Entertainment Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
A searchable directory for finding entertainment lawyers in your area
Overview
FindLaw's entertainment attorney directory allows actors and other entertainment professionals to search for lawyers specializing in entertainment law by location and practice area. Having access to qualified legal representation is critical for reviewing contracts, negotiating deals, and protecting intellectual property.
The directory includes attorney profiles with information about their specializations, experience, and contact details. Many listed attorneys offer free initial consultations, making it accessible for actors who need legal guidance but are uncertain about the cost.
How It Works
Entertainment attorneys play a crucial role in an actor's career, particularly when negotiating representation agreements, production contracts, and licensing deals. Finding a lawyer who specifically practices entertainment law ensures they understand the industry's unique legal landscape.
Searching the directory is completely free. Attorney fees vary widely based on the lawyer's experience and the nature of the legal work, but many offer flat-fee arrangements for common entertainment industry transactions.
Who Uses It
Use this directory when you need legal review of a contract, are negotiating a significant deal, or have questions about your rights in a production agreement. Even a single consultation with an entertainment attorney can prevent costly mistakes. FindLaw's platform includes over one million attorney profiles nationwide, making it one of the most comprehensive legal directories available, and its filtering capabilities allow you to narrow results by entertainment law specialization, location, and client reviews. The directory is particularly valuable for actors in markets outside of Los Angeles and New York where entertainment lawyers are less concentrated and harder to find through word-of-mouth referrals alone.
Pricing & Plans
Searching FindLaw's attorney directory is entirely free for consumers, with no registration required to browse profiles, read reviews, or access contact information for any listed attorney. Revenue is generated through attorney advertising, as lawyers and law firms pay for enhanced profiles, premium placement, and lead generation services, which keeps the platform free for those seeking legal help. Attorney consultation fees vary enormously based on the lawyer's experience, location, and the nature of the legal work, with initial consultations ranging from free to $350 per hour depending on the attorney. For standard entertainment law transactions such as contract review, expect to pay between $250 and $500 per hour for an experienced entertainment attorney in Los Angeles or New York, with flat-fee arrangements for common services like representation agreement review typically running $500 to $1,500. Attorneys in smaller markets or those building their entertainment practice may charge lower rates in the range of $150 to $300 per hour, making legal counsel more accessible for actors outside major entertainment hubs. Compared to Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and similar pro bono programs, FindLaw connects you with private attorneys at market rates, which means higher costs but also typically faster availability and a wider selection of specialists.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
FindLaw's primary strength is the sheer scale of its directory, containing over one million attorney profiles that span every practice area and geographic region in the United States, making it the most comprehensive starting point for any actor seeking entertainment legal representation. The detailed attorney profiles include education, bar admissions, practice area specializations, peer endorsements, and client reviews, providing enough information to make a preliminary assessment of a lawyer's qualifications before scheduling a consultation. The search filtering system allows you to narrow results by specific practice areas such as entertainment law, contract law, and intellectual property, as well as by city, state, and distance from your location. Many listed attorneys offer free initial consultations, which FindLaw's profiles clearly indicate, making it possible to get preliminary legal guidance at no cost before deciding whether to retain an attorney. The platform's integration with Thomson Reuters legal publishing gives it credibility and ensures that the legal information and resources accompanying the directory are accurate and professionally vetted. FindLaw also includes educational content about entertainment law topics like contract basics, intellectual property, and licensing, which helps actors understand the legal landscape before meeting with an attorney.
What Could Be Better
FindLaw's directory is a general legal directory that happens to include entertainment lawyers rather than a purpose-built entertainment law resource, which means the search results for entertainment law may include attorneys who list it as a secondary practice area despite having limited real-world experience in the entertainment industry. The attorney-paid listing model means that enhanced profiles and premium placements are determined by advertising spend rather than attorney quality, so the most prominently displayed lawyers are not necessarily the best fit for your specific needs. Client reviews on FindLaw are relatively sparse compared to platforms like Avvo or Google, and many attorney profiles have few or no reviews, limiting the value of peer and client feedback as a decision-making factor. The directory does not verify or validate attorney claims about entertainment law specialization, meaning any attorney can list entertainment law as a practice area regardless of their actual experience, and there is no accreditation or certification process within the platform. For actors specifically seeking entertainment lawyers, industry-specific referral networks through SAG-AFTRA, the Beverly Hills Bar Association Entertainment Law Section, or word-of-mouth from fellow actors typically produce more vetted recommendations than a general directory search. The platform's lead generation model can also mean that once you submit an inquiry through FindLaw, you may receive follow-up communications from multiple attorneys, which some users find overwhelming or intrusive.
Our Recommendation
FindLaw is a useful starting point for actors who need to locate entertainment lawyers in their area, particularly those outside of Los Angeles and New York where entertainment law specialists are not as concentrated and word-of-mouth referrals may be limited. The directory works best when used as an initial discovery tool followed by independent vetting, meaning you should use FindLaw to identify potential attorneys and then research them further through bar association records, independent reviews, and personal referrals before scheduling consultations. If you are a SAG-AFTRA member, check your union's resources and referral services first, as union-vetted entertainment attorneys have been pre-screened for industry expertise in ways that a general directory cannot match. For actors who cannot afford private attorney fees, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, California Lawyers for the Arts, or your local bar association's lawyer referral service may provide free or low-cost alternatives that are more appropriate for your budget. FindLaw is most valuable for finding attorneys for specific transactional needs like contract review, deal negotiation, or trademark registration, where you need a specialist for a defined scope of work rather than ongoing legal representation. Actors with established careers and recurring legal needs should prioritize finding a dedicated entertainment attorney through industry referrals rather than relying on directory searches for each new legal matter.
Pro Tips
When searching FindLaw for an entertainment attorney, use the most specific practice area filter available rather than searching broadly for attorneys in your city, as this narrows results to those who have explicitly claimed entertainment law expertise. Schedule free initial consultations with at least three different attorneys before retaining one, as these meetings allow you to evaluate chemistry, communication style, and genuine expertise in entertainment law specific to actors. During your consultation, ask specifically about the attorney's experience with SAG-AFTRA contracts, representation agreements, and production deals, as these are the most common legal needs for actors and a genuine specialist will be able to discuss them in detail without hesitation. Before your consultation, prepare a clear summary of your legal question or the contract you need reviewed, including relevant dates, parties, and dollar amounts, so the attorney can give you an informed assessment within the limited consultation time. Verify any attorney you find on FindLaw through your state bar association's website to confirm they are in good standing, have no disciplinary history, and are currently licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Save the profiles of attorneys you consult with even if you do not retain them immediately, as building a personal directory of vetted entertainment lawyers gives you ready access to legal help when urgent situations arise, such as receiving a contract with a tight signing deadline.