This article has been written by Ashutosh. This article talks about various career opportunities and benefits available in the field of media and entertainment law. To provide more in-depth knowledge about media and entertainment law, this article also covers some additional information on media and entertainment law, such as scope, eligibility criteria, salary and how to apply for the jobs available in the field of media and entertainment law.

Introduction

Nowadays, there is a lot of demand for media and entertainment lawyers all around the world and this is because of the growth of the media and entertainment industries. With the growth of this industry, there are many legal issues that are coming up and that are faced by media companies or individuals working in the media industry. To resolve these legal issues, these media companies and individuals are hiring media lawyers and paying them decent salaries. These media and entertainment lawyers advise on all the legal matters and help media companies and celebrities know about their rights. 

In this particular article, we will be dealing with all the aspects of media and entertainment law and we will also be reading about the opportunities available for media and entertainment lawyers. Any lawyer who has a decent amount of knowledge about media and entertainment laws and knows enough about broadcasting, publishing or Intellectual Property Rights can become a successful media lawyer. To learn more about media lawyers and their career opportunities, keep reading this article. Firstly, let us understand the concept of media and entertainment law.

What is Media and Entertainment Law

In simple words, media and entertainment law refers to all the guidelines and legal regulations that control and govern the distribution, consumption and creation of different forms of media, such as music, television, film, theatre and any other form of entertainment.

Under the ambit of media and entertainment laws, there are several laws that come into play. Laws like Intellectual Property Laws, Trademark and Copyright laws, and various other laws that are related to freedom of speech, defamation and censorship are involved.

There are multiple areas in which media and entertainment law specifically deals with, but some of the most important areas are media regulation, trademark law, copyright law, right to publicity, censorship, media regulation, etc. 

The field of media and entertainment law is one such area of law that is constantly evolving, providing multiple career opportunities to law students and lawyers to become media lawyers. Individuals like creators, influencers, and actors often hire media lawyers to get advice relating to all the laws and regulations of the media and entertainment industry. 

What work does a media lawyer do

There are various tasks that a media lawyer needs to perform once he is hired. Here we have listed some of the main work done by a media lawyer during the course of their employment.

• Media lawyers make sure that the content that is being made is appropriate and in compliance with all the laws and regulations.
• Media lawyers resolve the objections and complaints filed against the content by their clients.
• Media lawyers check the licencing, broadcasting and distribution rights of their clients.
• Media lawyers advise their clients on what to broadcast and what not to broadcast.
• Media lawyers teach their clients about their rights and liabilities.
• Media lawyers draft and file agreements and terms of service on behalf of their clients.
• Media lawyers draft agreements for music licences for their clients.

Other than these works, there are various other works that a media lawyer performs. To learn more in detail about the workings of a media lawyer, follow this link.

Current scenario of media lawyers in Media and Entertainment Law

Entertainment and media industry of India is growing at an amazing speed, this is because of the increase in media content and social media influencers. At present, there are various online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime that are ruling over the media and entertainment industry. Other than these online streaming platforms, social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook have also created a lot of media content through influencers and actors.

And with the increase in media content, there have been a lot of legal issues with copyright and other legal issues coming up. And because of this, the demand for media and entertainment lawyers is going through an upsurge. The Indian Government has also lent a hand to support the media industry by permitting foreign investments from other countries.

The laws that prevail in the area of entertainment and media, the television world, music, films, radio and other related things fall within the scope of entertainment law. The government of India has enacted several statutes to overcome the legal circumstances of the entertainment and media industries. Some of those acts are the Copyrights Act of 1957, the Cinematograph Act of 1952, and the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act of 1994. 

Eligibility criteria to become a media and entertainment lawyer

Like every other law specialisation, media and entertainment law also have the same eligibility criteria. If someone wants to get into the UG level, then he needs to score a minimum of 45-50 percent in the Class 12th examination from any recognised school, or the candidate should complete his graduation from any recognised college with a minimum of 50 percent marks. If any candidate wants to move to the postgraduate level, then he just needs to complete the LL.B. degree from any recognised college in India.

Roles and responsibilities of a media lawyer

After becoming an entertainment lawyer, you will have to work on various roles and responsibilities. We have mentioned some of the most common roles and responsibilities that you need to follow.

