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Summary: The following twelve schools have produced the most 2017 Power Lawyers in Hollywood.
For any future law student out there who hopes to be the next Charles Harder or Mark Geragos, there are twelve schools that are responsible for producing the most power player lawyers in Hollywood. Recently, The Hollywood Reporter released its list of the 100 Power Lawyers in the entertainment industry, and the publication noticed a trend. Twelve schools had the most alumni that made their list, and some of them such as UCLA or USC were located in Los Angeles, home of Hollywood, while others were popular because of other factors such as their Ivy League status or position in Silicon Valley.
10. Georgetown Law School (tie)
Three Power Lawyers on this year’s list attended Georgetown in Washington DC. Although the school is mostly well-known for churning out politicians and lobbyists, its strong First Amendment curriculum is worthwhile for any entertainment attorney who wants to work with artists or studios.
10. Cornell Law School (tie)
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While Cornell Law School may be isolated in New York state, one of its Power Lawyer alums said that the location actually helps with learning law. Entertainment attorney Joe Calabrese told THR that the “isolation of winters in Ithaca gives you time to watch classic films with the Cornell film club and hang out at the hotel school studying wine.”
10. Brooklyn Law School (tie)
Never count out a Brooklyn Law graduate. The New York school has three entertainment attorney alumni who made THR’s Power Lawyers list, and according to the publication, its entertainment workshop gives students an opportunity to negotiate like any Hollywood pro.
9. University of Michigan Law School
Located in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Law School has an entertainment club that organizes social gatherings for aspiring entertainment attorneys who want to move to Los Angeles. The Midwestern powerhouse has four alums who made this year’s Power Lawyers list.
While most people who attend George Washington Law, which is located in Washington, DC, tend to gravitate towards politics, some alumni choose to move west instead and seek out a career in Hollywood. According to THR, the school’s externship program helps students who want to blend entertainment with politics, i.e. get a job working for NPR or something similar.
6. Southwestern Law School (tie)
While not a top tier law school, Southwestern Law School is located in Los Angeles and has a strong base of local alumni. Six entertainment attorneys from the school made THR’s annual list, and the school was one of the first ever to offer classes that specialize in the industry.
6. Columbia Law School (tie)
Hollywood isn’t the only place that needs entertainment lawyers. There’s plenty of film, television, theater, and music opportunities in New York City as well where Columbia Law School is located. Six entertainment attorneys who made the Power Lawyers 2017 list are graduates of the Ivy League school, which has famous alumni such as entertainment attorney Nina Shaw.
Seven of THR’s Power Lawyers 2017 attended Stanford, which is located in Silicon Valley. Because of its location, the school emphasizes tech, and this includes intellectual property and advanced legal writing.
Top tier school UC Berkeley School of Law has some esteemed entertainment law alumni like Christopher Nolan’s lawyer, Michael Schenkman. Being in the proximity of the Silicon Valley area, the school has a wealth of resources in the tech industry, and it offers a Law & Technology program that focuses on areas such as cyber crime, a hot button issue for celebrities who are frequent targets of hackers who want their nudes.
The University of Southern California is situated near downtown Los Angeles, but it’s a fairly easy drive to Beverly Hills and Hollywood. According to THR, it offers an Intellectual Property Clinic and in August, the school will launch an online Media and Entertainment Law Certificate program.
No matter what industry you want to break into, a degree from Harvard is going to take you far. Even though it’s located on the east coast, aspiring entertainment lawyers have plenty of on-campus recruitment opportunities and the school boasts impressive in-house clinics to hone their students’ legal writing, negotiation, and counseling skills.
Located on the West side of Los Angeles, UCLA had the most Power Lawyer alumni. THR Power Lawer of 2017 Jeff Frankel said, “The location is accessible to opportunities in the industry,” and you know the phrase. When it comes to success, it’s all about location, location, location.
- Related: The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers 2017
- Related: Top Entertainment Boutiques in Los Angeles
- Related: THR Top Power Lawyers of 2016
Source: The Hollywood ReporterÂ
