Atlanta is home to five professional sports teams and a multi-billion-dollar entertainment industry. A few miles from the College of Law, you’ll find CNN, State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, EUE Screen Gems Studios and Tyler Perry Studios. As this exciting area grows, more artists, athletes and entrepreneurs need legal representation.
The Entertainment & Sports Law Certificate allows currently enrolled J.D. students to specialize in entertainment and sports law. The certificate is a part of the College of Law’s Center for Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Property law. The goal of the center is to help law students grow into competent attorneys in these specialized practice areas.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Benefits
- Students analyze legal principles, legal and business deals in the entertainment and sports industries. The program prepares students for employment at entertainment and sports law firms, companies and movie studios.
- This specialization will give students an understanding about contracts for artists and athletes. Learn how lawyers create and negotiate those agreements for their clients.
- Events held in the fall and spring for students, professionals and community stakeholders to highlight entertainment and sports and current legal issues facing these industries.
- The certificate is a part of the College of Law’s Center for Entertainment, Sports and Intellectual Property law, created to connect students and law studies to the entertainment, sports and intellectual property communities.
Potential Careers
- Entertainment attorney
- Sports attorney
- Intellectual property attorney
- In-house counsel
- Sports agent
Atlanta Advantage
Located in the heart of downtown with access to Atlanta’s landmarks, professional sports, global cuisine, cultural events and more.
A FEW STEPS
- CNN Center
- State Farm Arena
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- College Football Hall of Fame
- Georgia State Stadium
- Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII)
- Rialto Center for the Performing Arts
A FEW MILES
- EUE Screen Gems Studios
- Tyler Perry Studios
- Georgia Public Broadcasting
- Woodruff Arts Center
- Cox Communications
- Fox Theater
Certificate Requirements
Students must be in good academic standing, based on the successful completion of the first full year of law study, to participate in the certificate program. Students must remain in good standing to continue participation.
Required Courses
- LAW 7079: Entertainment Law (3 credits)
- LAW 7473: Sports Law (3 credits)
- LAW 7158: Copyrights (3 credits)
- LAW 7478: Trademarks and Unfair Competition Law (3 credits)
Elective Courses
- Law 7080E: Entertainment Law Workshop (3 credits)
- Law 7390: Mass Communication and Media Law (3 credits)
- Law 7084: The Reel: Film Finance and Incentives Law (3 credits)
- Law 7672E: Sneaker Law (3 credits)
- Law 7083: Hip-Hop and the Law (3 credits)
- Law 7256: Independent Research (2 credits)
- Law 7065: Antitrust Law (3 credits)
Writing Requirement
Extracurricular Activities
- GSU Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- GSU Creative Media Industries Institute
- GSU sponsored events involving Entertainment and Sports Law
- Local or national Entertainment and Sports Law Bar Associations
- Georgia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
- Work with affiliated faculty as a GRA
- Summer internship placements
Experiential Courses
Grades
Frequently Asked Questions
Entertainment and Sports Certificate
The certificate requires at least 12 core credits, 6 elective credits for certificate courses, and participation in the Sports and Entertainment Law Society mentoring program. College of Law provides sports and entertainment courses, experiential learning, and special events. Professor Mo Ivory instructs the signature course "The Legal Life of..." series, with semester topics ranging from the “Legal Life of Ludacris” in 2019 and the “Legal Life of Rick Ross” in 2023 to the “Legal Life of the Olympic Games” in 2024.
Faculty members provide dedicated advising, career planning, and access to industry experts. Certificates benefit a law student's resume and help to alert employers to students' exposure to specified practice areas. Other benefits include in-depth instruction to promote student’s resourcefulness and ability to adapt successfully to rapidly changing legal, technological, and international factors facing clients.
Law students may declare as early as the second fall semester. To graduate with a certificate, they must submit a Verification Form for review no later than the end of the Drop/Add period of the last semester prior to graduation. The student’s academic advisor must review and sign the Verification Form.
Yes! The Sports and Entertainment Law Society has matched students with lawyers across the country at Lucasfilm Entertainment, Overtime Elite Sports, Turner Sports, Trilith Studio, Lewis Brisbois law firm, Fox Rothchild law firm, Troutman Pepper law firm, and other exciting legal opportunities.
Yes! SELS hosts multiple general body meetings, panels, and off-campus events every semester. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
No.
Students must discuss the independent student with the desired faculty member and request approval from the Registrar’s Office using the Law Registrar Request Form.
Contact Hannah Nodar at [email protected] or Brittany Guyre-Powell at [email protected].
Verification for Graduation
Students must verify that certificate requirements have been fulfilled prior to graduation. Students must fill out the Entertainment and Sports Law Certificate Program Verification Form. The Verification Form must be approved by the director of Entertainment and Sports Law and submitted to the COL Registrar no later than the drop/add date of the last semester before graduation.
- Patrice Ruffin (J.D. ‘21)
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