• Negotiating with clients and drafting various written production and development contracts, including recording agreements and various other contracts.
• Negotiating and facilitating various agreements of distribution for the production of a film in the entertainment industry.
• Working on bank loans, sponsorship, grants, co-production investments, and various other forms of investments in financial arrangements.
• Making various agreements for clients, such as appearance releases, location releases and various other licensing agreements.
• To fight for the rights of the media house you are representing and advise them on various matters related to entertainment law so that they don’t get into any kind of trouble.
• Work on all the matters related to intellectual property laws.
• Analyse the commercial difficulties faced by the clients and provide a solution for them.
• Review all kinds of relevant legal papers and contracts.
• To successfully negotiate contracts and agreements on behalf of your clients.

Scope in Media and Entertainment Law

Media and entertainment law has been flourishing a lot in India in the past few years. With the advancement of technology and the creation of various movies, the music and meme media industries are gaining great popularity. Because of this, the demand for media and entertainment lawyers has been increasing every day. And it is for sure that the entertainment industry is going to flourish even more in the future, and there is no chance of degradation in this field.

As technology advances all over the world, people have developed a desire to explore more in the entertainment field and discover various modes of entertainment, such as web series, short films, music, videos, etc. Currently, the media and entertainment industry in India has become one of the fastest-growing sectors, with ample opportunities. Media lawyers earn a huge income by handling cases involving media houses and celebrities. Thus, the scope of media and entertainment law in India is flourishing each and every day, and it will continue to grow in the future as well.

Salary in Media and Entertainment Law

The income or salary in the field of media and entertainment law depends upon the time period and experience of a lawyer. But the average base salary of a practising media lawyer is estimated to be around 13 lakh rupees per year. And their hourly rate is predicted to be around seven hundred rupees. The entry-level salary that associates receive in the media industry is around nine lakh rupees per annum, and it can increase up to sixteen lakh rupees per annum. 

The salary of a media lawyer always varies from person to person and from organisation to organisation. Some of the Tier 1 firms pay more to their media lawyers as compared to some other firms. Media lawyers can also work as independent lawyers in the field of media and entertainment law and can earn a good amount of money depending on their client base.

Career opportunities in Media and Entertainment Law

Media and entertainment law is not seen as a separate legal field, but it is considered a collection of traditional legal disciplines such as intellectual property law, contract law and business law. In the field of media and entertainment law, there are many different fields of practice that a media lawyer needs to learn and also have a piece of in-depth knowledge about all those practice areas.

If a media lawyer is highly skilled and experienced in all the practice areas of media and entertainment law, then he will have ample opportunities in various law firms, entertainment companies and several other places. Read below to learn more about the career opportunities for a media and entertainment lawyer.

Opportunities for media lawyers

A media and entertainment lawyer can get various job opportunities in law firms and entertainment companies, or they can also work as independent lawyers and become the legal advisors of actors and actresses or entertainment companies. Keep reading to learn more about the career opportunities of a media and entertainment lawyer.

Opportunities in legal firms

There are many nationalised law firms in India that deal with media and entertainment laws and issues related to the entertainment industry. There are various prominent and famous Indian law firms, such as J. Sagar Associates, Nishith Desai Associates, DSK Legal, etc., that have a team of experienced lawyers who are highly skilled in entertainment laws.

All these big firms have a team of lawyers who are experienced in the field of media and entertainment law and handle all the work of their firms, such as handling the issues of contracts, matters related to IPR, compliance, data protection, dispute resolution, digital forensics, etc. Other than these big law firms, there are several boutique law firms, such as Phoenix Legal, Banana IP, Naik Naik & Co., etc., that deal extensively with matters of technology and media.

All the contracts and agreements that take place in a movie or any other project of the entertainment industry, such as celebrity contracts, IP protection and endorsement deals, are all done only with the help and advice of entertainment lawyers. These media lawyers also work in the areas of music licencing, anti-piracy, infringement of copyright and various other Intellectual Property Rights.. 

Opportunities in entertainment and media companies

In India, there are multiple media companies, namely Dharma Production, Red Chillies, Yash Raj Films, etc., that are under the production of Silver Screen Media contents such as movies, films and web-series. These media companies have a huge net-worth and because of the huge number of media contents they produce, they often face legal charges or other kinds of legal issues related to their content. And because of these things, they hire a huge team of media lawyers who are skilled in the field of media and entertainment laws. 

If you are someone who is interested in working in the media and entertainment industry, then you must try to get into the legal teams of these media companies. Media and entertainment lawyers in these media companies are mostly hired for the purpose of negotiating with clients, dispute resolutions, drafting agreements and protecting the Intellectual Property Rights.

Opportunities as independent lawyers

If you have enough knowledge and expertise in the field of media and entertainment laws, you can easily become a successful independent media lawyer. But you need to have some connections in the media industry. Because having connections in the media industry will make your work a lot easier, and your path to becoming a successful media lawyer will be very smooth.

