Resume

Entertainment Lawyer Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Entertainment Lawyer resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Entertainment lawyers have a lot of responsibilities. They handle everything from contract negotiations to copyright law to defamation claims. They also help their clients create intellectual property—whether it’s a screenplay, song, or new reality TV show—and protect that property once it’s created.

Endless opportunities exist for entertainment lawyers because the industry is so huge. If you want to work in film or television, there are jobs in production studios, talent agencies, and studios. Or you could choose to work in the realm of music or books. There are even jobs for entertainment lawyers who specialize in sports or theater.

Whatever area of entertainment law you choose to specialize in, you’ll need a resume that speaks directly to the experience and skills required. Follow these tips and resume example to write an outstanding entertainment lawyer resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.

Mary Thompson
Chicago, IL | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Experienced entertainment lawyer with a record of success in protecting the rights of creative professionals. Skilled in contract negotiation, trademark and copyright law, and business litigation. Passionate about the arts and seeks an opportunity to use legal expertise to foster creativity and protect the intellectual property of artists.

Education
Northwestern University School of Law Jun '10
J.D.
University of California, Berkeley Jun '06
B.A. in Political Science
Experience
Company A, Entertainment Lawyer Jan '17 – Current
  • Drafted and negotiated agreements for the production, distribution, merchandising, licensing of motion pictures, television programs, music recordings and other audiovisual works; provided legal advice on copyright matters including registration and infringement claims.
  • Assisted in drafting contracts related to financing a project (e.g., purchase agreement or loan documents); assisted with negotiating talent deals (e.g., actor/director/writer agreements).
  • Reviewed and analyzed existing agreements for compliance with current law and best practices; prepared contract language as appropriate based on client needs; reviewed drafts of various agreements before execution by clients to ensure that they are consistent with applicable laws and industry standards.
  • Provided general business counseling regarding all aspects of entertainment transactions such as copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights & publicity issues; advised on corporate formation issues such as entity selection, stock option plans etc.; drafted employment agreements for key employees; handled trademark oppositions / cancellations at the Trademark Office; managed intellectual property portfolios for artists / companies through portfolio development strategies and enforcement actions when necessary; oversaw clearance searches for projects involving third party copyrighted material (music lyrics / compositions) or proprietary information (trade secrets); worked closely with outside counsel on litigation matters pertaining to copyright infringement disputes or contractual disputes between parties involved in an entertainment transaction.
  • Managed day-to-day operations within assigned department(s) including budgeting, staffing levels, training new hires etc.; created marketing materials to promote company’s services to potential clients; participated in special projects as needed throughout the year which may include assisting senior management with strategic planning initiatives or developing new products / services within the company’s scope of practice areas
Company B, Entertainment Lawyer Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Advised on the negotiation of music publishing deals, including digital distribution and synchronization rights
  • Negotiated contracts for television production companies seeking to adapt books into scripted series or movies
  • Managed all aspects of licensing agreements for a major record label’s roster of artists
  • Secured favorable terms in joint venture agreement between entertainment company and tech startup
  • Drafted comprehensive intellectual property protection strategy for clients’ creative assets (music, art, writing)
Company C, Legal Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Drafted and edited legal documents, letters, agreements, meeting notices, etc.
  • Maintained calendars for partner attorneys and arranged meetings with clients & other parties when needed
  • Organized files in preparation for e-discovery requests as well as maintained routine office paperwork & assisted attorneys throughout the day
Certifications
  • Juris Doctorate
  • Member of the Illinois State Bar Association
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Copyright, Trademark, Trademark Infringement, Patent, Trade Secret, Contract Law, Patents, Trademark Law, Intellectual Property, Business Law, Litigation, Negotiation, Litigation, Business Formation
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop
Soft Skills: Communication, Research, Negotiation, Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Public Speaking

How to Write an Entertainment Lawyer Resume

Here’s how to write an entertainment lawyer resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

As a lawyer, it’s important to use clear and concise language when writing your resume. Bullet points are a great way to do this because they allow you to highlight your accomplishments in just a few words. So rather than saying you “represented clients in entertainment law matters,” you could say you “represented A-list actors in contract negotiations for major motion pictures, resulting in $10 million pay raises for two actors and $5 million pay raise for another.”

This level of detail will help hiring managers understand not only what you did but also how well you did it. And that can make all the difference when it comes time for them to decide who to interview.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for an entertainment lawyer role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the job, like “audiovisual rights” or “copyright law.” If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.

To make sure this doesn’t happen, use this list of common entertainment lawyer keywords as a starting point. Then, tailor your resume and cover letter to include as many of them as possible.

  • Entertainment Law
  • Contract Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Licensing
  • Legal Writing
  • Litigation
  • Corporate Law
  • Trademarks
  • Copyright Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Governance
  • Entertainment Industry
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Entertainment Industry
  • Music Industry
  • Legal Research
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Legal Advice
  • Sports Law
  • Copyright Litigation
  • Copyright
  • Business Planning
  • Start-ups
  • Negotiation
  • Business Strategy
  • Strategic Planning
  • Marketing
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Entertainment
  • Entertainment Industry

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Entertainment lawyers need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and systems in order to effectively do their jobs. For instance, they should be familiar with contract management software, copyright registration software, and online legal research databases. Additionally, entertainment lawyers should be comfortable using Microsoft Office Suite programs, such as Word and Excel.

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