Student Blog: Leaving the Stage Without Leaving Broadway

Who protects your favorite shows from illegally being reproduced? Who ensures your favorite artists are being fairly paid? Who makes sure marketing for your favorite shows is appropriate and legal? Entertainment lawyers. There are few things I love more than Broadway and theatre, but one thing that comes close is science. I enjoy your everyday STEM courses, but I really love studying the way people think and the different political systems that have been implemented (or political science). The marriage between Broadway and political science led me to discover entertainment law.

I began my career search by considering what are some priorities I have when exploring. The first thing that came to mind: working with artists. I am continuously drawn to artists and their unwavering commitment to their craft. They bring an appreciation for life that I constantly am amazed by which then pushes me to try and do the same. The next thing is just my love for the arts and my unwillingness to ever leave them (and I tried when I started college as a mathematics major on the pre-medicine track). However, I missed the creativity of theatre, so it became a non-negotiable. I also know that I feel most fulfilled when writing essays or analyzing literature or doing case studies. I need to be using both my right and left brain in order to feel complete. These three things have pointed me toward pursuing a career in entertainment law.

Preparing for a career in law can be difficult. You are not able to intern for law firms (unless you are super special) until law school. So, you have to be creative. On campus, I have tried to learn as much as possible about the production side of theatre as much as possible. I have learned about producing and financing through my musical theatre club, I just joined another club as their casting director, and I have searched for opportunities just to perform too. All of this provides a holistic view of theatre that someday, I will be able to craft my "why" when applying for law schools.

Do not get me wrong, I would be on a Broadway stage in a heartbeat if I could, but I also know I have other passions that would not sustain that dream for very long. I may change my mind in the next few years, who knows. However, there are so many different ways to be involved in the world of theatre, and entertainment for that matter. Lawyers handle every realm of art you can think of. Maybe this is something you may want to consider, or maybe you can keep it in your back pocket just in case.