Though there are some hardships that one might face while being an independent media lawyer, don’t get disheartened because these hardships will lead to your success. Independent media lawyers are often hired by social media influencers and actors to make drafts of various contracts and agreements related to media and entertainment laws. Some celebrities and media people also hire personal media lawyers to get advice from them. Thus, if you don’t want to work under someone and want to establish your own name and brand value, then you should definitely opt for the path of becoming an independent media lawyer.

Tabular representation of career opportunities for media lawyers

Here is a tabular representation of some of the best career opportunities and recruiters in the field of media and entertainment law:

Opportunity	Recruiter
Litigation lawyer	Own practice
Entertainment and media lawyer	Nisith Desai Associates
Legal advisors	J. Sagar Associates
Lawyer of Intellectual property	DSK Legal
An Independent lawyer	Naik Naik and Company
A Corporate lawyer	Banana IP
Specialist of Digital forensics	Phoenix Legal
Cyber lawyer	Trilegal
Lawyer of Human Rights	Own practice or under NGOs
Criminal lawyer	Own practice or under senior lawyer
Lawyer of document drafting	Own practice

Jobs available for media and entertainment lawyers

There are multiple job opportunities posted online for media and entertainment lawyers. So, if you are a media lawyer and have decent knowledge of media and entertainment laws, then you can easily land a job in this field. 

Other than these opportunities, a media lawyer can also work as an associate under a law firm or media companies, and help them in protecting their IP rights or drafting contracts on their behalf.

If you are searching for the best job opportunities in the field of media and entertainment law, then keep reading this article and regularly visit websites such as LinkedIn, naukri.com, and Indeed for regular job updates. Other than the job opportunities, you will also learn about the details of the job and how you can easily apply for them.

Jobs available

Here is a list of some of the best job opportunities available in the field of media and entertainment industry. Go through these options and have a better clarity of all the available opportunities.

Career opportunity of a consultant at DC Consultants

DC Consultants is hiring a legal consultant to assist them in their Mumbai office. Read below to know all the job details.

DC Consultants is looking for a legal consultant who should be a lawyer with experience of five to seven years for their Mumbai office. 

Job details:

• The lawyer must have an experience of five to seven years.
• The lawyer must have enough experience of drafting agreements and contracts on behalf of DC Consultants.
• The lawyer must know how to evaluate international agreements and contracts.
• The lawyer must have good skills of communication and negotiation
• The lawyer must have the talent to handle clients on call and in person and close every deal successfully
• The lawyer must have good skills in master service agreements 

Click here to learn more about applying for this position.

The job of content protection trainee at Ultra Media

The Ultra Media Company in Mumbai is looking for a skilled trainee for the purpose of content protection at their Mumbai office. The individual must have enough knowledge of media and entertainment laws and he should also be skilled in drafting contracts and agreements.

The individual must also have the skill to differentiate between illegal internet content and legal content and he must also have an idea of internet domains and webpages.

Click here to learn more about this job.

The job of litigation support attorneys at SmithDehn 

There is a job opening for litigation support attorneys at the office of SmithDehn India. They are looking for law graduates and lawyers who know how to handle legal research and can draft various agreements and contracts for prominent British and U.S. persons in the fields of commercial litigation, entertainment law, and intellectual property. They want to hire someone who is very good at negotiation and communication with clients and can deal with them in a positive manner. 

Click here to learn more about this job.

The job of trademark associate at Pravija Highbrow

Pravija Highbrow Company is looking to hire a trademark associate who has a specialisation in intellectual property laws. The individual applying for this job position must have a deep understanding of intellectual property rights and internet domains.

The trademark associate will have to draft multiple documents and file certain documents related to intellectual property. The trademark associate must have enough knowledge of trademark filings and also of certain other works related to copyright.

Click here to learn more about this job.

The job of due diligence assistant manager at KPMG

KPMG has put out a vacancy for a due diligence assistant manager at their office in Gurgaon. They want to hire a due diligence assistant manager who has enough expertise in L2 research and discreet calling. The individual must be able to instigate the interviews and must also know how to prepare due diligence reports. The assistant manager’s main role will be to advise the members of the company on all kinds of investments that the company will be making.

The individual applying for this job position must have enough knowledge of all the media and entertainment laws and he must be responsible for growing the brand value of the firm. The individual should act like a professional and must comply with all the confidentiality clauses of the company. He must deal with the company’s clients with a positive attitude and should resolve their issues. The assistant manager will also have to review the work done by other team members and he will also have to guide the new joinees of the firm.

