not deliberately intending to mislead your future employers. Do not let these points of view dissuade you. The short answer to your question is that anything is possible, I am an IP lawyer and I didn't even have a seat in IP during my TC. It sounds to me like you should be working in-house or at a niche firm. Both are possible on qualification, although you will be fighting against those with more relevant experience. However, I agree with those above, that you should continue with your TC (unless you can secure another one or have the means to apply again in 2010). Make your preferences known to your supervisors (without making it seem that you're not applying yourself to non-music work) and keep focused. Read around the subject and attend training.

Anonymous -21 May 2009 | 17:11

Have you any experience of corporate or media law? Don't buy until you try. As set out above, it is likely to be on a par with the corporate work.

Anonymous -21 May 2009 | 17:28

A top 20 City firm looks good on the CV, especially to the lower orders. You should be able to move down a division (i.e. to a top 50 firm) without too much difficulty after qualifying even if you lack specialist experience. Magic circle people often get into the outer circle; outer circle often get into top 20, and so on down the food chain. Moving horizontally or upwards is more difficult without the specialism of a few years post qualification under your belt. It's like football; getting relegated is much easier than getting promoted!I agree with the other posters on what you might find when you get there though - it possibly may not all be crazy parties with celebs, just tedium with a different client.

Red Rum -21 May 2009 | 20:16

Many media and entertainment firms would not be so keen on recruiting from top 10 firms and Red Rum's view that that media/entertainment firms are of a lower order than magic circle firms illustrates exactly the type of attitude that firms of this type want to avoid. The key is technical ability, enthusiasm for the subject area and, as far as possible, a background that has provided you with industry-specific knowledge.

Anonymous -22 May 2009 | 12:04

Be grateful you have a TC. You need to walk before you can run. Your choice areas do not start until articles are complete! Get real first!

ANON -22 May 2009 | 12:19

I'd be very happy if I could stay at the top 20 firm. Me wanting to do media law is less important than me getting a job on qualification and a top 20 firm is not to be sniffed at. Also, you say you like music law, but aren't you confusing the fact that you like music, to the law? Music law and media law in general entails doing lots of corporate/commercial law work, coupled with some litigation and copyright issues. I'm wondering if you have this vision of having musicians and movie stars as clients, when the reality in the entertainment industry is that most of your time will be spent with big corporates and their executives, and I doubt there's much difference between those companies and others.

may -22 May 2009 | 13:15

I have to agree with may. You will be deeply, deeply dismayed to discover that instead of getting the free Glastonbury passes you probably imagine now you'd get, you are still at your desk at 3am, drafting for a deadline, just like in any other seat. Perhaps a little less delusion and a bit more focus would help: if you want to work in the music industry, go work in the music industry. Expect to spend the first 2 years being paid in promo CDs and then making just above minimum wage for the rest of your career.

Bod -22 May 2009 | 18:25

I work in-house at a music company with interests in both music publishing and recorded music. I do not agree with a lot of the previous posters who are under the misunderstanding that the work is no different to "corporate" work. Unless you are working in a corporate/company secretarial role as well you are unlikely to be involved in any corporate work. That would only occur in very small music companies, with the roles at the major music companies split very much down the line into company secretary/corporate work carried out a head office and the in-house "music lawyers" who do the bulk of the deals working at the record companies/music publishing companies dealing in acquiring and exploiting copyright. The bulk of my work is in negotiating, drafting and concluding exclusive service agreements with songwriters for the rights in their musical/literary works and exclusive recording agreements with recording artists for the rights in their performances. The rest of my work is spent dealing with licensing these rights to third parties such as online retailers (iTunes, Amazon etc.), advertising agencies, film companies, broadcasters etc. and also dealing with litigation issues, instruction of outside specialist litigators. If you are seriously interested in specialising into music then I would complete your training contract and after completing it look to move to one of the specialist music law firms such as Russells, Clintons, Sheridans, SSB Solicitors, Statham Gill Davies etc. which are all listed in the Music Week Directory. The pay will be less than at a City law firm but the hours are more normal and the work just as challenging and interesting. There are plenty of issues currently affecting the music industry to think about - online piracy, move from physical sales to onine digital downloads and new business models such as subscription streaming of music as via Spotify.

Music lawyer, in house -02 Jun 2009 | 15:03