Representing emerging and celebrity musicians and music industry companies is likely to catapult your name into the news and turn your business into a household topic of conversation. Maybe that’s one of the many reasons why you’re so interested in pursuing a career in music law. Attorneys who practice in the field of music law have worked with some of the most celebrated — and sometimes reviled — recording artists in the country (or the world), and that’s exactly the kind of career experience you envision for yourself.
If you’re still deciding where to go to law school and you’re dreaming of someday practicing law with music’s brightest stars as your clients, perhaps it’s time to take a look at Billboard’s latest law school rankings.
Billboard’s ranking is based on the number of accomplished music attorneys that have graduated from each law school. Billboard has ranked the top 15 law schools alphabetically. We’ll provide our readers with a look at the first seven law schools here at Above the Law. Click here to see the full list.
So, which schools made the cut? You might be surprised.
BENJAMIN N. CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW
Enrollment: 1,051
The best thing about my law school was: “Cardozo recognized the value of an entertainment law program early on.” – Michael Reinert, Fox RothschildBROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL
Enrollment: 949
The best thing about my law school was: “The way they had professors teaching the courses was all geared specifically for the bar exam.” – Paul Schindler, Greenberg TraurigCOLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL
Enrollment: 1,268
The best thing about my law school was: “The alumni network. I am the vp of the alumni association and co-chairing my reunion.” Wade Leak, Sony Music EntertainmentFORDHAM LAW SCHOOL
Enrollment: 1,269
The best thing about my law school was: “I was expecting law school to be brutal, and it was not easy. But it was a very nurturing and supportive place.” – Ilene Farkas, Pryor CashmanGEORGETOWN LAW
Enrollment: 2,694
The best thing about my law school was: “I had the unique opportunity to go to a top-level law school and coach underclass lacrosse — a personal passion.” – Shawn Trell, AEG PresentsHARVARD LAW SCHOOL
Enrollment: 1,990
The best thing about my law school was: “Being incredibly intellectually challenged and learning how to think in a very critical, logical and strategic way.” – Donald Passman, Gang Tyre Ramer Brown & PassmanLOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
Enrollment: 1,058
The best thing about my law school was: “Only having to take torts once. I passed torts the first time I tried.” – Zia Modabber, Katten Muchin Rosenman
While it certainly helps to go to a top-ranked law school to represent the members of the music industry elite, going to a law school in New York or California seems to be even more helpful. If you’re interested in music law, you should know that it’s a relatively tough field to get into, and it may take you quite some time to reach the peak of your career — or, you could get really lucky.
Either way, choosing the right law school is just the first step, and we wish you the best of luck. Maybe someday you’ll get to represent your favorite musician.
Revealed: Billboard’s 2019 Top Music Lawyers Led by BTS Counsel Debbie White of Loeb & Loeb [Billboard]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.