Click here to learn more about this job position.

The job of manager (standards and practices) at Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures Network is hiring a manager for their Mumbai office who can review all the scripts and contents for their OTT platform and also for their other digital platforms within the given time period. They must also have a decent knowledge of media and entertainment law and know how to draft contracts and agreements related to entertainment law. They must make sure that all the content that is being uploaded to the digital platforms is in compliance with all the laws and other regulations of the countries in which they operate.

Click here to apply for this job.

How to apply for jobs in Media and Entertainment Law

All the jobs that are mentioned above are from a similar website, and the application procedure for all the jobs is also the same. So here, we will learn how to successfully apply for any of these jobs. Go through the step-by-step procedure mentioned below to get all the details of the application procedure. 

For explanation, we have taken on the job of legal consultant at DC Consultants. 

Step 1- First, you need to tap on this link to reach the main page of the Indeed website, where this job is posted. Once you tap on this link, you will be redirected to the main page of the Indeed website.

Step 2- Once you are able to see this page, locate and find the apply option. For reference, see the above image.

Step 3-  Tap on the Apply on company site option available on the main page of the website. And once you click on the apply option, you will be redirected to the DC consultant’s website, where they have posted this job and you will get to see all the details of this job.

Step 4- Scroll down and go to the bottom of this page, you will get to see three different options to apply for this job.

Step 5- Click on any of these three options and proceed with the application process. For explanation, we have selected the apply without registration option.

Step 6- Once you tap on any of the apply options, you will be redirected to a new page, which will have an interface like this:

Step 7- Here on this page, you will have to fill in all your details and submit all the necessary documents that are necessary to be submitted in order to complete the application process.

Step 8-  Once you fill in all the necessary details and submit all the required documents, proceed with the submission of your application form.

Step 9- At the bottom of this page, you will see a submit option. Click on the submit option and send your application to the group of recruiters for DC consultants.

Step 10- Once you have submitted your application, wait for the reply of the recruiting team of DC consultants through any mode such as email, text, etc. Keep checking your email and texts daily to know about the status of your application process.

You have to follow the same above-mentioned steps if you want to apply for any of the jobs which are mentioned in this article.

Other career opportunities for media and entertainment lawyers

If you have enough knowledge and expertise in the field of media and entertainment law, then you have access to various other career opportunities through which you can create a huge amount of income. You can become a freelance media lawyer; you can draft agreements and contracts for big media companies and for other individuals in the entertainment industry. Proceed below to learn more about other career opportunities in media and entertainment law in detail.

Other opportunities

Here, we have talked about some other opportunities for media and entertainment lawyers in the field of entertainment law.

Freelance media lawyer

Freelancing has evolved at a very rapid pace in the past few years, and so has the job of a freelance media lawyer. There are numerous freelancing websites on the internet, such as Freelancer, Fiver, UpWork, True Lancer, People Per hour and many more, that have jobs for media lawyers. There are various clients looking for entertainment lawyers who can help them with basic drafting and some advising, and the clients pay them on a per-hour basis. If someone has decent knowledge of drafting contracts and agreements, he can make around a minimum of 1000 rupees per hour on these freelancing websites.

Content writing/blogging

If you are a law graduate and have enough knowledge in the field of media and entertainment law, then you can easily become a freelance entertainment law content writer or blogger. You can write articles and blog posts on trending topics in the field of entertainment law, and you can write about the types of drafting that are necessary in the field of the entertainment industry. You can also talk about the rights and liabilities of media houses and entertainers, of which they should remain aware.

Through your blogs, you can reach a greater audience, and eventually, this will also help in the long run. Your blogs can help you portray your knowledge in the field of law, which in turn can help you gain more clients.

Social media influencer

We can’t miss opportunities on social media platforms when we are talking about the entertainment and media industries. It is not necessary that everyone should earn through legal means. If you have enough knowledge in the field of media and entertainment law, you can easily become a social media influencer.

You can make videos and write posts on social media platforms speaking about the rights of entertainers. You can make any kind of useful content on social media platforms, and it will help you create a huge audience base on these platforms. Through these audiences, you can promote your website, work, etc., anything you want. In fact, you can do affiliate marketing and sell entertainment law products and courses from various other legal websites and institutes.

Freelancing jobs for media and entertainment lawyers

Here, we have listed some of the best freelancing jobs available on the internet for media lawyers who want to start their career in freelancing.

