Entertainment professionals require legal consultation for several reasons. Whether you are an actor or dancer, a director or music composer, or anybody else involved in the entertainment industry, multiple legal services may be required throughout your career. For better or worse, lawyers play an integral part in the entertainment domain. After all, they facilitate everything from drafting business contracts to negotiating licensing agreements, facilitate meetings between producers, and provide career consultation to performers.
Additionally, they also offer legal assistance with drafting or negotiating contracts with entertainment venues. If a venue refuses to pay the money promised, an experienced attorney will vigorously advocate on your behalf to get the money you are owed. While the legal industry can seem flooded with entertainment lawyers, not all are fit for a particular role. So, what is the best way to choose a reputable Los Angeles Entertainment Attorney? To learn more, please continue to read the information below:
Hiring the Right Legal Professional For Your Needs
The selection of legal counsel depends entirely on the complexity of the situation you are dealing with. Entertainment professionals can benefit from the help of an attorney because these associates understand the entertainment industry and the intricacies that must be considered when reviewing, negotiating, and drafting a particular contract. Entertainment attorneys are also skilled litigators who can defend your interests in court if the situation arises. If a producer breaches a contract, or you are accused of copyright infringement or intellectual property theft, contact a business lawyer Los Angeles.
Types of Entertainment Lawyers
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of entertainment law practitioners. The first primarily drafts contracts and other negotiable instruments involved in the entertainment industry. The other argues cases in court on your behalf. Some professionals focus solely on drafting and negotiating contracts and providing general counsel to entertainment professionals. These are considered “transactional” lawyers. Other entertainment attorneys handle lawsuits. These are referred to as “litigators.”
But there are more specific types of entertainment advocates, as well. There are attorneys who solicit business on behalf of entertainment professionals. These professionals can also be lawyers by training but functionally act as business managers or agents instead of legal advisors.
Entertainment professionals maintain a relationship with these attorneys. If legal problems come up, like criminal charges, tax concerns, bankruptcy, etc., the lawyer can come to their rescue and resolve the case. For instance, if an entertainer is sued, a lawyer can help them find a litigator who has experience arguing issues like copyright disputes in court.
Where to Find The Right Legal Advisor?
The first step to hiring legal counsel for entertainment issues is to clearly define what your goals are. This will help you to narrow your search down to those lawyers who specialize in your legal issue. It is helpful to locate a legal professional through trusted personal referrals; however, the best way to find a lawyer is by scheduling an initial consultation and conducting an extensive interview to determine the breadth of their credentials and experience.
The local bar association can also be a crucial resource for locating qualified legal professionals in your geographic region. The local bar association and other legal referral services offer referrals for active practitioners in various legal fields. Certain non-profit organizations and legal aid resources also offer legal referrals and other resources for singers, artists, performers, and musicians, involved in the entertainment industry.
Evaluating a Legal Advocate: Qualities to Consider
Hiring a legal professional without conducting thorough research is not something that one should do. Instead, one should consider the lawyer’s level of knowledge in the area of law and legal issues that you are facing. But knowledge of the law is not the only facet to consider. There are plenty of knowledgeable and experienced attorneys out there who may not align with your personality and preferences. It is best to find an attorney whose demeanor and style correspond with your personality. Additionally, you should consider their reputation among other legal and entertainment professionals. An effective advocate should be able to work among his or her peers to accomplish your goals. If not, then he or she may not be the right candidate for your case.
Did You Know You Can Fire Your Lawyer?
Representation by an entertainment attorney does not require a personal relationship. Rather, this is a business relationship and the attorney serves at the pleasure of his or her client to the extent they maintain ethical and legal obligations. Attorneys must earn their client’s trust and respect through regular communication and effective advocacy. Switching representation over to another legal practitioner is possible. If you are unsatisfied with the level of services you are receiving, you can end your professional relationship with your attorney.
Switching lawyers does not, however, come without drawbacks. For one thing, you risk losing a lot of time and money because the new lawyer will have to educate themselves about your case and may need to develop a new legal strategy. But if you have come to the conclusion that it is time to hire a new lawyer, contact an Entertainment Attorney Beverly Hills has worked with for years. To change attorneys, you should:
- Send your current lawyer a letter stating that you are terminating their services
- In the letter, ask them to return documentation, evidence and other work products to you and/or your newly appointed counsel
The attorney may retain a copy of the files before returning the originals to you. You may be asked to pay any outstanding debt to the attorney. At The Hollywood Lawyer, we have a great legal team to handle all possible legal concerns that you might face while working in the entertainment industry.
