JD advising for sports law

Lawyers aspiring to work in the sport industry require a unique complement of skills to address emerging issues that arise in sports organizations. A JD curriculum balanced in business, intellectual property, negotiations, and contracts knowledge will provide students with the skills necessary to think critically about the issues facing the industry.

Together with externships in the sport industry and the opportunity to conduct legal research on a contemporary sports law issue, our students will graduate equipped for experiences to position them work in the following careers, to name a few:

• In-house Counsel for Sport Organizations
• Sport Agency and Representation
• League governance and Infractions
• Athletic Directors for Compliance

Recommended foundational courses

• Contract Drafting
• Negotiations
• Professional Sports Law
• Sport Law — Interscholastic & Intercollegiate

Recommended elective courses

Students should select a balance of both business and intellectual property courses from the following, based on their career goals:

Recommended co-curriculars

Externships

JD students looking to work in the sports industry are strongly encouraged to pursue externships and other experiential learning opportunities with teams and sports organizations. The Externship Program provides law students with the opportunity to gain valuable legal work experience while earning academic credit. Students are encouraged to monitor for externship timelines and should work closely with the externship office to prepare themselves for externship placement.

Journals and legal research

JD students may also wish to pursue formal legal writing opportunities via independent study or student-run academic publications as an opportunity to delve further into and advance a proscriptive element addressing a novel legal issue impacting the sports industry.

Networking and advising

Students are encouraged to work closely with the Sports Law Program Director and mentors in the industry when selecting courses and co-curricular activities to ensure that they are taking advantage of opportunities to create a meaningful educational experience that will support their future career goals.