The work of entertainment lawyer (translation services)

This is a freelance work opportunity for media and entertainment lawyers in which they have to provide translation services. There is a need for a media lawyer who is highly skilled in the field of media and entertainment laws and should also be familiar with intellectual property rights.

Details of the opportunity

• To check all the agreements and contracts that are written in Italian and English. 
• To review the translation of the contracts that are written in Italian and English.
• The duration of the work will be thirty hours in one week.
• Payment- thirteen dollars per month.

The work of entertainment lawyer for music licencing

This is a foreign work opportunity available for media and entertainment lawyers who know about music licensing. The work is to assist the clients in getting music licences and make draftings related to music licences. 

Details of the opportunity

• Duration of the work is to work thirty hours a week.
• The payment for the work will be done on an hourly basis.

Click here to learn more about this freelance work opportunity.

The work of paralegal for business litigation and entertainment law

This freelance work opportunity has been posted online for media and entertainment lawyers who have enough knowledge of media and entertainment laws, and those who can assist a team of lawyers and provide support to them in all aspects of litigation and media law.

Details of the work

• The individual must know how to use research tools.
• The individual should be proficient in using Microsoft Office suite.
• Duration of the job is six months.
• The paralegal will have to work for more than thirty hours in a week
• Payment of the work will be thirty five dollars per hour

Click here to know more about this freelance work opportunity.

The work of patent researcher and filing specialist

Patent research freelance work opportunity is available for all media and entertainment lawyers who have enough knowledge of patent laws and know how to successfully file a patent application. The work under this opportunity will file patent applications and also review them.

This particular freelance work opportunity is posted on the UpWork freelancing website for media lawyers who want to work as freelancers. 

Details of the work

• Drafting, filing and preparing provisional patent applications.
• Reviewing all the patent applications.
• Assisting the team of lawyers in preparing a comprehensive patent strategy.
• Payment for this work is fixed at one thousand dollars.

How to apply for freelancing jobs in Media and Entertainment Law

Here in this article, we have mentioned some of the freelancing jobs that are available on freelancing websites, through which experienced media and entertainment professionals can generate a good amount of income. To make it simpler and easier, we will also be discussing step-by-step procedures on how to apply for these jobs. So keep reading this article if you want to learn about how to apply for these freelancing jobs. For ease of understanding, we have chosen a job from the Upwork website since most of the freelancing jobs in this field are available on UpWork.

Steps to apply

First step- Go to the official freelancing website of Upwork and you will get to see a page like this:

Second step- Once you have arrived at their official website, go to the search option and type entertainment lawyer jobs.

Third step– After typing the job name, you will get to see a window like the below screenshot. Here, several jobs will be listed on the main screen of the website.

Fourth step– Scroll down and go through all the jobs that are listed there, and check which job suits you the most. Once you have got your favourable job, tap on it. And once you tap on it, you will get to see all the details about the job and the client who has posted this job.

Fifth step– Carefully read all the details of this job and if you are satisfied and want to proceed with the application, then tap on the apply now option available on the top right corner.

Sixth step– Once you tap on the apply now option, you will get to see a screen like this: 

Seventh step– In the next step, you will have to submit your proposal, and you will have to fill in some additional details as well.

Eighth step– Once you have successfully filled in all the details, you will have to move on to the main part of this application, which is to place a bid and boost your proposal.

Ninth step– After placing your bid, submit your application and wait for the client’s response. If your application will be accepted by the client then you will be notified about it through email.

Opportunities in Indian law firms that deal with entertainment law

There are multiple firms in India that deal with the practices of media and entertainment law. They have a team of experienced lawyers who are experts in media and entertainment laws. Read here to learn about all the big Indian law firms that hire media and entertainment lawyers.

Career opportunities at law firms

Here is a list of some Indian law firms that hire entertainment and media lawyers. 

Career opportunity at DSK Legal

DSK Legal hires media and entertainment lawyers to deal with the matters of media and entertainment lawyers. They have been doing consistently well in the field of media and entertainment law and have also received the award of being the best entertainment law firm in past years.

The attorneys at DSK Legal have successfully represented their clients in media cases and have successfully settled their matters. Their media and entertainment lawyers deal with the matters of motion pictures, television, and celebrity management. And their main focus areas are digital media, due diligence, mergers and acquisitions, and publishing of media contents.

How to apply

• Send your resume and CV to the official email ID of HR of DSK Legal.
• The email ID is [email protected]
• While sending your application, make sure that you mention all your achievements and areas of practice.

