HOLLYWOOD SOCIAL ACTION HERO

THE CONNECTION TO THE CONNECTIONS

Entertainment Law Society, Music Law Society and Sports Law Society plug students in to entertainment law

By Matthew Kredell There’s a lot to learn about entertainment law at USC Gould School of Law, and three student-led organizations — Entertainment Law Society, Music Law Society and Sports Law Society — help students forge their unique career paths through networking events, information sessions with practitioners in the field, and valuable mentorship opportunities.

“A lot of students come into law school not knowing what entertainment law is,” says 2L Yaz Kaveh, current president of the Entertainment Law Society. “They think it’s being a talent rep or around glitz and glam, but it’s so much more. The Entertainment Law Society helps broaden everyone’s understanding of entertainment law.”

Each organization hosts various events providing insight into practice areas and the latest trends, like streaming and digital media. Gould’s Career Services Office helps students identify the most appropriate alumni for speaker events, who are glad to share their knowledge in panel discussions, such as one organized this year on film financing and distribution.

Ben Rubinfeld (JD 2010), a partner in Ziffren Brittenham LLP’s film and television group and a former president of the Entertainment Law Society, recently discussed his experiences at an ELS event introducing students to entertainment law.

“The Entertainment Law Society was one of my favorite USC Law extracurricular groups,” Rubinfeld says. “I met some dear friends, many of whom I still work with regularly and I had a priceless opportunity to learn the business directly from industry experts. It’s a pleasure to be able to pay it forward and share my experience with tomorrow’s leaders. That’s part of what makes Gould such a special institution.”

First-year law students looking for summer internships can turn to these organizations for assistance. When she was a 1L, second-year student Cameron Keel, now president of the Music Law Society, used an email template and suggestions from MLS leadership and wound up with an internship with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

“I cold-messaged some alumni over email and LinkedIn, and that’s how I got my internship,” Keel says. “Everyone in the society was willing to help, and alumni are always really responsive.”

Music Law Society recently hosted a panel on pathways in music law, giving students an overview of the different career paths in the field, as well as a panel with creatives discussing law-adjacent careers in music. 2L Hannah Barcus, co-president of the Sports Law Society with fellow 2L Caleb Clifford, credited mentoring relationships developed through the Sports Law Society with helping her land an influential summer internship in the USC Office of Athletic Compliance.

“Coming into law school, I was interested in sports law but didn’t know anything about the legal field,” Barcus says.