What is a Music Law Internship?
Music law internships are offered by many small to mid-sized law firms. These internships are ideal for those who are seeking a career defending the creative rights of musicians and talent in the ever-changing modern music industry. Most law school programs have associated internship programs. These programs typically award credit toward elective hours through completion of an internship. Interns are expected to conduct independent research, legal writing and analysis, and assist in the drafting of various documents, including but not limited to music publishing agreements , licensing terms, record deals, management contracts and concert agreements. Interns are a valuable asset to law firms representing talent. The responsibilities of interns may include the execution of most aspects of ongoing cases under the direct guidance of an experienced attorney. Students beginning into a music law internship should have a passion for and some basic understanding of contract law, intellectual property law, and entertainment law. Knowledge of other related areas, such as privacy and publicity rights, as well as trademark law, may also be beneficial.
The Perks of a Music Law Internship
Internships in the rapidly growing field of music law are beneficial for those considering a career in any area of the music business. In the short term, interns gain valuable experience and the opportunity to develop on-the-job skills that will be useful when pursuing employment after graduation. In the long term, interning can lead to colleagues and clients throughout a career in music law. By generating a valuable network of connections and contributing to a resume of practical experience, interning in music law helps aspiring lawyers work toward a career in an area they enjoy.
Where to Find Music Law Internship Openings
Music law internships are not as common in the more traditional sense. In the last several years, many of our interns have been administrators and managers at music technology companies. This could mean anything from a data entry position to a project coordinator or marketing internship. Channeling this new type of internship, many of these interns have gone on to great positions in both the music and media industries. If you are not looking to work in the administrative side of the industry, there are several places that tend to post listings for legal/academic positions. Oftentimes, referrals and member-only postings are a major resource, as they are not publicly posted in job boards. We suggest that you try some of these sites if you are looking for traditional music law internships. Please let us know if you find any others that are useful in the comments section!
Legal Intern Resources:
Indeed – Music Law Jobs
LawCrossing.com
SimplyHired
Jdsupra.com
Monster.com
LinkedIn
Glassdoor
ZipRecruiter
Music Career Co.
Facebook Groups
Mandy Network
Internships.com
Law Intern Resources:
Wanderable – Law Internships
The National Jurist – 10 Law Schools with the Best Internships
The Legal Analyst – 5 Best Law Internships
Facebook Groups
Other Resources:
The Music Business
The American Bar Association
The International Legal Group
Major Law Firms in the Music Biz
Law Firms with Music and Entertainment Departments
Legal Docs
Music Business Exchange
The Music Law Resource Center
Networking
Remember, all of our interns are required to go through a screening process before beginning an internship. So even if these resources do not pan out, another lead can come from anywhere or any person.
Highlighting Your Skills in a Music Law Internship Application
Once you’ve determined where you want to apply, it’s time to put in the effort that will ensure your application stands out among the herd. Music law internships can be competitive, and organizations receive a large number of applications for relatively few open positions. That’s why it’s important to make sure your application isn’t overlooked or destined for the "no" pile before it even receives a second glance.
The cover letter is often your first point of contact with an organization and should be used to detail your interest in the internship. Cover letters should be typed on plain paper, and be no longer than one page in length. Introduce yourself and start off by explaining briefly why you’re applying for the internship. If your school has a particular reputation for preparing students for a career in entertainment law, or if you have a family connection to the music industry, highlight that information. Tell the reader what you hope to learn from the internship, and how this will benefit their organization. If you have any prior experience in the music business, or have taken any classes related to music law, be sure to include this information as well.
The resume is your opportunity to elaborate on your experience. It should list all employment , even if it’s not related to the position at hand, along with volunteer work, internships and activities. Help the reader understand what you’ve accomplished. Although it’s easy to provide a laundry list of the various tasks you’ve performed, be sure to mention any projects in which you played a key role. For example, "Improved efficiency in the office by spearheading the implementation of a new filing system" sounds stronger than "Responsible for filing." And while the reader has no doubt seen plenty of grades on resumes, go ahead and list your GPA credits earned in an entertainment law class, or detail any awards you earned in business law classes in high school. This material offers a glimpse into your academic performance and your interest in the field of music law.
Finally, and this is imperative, proofread. Proofread again. Have someone else proofread. Then proofread one more time. Music law requires a myriad of legal details; demonstrating a strong command of spelling, grammar and punctuation in your resume and cover letter is the first step in ensuring a positive impression. Especially in the world of music law, the devil is in the details. Don’t let this happen to you!
Music Law Interview Tips
You should be prepared for a variety of questions in the interview. Most are common behavioral questions and some can be music specific. The music-specific questions are likely to be geared toward your knowledge of the law and the music business and will likely include one or more of the following questions:
Talk about a recent development in the music or entertainment industry that interests you.
If you play an instrument or have taken any music classes, follow up with a discussion of that.
What do you think about first-year initiatives at music law firms?
What do you plan to do once you have completed your music law internship?
How has your education prepared you for a career in music law?
What was your extracurricular experience like in high school or college?
How did you become interested in working in the music industry?
Tell me about your music collection.
Depending on the firm’s interview style, you may be asked to read and analyze a short contract or other legal document. You may also be asked to role play a scenario and go through the possible options with the supervising attorney. For example, an interviewer might put you in a situation where a client is complaining about an unfavorable contract with a record label or publisher. You are then required to discuss the various options available to the client. Interviewers are not looking for perfection; they simply want to see how you think on your feet and they would like to gauge your level of interest in the issues facing the firm and the firm’s clients.
Don’t try to answer everything in the black and white. The music industry is a very personal business, so sometimes there is more gray area than you might expect in a legal interview. This is especially true when discussing issues like property rights and infringement cases. Keep in mind that everything you say is likely to be used against you. If you concede something that will weaken your position as an applicant, the interviewer may try to push you further on that point. Likewise, answers that don’t show solid knowledge of the law can be counterproductive.
Above all else, you must convey your passion for the legal side of the music industry. Without that passion, your application is a waste of the interviewer’s time.
The Value of Music Law Internship Experience
In order to make the most of your music law internship, you should focus on a few key areas – learning from your mentors, gaining hands-on experience and setting career goals. The music law work environment is both unique and intense in that your colleagues will expect that you will work hard to learn as much as possible. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions of those around you, but always try to think of a legitimate reason why you are asking. In addition, you should take notes on what you learn and what aspects of these experiences you find are most interesting. Over time, you may find that you have a strong interest in one particular aspect of the practice or business of law that is specific to the music industry.
A great aspect of legal internships is that they can often culminate in you gaining hands-on experience. For example , if you are an intern at a law firm, you might help to draft a Section 8 and 15 application for your supervising attorney. If you are an intern at an entertainment company, you might help to draft a licensing agreement for the licensing of a song to a video game manufacturer. It is crucial to take these opportunities to perform internships seriously and try to learn as much as possible from these experiences.
Finally, a successful music law internship should allow you to develop career goals for yourself. In most cases, employers will eventually ask for you to submit writing samples and transcripts as part of their hiring process. Your experiences and affinity for certain aspects of your internship experience should guide you toward the type of position that you would like to pursue after completing your degree.