Career opportunity at Ahlawat and Associates

Ahlawat and Associates also hire multiple media and entertainment law attorneys who have enough expertise in the field of media laws. They are one of the oldest law firms in India that deals with the matters of media and entertainment industry. They hire a team of qualified attorneys who manage all the matters related to publishing, intellectual property and broadcasting rights.

Ahlawat and Associates have their law offices in multiple Indian cities, such as Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Gurugram.

How to apply

• Send your resume and CV to the official email ID of HR of Ahlawat and Associates.
• The email ID is [email protected]
• While sending your application, make sure that you mention all your achievements and areas of practice.

Career opportunity at Naik Naik & Co

Naik Naik & Company was established in the year 2004 and since then they have successfully resolved the disputes of their clients. They have helped huge celebrities from the film industry, such as Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachhan and Sonam Kapoor, and thus, they have a huge client base in India. They have also represented big Indian production companies like Endemol and T-series in matters of media and entertainment laws.

They have a team of highly experienced attorneys who are skilled at dealing with matters of media and entertainment. The issues of famous controversial Indian movies like Padmavat and Indu Sarkar were resolved by the team of their attorneys.

How to apply 

Follow these below-mentioned steps to successfully apply at Naik Naik & Co.

 First step- Open the official website of Naik Naik & Co. by clicking on this link.

Second step- Go to their careers option, once you reach there, you will get to see a window like this:

Third step- There you will see an apply now option under the lawyer’s category.

Fourth step- Click on the apply now option and you will be redirected to a new window where you will have to fill in all your details and submit your CV.

Fifth step- After submitting your CV and filling in all the details, click on the submit option and wait for their response.

Career Opportunity at Saikrishna and Associates

Saikrishna and Associates is a law firm that specialises in the field of intellectual property laws and various other fields. They have a huge team of lawyers, partners and associate partners who have successfully solved several disputes relating to intellectual property laws and matters related to the entertainment industry. 

This firm was established in 2001, and from then until now, they have successfully represented various big names in the media industry, such as Amazon and Star India. Recently, they have also secured an order related to the release of Avengers; in this case, they successfully represented Walt Disney.

Apply now

There is no specific procedure to apply at Saikrishna and Associates, but you can send an email to [email protected] to get more information about this. You can also contact any of the associates from Saikrishna and Associates and ask them how they got into this firm.

Career opportunity at Nisith Desai and Associates

Nisith Desai and Associates is one of the leading firms in India that deals with matters of the media and entertainment industry. They have represented several big names in the entertainment industry, such as Reliance, Warner Bros, MTV, Sahara, etc.

They have a team of qualified partners and associates who have successfully handled matters related to entertainment law. They advise the entertainment industry on various aspects such as IP Advisory, structuring, strategy, regulatory, due diligence, sports, production, broadcast, online gaming, print media, etc. 

Some of their most important achievements in the field of the entertainment industry are that they proposed bids for the broadcasting rights of the Indian Premier League and acted as counsel for the film Black.

Apply now

Follow these steps to successfully apply at Nisith Desai and Associates.

First step- Go to the official website of Nisith Desai and Associates. Click on this link to get there. 

Second step- Go to the section on career opportunities and scroll down until you see the option of Job Openings.

Third step- below the job openings section, you will get to see an apply now option.

Fourth step- Tap on the apply now option and you will be redirected to a new page. Where you will get to see all the new available jobs.

Fifth step- Check whether any entertainment law or media lawyer job is available at the moment or not.

Sixth step- If you find a job, then click on the view job option. 

Seventh step- Once you click on the view job option you will get to see another apply now option.

Eighth step- Tap on the option of Apply now and fill all your personal details and submit your resume. 

Ninth step- Once you are done with the application process, go to the bottom of the page and click on the submit option. After submitting your application, wait for their reply.

How  to become a successful media and entertainment lawyer

To become a successful media and entertainment lawyer, a lawyer should have knowledge about all the laws and regulations related to media and entertainment. But there are certain other things that a lawyer must do in order to become successful on this path. Here we have mentioned some essential things which media lawyers must practise to become a successful media and entertainment lawyer.

Essential things every media lawyer must do

Here we have mentioned some essential things that every media lawyer must do in order to have a successful career.

Gain expertise in entertainment and media laws

It is very necessary to know all the media and entertainment laws, which would help you in dealing with matters related to the entertainment industry. Have a good grip on all the entertainment laws, intellectual property laws, as well as sedition and defamation laws, which are some of the core laws that every media lawyer must know.

There are various law books, journals, articles and media and entertainment law courses that provide in-depth knowledge of all aspects of media and entertainment law. You should also have in-depth knowledge of contract laws, negotiation, and dispute resolution. Start reading the bare acts of all these laws. Once you have read the bare acts, start reading commentaries and reference books for better knowledge. 

