Non-traditional student

[Del]

Hi,

As an adult student, I have some concerns about going to school in one state and seeking employment in another. I live in NC. UNC-Chapel Hill is a nationally recognized school that is also very affordable. I would like to pursue entertainment law and was concerned I might be limiting externship/networking opportunities by going to UNC and not going to school in CA or NY.

I am originally from NY, but am interested in exploring CA. Plus, CA is the entertainment hub.

Would I be limiting myself, especially as an adult student, by going to UNC and then trying to seek employment in CA? I thought maybe if I go to UNC, I could intern in NYC entertainment field.

Would I have to take the bar in NC and CA?

Also, I did research law schools that have extensive entertainment classes and externship opportunities, but what if entertainment law is not what I thought it was, would I be limited because I focused on entertainment classes and not be marketable in another discipline?

I am interested in applying to UNC-Chapel Hill, Southwestern, Pepperdine & California Western. What is your opinion?

Thank you,

Del

[Anne Chaconas]

Hey Del!

Lots of questions! I'm happy to shed some light and give you my take on them.

If you're absolutely certain that you want to pursue entertainment law, then attending a school in states/locations that are well known for their entertainment law prospects (this is particularly true of schools in southern California) is your best bet. This is definitely true if you're an older applicant, since law firms are a little more hesitant to hire older graduates given that older graduates have higher monetary requirements and expectations then young, newly-minted JDs; therefore, the more local you are, the better. In addition, as you rightly pointed out, you would limiting your externship and networking opportunities in the field if you are not in a location known for its entertainment law prospects. Attempting to obtain an internship or externship in a location where you are not currently attending law school is often a tough proposition, since these kinds of opportunities are usually much more readily available to students in the immediate area; here, again, the more local you are, the better.

In short: If entertainment law is your definite goal, then it would be in your best interest to attend a school in a location that will cater to this goal. I completely understand that affordability is also a concern (and, as an NC resident, you would certainly be getting a great deal if you attended UNC Law), so if entertainment law is not something that you know for sure you will pursue, then you might want to consider letting finances be the deciding factor.

You only have to take the bar in the state where you plan on practicing. That being said, keep in mind that many schools cater their courses to the state they are in, so if you know that you'll likely practice in CA or NY, you may want to look into schools in those states. Both the California and New York bar exams are considered to be among the hardest in the nation, so any advantage you can give yourself in that regard is a plus.

Given that in law school everyone gets the same basic legal education during 1L and some of 2L, you would not be a great disadvantage if you took a bulk of entertainment classes during 2L and 3L. You would still have the necessary basic knowledge required by firms for associate work (and much of what you will need to do as a practicing attorney you will learn on the job, in any case). However, if your externships and clinical workshops focus solely on entertainment law, you may be giving your profile a definite slant that you may find hard to overcome later if you choose to look for jobs in other legal fields which have little to do with entertainment. Again, you should only place this kind of intense focus on entertainment law and supporting hands-on work if you know for certain that this is the field you want to end up in. Otherwise, you will likely be limiting yourself.

Your school list looks good for what you are trying to do. You should keep UNC-CH on your list given both its ranking and the low cost of attendance you would enjoy, but should still have CA schools due to your entertainment law goals.

I hope this helps! Best of luck!

[Del]

Hi Anne,

Thank you for your excellent advice; you touched upon every question! I agree that I am going to have to be 100 percent certain that entertainment is the route I want to go considering my personal circumstances. Thanks again, you really put things in perspective for me.

Have a great day!

Del

[Anne Chaconas]

You're most welcome, Del! Best of luck with everything!