The Legal Page
How Do I Find An Attorney
There are many ways to find an attorney for your band some ways will get you an attorney who becomes an integral part of your team, other ways will get you frustrated and ripped off.
The yellow pages lists dozens of attorneys in your area. Most times if they are not listed by specialty they mention their specialty in an ad. You may find a decent attorney this way. If you do try to get a free consultation so you can interview the person you will be working with. It is much easier to walk away from a free meeting than one that cost hundreds of dollars.
Local bar associations also give out attorney referrals according to the specialty the attorney list himself under. If you call and ask for an entertainment attorney you will be given the name of someone who has attended some entertainment law classes or seminars but also works in other areas of law. If this is the only person in your geographic area then this may be your best option. The benefit of going through the local bar association is that they usually offer free or discounted consultations with the attorneys.
In many libraries and on line you can access the Martindale-Hubble directory of lawyers. This is a nation wide directory that tells you who practices what type of law in your area. The advantage of this directory is it will tell you if the person list themselves under multiple specialties and what those specialties are. You will also find information on their background and education.
There are multiple magazines and directories for musicians available at newsstands and bookstores that list resources including attorneys. If you are in a big city or music hub you will find listings for your area. In other areas outside of a city the listings are not as helpful.
The best way to find an attorney for your band is word of mouth. If you are playing out ask other bands. Ask people at the studio you record in or the music store you frequent. Not all attorneys are alike talking to someone who has worked with the lawyer you are considering will give you inside information on their personality and style. These can be determining factors in you decision.