Here is the link of some important books and statutes related to entertainment law-

Entertainment Law in a Nutshell (Nutshells) 5th Edition : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1636590837?tag=uuid10-20

Entertainment Law in a Nutshell (Nutshells) 5th Edition : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1543832571?tag=uuid10-20

Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry, 4th edition: From Negotiations to Final Contracts : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935247166?tag=uuid10-20

Entertainment Law, Cases and Materials on Established and Emerging Media (American Casebook Series) 2nd Edition : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683282582?tag=uuid10-20

Statutes:

• Cinematograph Act, 1952;
• Copyrights Act, 1957;
• Trade Marks Act, 1999;
• Right to Information Act, 2005;
• Press Act, 1910.

Acquire practical knowledge

The best way to learn any law and explore it is through internships. If you want to become a good media lawyer, then start doing internships with lawyers and law firms that specialise in entertainment law. By doing so, you will get to know the kinds of cases that those lawyers deal with and what they do to handle those cases. 

Make a list of all the top law firms and lawyers in your city that provide entertainment law services, and send an email along with your CV for an internship application to them. Through these internships, you will get a good grasp of the contracts and agreements that are required in entertainment law. You will gain enough practical knowledge and experience in this field.

Writing articles

Reading and writing are the best methods to learn something; similarly, if you want to gain experience in entertainment law, then it is very necessary that you start reading more articles and journals. And when you have read enough of them and are ready to give your opinions and express your views, then you must start writing articles on entertainment and media laws.

Write those kinds of articles on entertainment law that serve a purpose and are trending because people tend to read only those things that are interesting and have a purpose behind them. Writing articles is the best method to increase your knowledge in any field.

If you write more articles on media and entertainment law, then you will get to know more about these laws and regulations, and ultimately, if you read more, then you will have more knowledge about everything related to media and entertainment laws. 

Networking and connection-building 

Building connections and strengthening networks always helps an individual in his career, no matter in which field he is employed. Especially when it comes to lawyers or attorneys, network building is a very important aspect that every lawyer must do. Because in this profession, most of the time, you get clients through networking and not through your skills or knowledge.

Especially for media and entertainment lawyers, networking is a very crucial thing. Because if you create more connections then you will get more work opportunities. So, start making connections and connecting with new people. Start by being active on social media platforms. Create your LinkedIn profile and connect with lawyers and other eminent personalities who have a grip on media laws.

If you start early and build more connections with various individuals in the field of media and entertainment then you will be able to get a good exposure of this field. Connections help a lot to everyone, doesn’t matter whether you are a law student or a lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Media and Entertainment Laws

Here are some of the commonly asked questions about the careers of lawyers in the media and entertainment industry.

What are some of the different kinds of entertainment law?

The entertainment law is classified into various categories like- 

1. Broadcasting, 
2. Publishing, 
3. Entertainment, 
4. Media, 
5. Theatre, 
6. Music,
7. Films, 
8. Visual arts, 
9. Theatre, 
10. Design, etc.

What are some of the best career opportunities after pursuing a career in media and entertainment law?

These are some of the best career opportunities that a media and entertainment lawyer can get after pursuing a career in media laws:

• Document draftings,
• Litigation,
• Entertainment lawyer,
• Cyber lawyer,
• Legal advisor.

Which Indian law firms hire media and entertainment lawyers?

There are multiple Indian law firms that hire media and entertainment lawyers. Some of the most famous and big Indian law firms are:

• J Sagar Associates,
• Naik Naik and Co.,
• Banana IP,
• Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas,
• Trilegal,
• DSK Legal.

What is the average salary of a media and entertainment lawyer?

The salary of a media and entertainment lawyer depends upon their organisation in which they are employed. For example, if he is working in a Tier 1 Indian law firm, then he can easily make 15-20 lakh rupees per annum.

Are there enough freelancing work opportunities available for media and entertainment lawyers?

Yes , there are multiple freelance work opportunities available for media and entertainment lawyers available online. Visit freelancing websites like Fiver and UpWork and you can see various freelance work opportunities listed for media and entertainment lawyers.

Is choosing the field of entertainment law a good option for lawyers?

Entertainment law is one of those fields of law whit ch has been increasing rapidly and lawyers are earning huge amounts of money in this field. Thus, it is predicted that this industry will grow even more in the future, so yes, choosing entertainment law can be a very good option for lawyers.

What are the duties of an entertainment lawyer?

