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Sports Lawyers and How to Get in the Game [byFrank C. Lee] Think you’ll be a sports lawyer and represent professional athletes? Think you’ll rub elbows with the rich and powerful? Think you’ll bask in the limelight as your client’s “go-to” guy? Think again.
There are about as many misconceptions as
School is the only sports law program of its
“In addition, the laws and cases impacting
to what sports lawyers actually do as there
kind in the country,” Mr. Anderson said.
the sports industry change almost daily, and sports law practice demands an incredible
are professional athletes, with the reality of the rigors of the profession far less glamor-
“However, only a limited amount of what
amount of constant work to keep on top of
ous than one may imagine.
we do talks about ‘sports agency.’ This is
the industry.”
not a lucrative field for lawyers…unless you “There is also a misunderstanding that
already know a high-profile athlete.”
Marquette University Law School’s internship program includes placement with the Mar-
a ‘sports agent’ is the same as a ‘sports lawyer,’” said Professor Paul Anderson, as-
Instead, the curriculum at Marquette Uni-
quette University Athletic Department, the
sociate director of the National Sports Law
versity Law School’s Sports Law Program
Miller Brewing Co., the Milwaukee Brewers,
Institute at Marquette University Law School
focuses on topics such as tort law, contract
the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Milwaukee
in Milwaukee, WI.
law, Title IX gender discrimination, federal
Tennis & Education Foundation.
disability discrimination laws, and the legal “They are not the same thing, as there is no
characterization of college athletes.
“Some people are former athletes or are interested in sports in general, but the variety
requirement or need for agents to be lawyers,” said Mr. Anderson, supervisor of the
At the professional level of athletic competi-
of students I have seen is virtually endless,”
Marquette Sports Law Review and editor of
tion, course topics include antitrust, labor,
said Mr. Anderson.
the Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport.
contracts, regulation of private associations, player representation, intellectual property,
Marquette University Law School’s Sports
and sports-broadcasting issues.
Law Program provides the nation’s most
An amateur athlete is one who is not generally financially compensated for his or her talents, whereas professional athletes are.
comprehensive offering of sports law
“Maybe 3% of lawyers actually are athlete
Many college athletes receive scholarships,
courses and student internships with sports
representatives,” Mr. Anderson said. “Sports
but they are still considered amateurs be-
organizations.
lawyers are team counsel, NCAA counsel,
cause they are not compensated directly.
athletic directors, compliance officers, “Sports lawyers are everywhere. Keep in
general managers, sponsor representatives,
“For sports lawyers, in general, the field is
mind, any lawyer who represents a school
etc.”
much more diverse. The competition is in-
district in an eligibility dispute or an athlete
creasing each year as every sport or athletic
trying to participate in a sport is a ‘sports
Under the supervision of the National
enterprise realizes the need for lawyers,” Mr.
lawyer,’” Mr. Anderson said.
Sports Law Institute’s directors, Marquette
Anderson said.
University Law School students have the opAll Marquette University Law School students
portunity to gain valuable legal and business
Most professional athletes have agents who
are eligible to participate in the Sports Law
experience by participating in semester-long
negotiate contracts on behalf of their clients.
Program by enrolling in sports law courses,
volunteer sports law internships.
Many state legislatures now require agents
which include law as it pertains to issues
to register with some type of administrative
related to amateur and professional athletes
“The reality for students and practitioners is
and organizations.
that being a sports fan is not part of practicing sports law,” Mr. Anderson said.
“Our program at Marquette University Law
PAGE 1
agency in an attempt to regulate the industry. “Many sports lawyers work for teams and leagues and athletic departments, although
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