An entertainment lawyer performs various duties on his job, and their duties depend upon the role they are hired for. Some of the most common duties of an entertainment lawyer are: 

1. to draft contracts and agreements, 
2. ensure compliance and due diligence, and 
3. advise media houses and celebrities about their rights and what they can and cannot do.

Who is eligible to become an entertainment lawyer?

Any law student who has completed his law degree from any recognised law college and has sufficient knowledge of media and entertainment law can become an entertainment lawyer and earn a good amount of money.

Do Indian law firms hire entertainment lawyers?

Yes, there are various Indian law firms which hire entertainment lawyers; some of those firms are Saikrishna and Associates, JSA, AZB and partners etc.

Can an entertainment lawyer take the position of a manager?

We can not compare the job of a manager with that of an entertainment lawyer, the manager works for the growth of the company whereas the entertainment lawyer works to protect the properties of the company.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

An entertainment lawyer performs several essential duties, but some of the most important work that an entertainment lawyer does is protecting the intellectual property, advising the clients, making contracts and agreements.

What are the skills required to become a media lawyer?

Some of the skills that every media lawyer should have are research skills, analytical skills, negotiation skills, drafting skills and communication skills.

Does everyone need an entertainment lawyer?

No, everyone does not need an entertainment lawyer, but people who are employed in the entertainment industry in any manner or are involved in any kind of entertainment production definitely need an entertainment lawyer. And people working in intellectual property also need an entertainment lawyer.

How many entertainment lawyers do we need?

The need for more than one entertainment lawyer depends on the needs of professionals. If you are someone who handles a big production company or if you are a media house dealing with various aspects of entertainment, then yes, you must hire more than one entertainment lawyer who is experienced in each field. 

How much can an independent media lawyer earn in a year?

Any independent lawyer who has enough knowledge of entertainment laws can easily earn around ten lakh rupees in this field.

What is an entertainment lawyer?

An entertainment lawyer works for creatives, artists and companies and represents them in cases related to music, cinema, media, publishing, etc. Most entertainment lawyers also work as legal advisors for such companies and give advice on legal matters related to entertainment law. 

Is an entertainment lawyer different from other types of lawyers?

Yes, law has a wide variety of career options, and entertainment law is one of the options. While the other options include criminal law, civil law, real estate law, etc., entertainment law is related to the field of media, publishing, broadcasting, etc. 

What are the different laws that an entertainment lawyer must be equipped with?

There is no one particular law that an entertainment lawyer should know; instead, he/she should be equipped with a number of statutes because any law can come in handy in any case. But some of the most important of these statutes are, IPR, employment law, labour law, security law, contract law, international law, insurance law, corporate law, etc.

What are the career prospects of an entertainment lawyer?

Entertainment law has become one of the most lucrative options in the legal field. One can join the top law firms in India, as they give good salaries even to new hires. Some of these firms include Naik Naik & Co., Phoenix Legal, Khaitan & Co., DSK Legal, etc. Apart from these, there are several boutique firms that practise entertainment law and offer handsome salaries. Additionally, one can also choose to become an independent entertainment lawyer after gaining experience for a year or so. 

Conclusion

Media and entertainment law is one such field that is currently witnessing amazing growth all the media lawyers in India are earning huge amounts of money. With the advancement of technology and the discovery of new kinds of modes of entertainment such as web series and short movies, this industry has been flourishing even more.

In this article, we have discussed the career prospects and all kinds of career opportunities available for lawyers in the field of media and entertainment law. We have discussed Indian law firms, freelancing opportunities and a list of jobs available in this field. Thus, we hope that this article has provided enough knowledge to you and you have got to learn about various career opportunities in the field of media and entertainment law. 

References

• https://www.collegedekho.com/articles/10-skills-required-to-become-a-successful-lawyer/
• https://www.legalbites.in/entertainment-law-career-opportunities-as-an-entertainment-lawyer
• https://www.theforage.com/blog/careers/entertainment-law#h-careers-in-entertainment-law
• https://leverageedu.com/blog/media-law/
• https://leverageedu.com/blog/media-law/
• https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-3426-media-and-entertainment-laws.html
• https://ccbjournal.com/articles/entertainment-and-media-law-twenty-first-century
• https://upscalelegal.com/practice-areas/media-sports-it-and-entertainment/
• https://lawsikho.com/course/certification-course-in-media-and-entertainment-law-contracts-and-l
• https://www.wrapbook.com/blog/entertainment-lawyer-most-asked-questions#:~:text=Email%20Address%20*-,1.,%2C%20theater%2C%20publishing%20and%20music.

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