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How To Prepare For a Sports Law Concentration
Published September 5, 2019
Sport Law has historically been a specialization that many enter later in their careers, rather than an active decision to follow that path from the beginning of their legal education. As a relatively new concentration, Sports Law encompasses many different areas of legal practice, to provide students with a broad range of experiences that are all applicable to sports in their own regarde. As the demand for a specialization in Sports Law grows, here are 5 ways you can prepare for your first year in the UB School of Law Sport Law concentration.
| 1. Review Course Descriptions |
| 2. Visit the Center for the Advancement of Sport |
| 3. Check Out the UB Sports and Entertainment Forum |
| 4. Network! |
| 5. Apply for Externships |
1. Review the Course Descriptions
Reading the course descriptions can be an easy way to take a look into your concentration before you even start it. The course catalog will allow you to read a short description of what each class will be about, so you can determine if that’s something you’re interested in.
Now, this isn’t to say that if one or two classes in a concentration don’t sound as exciting as you thought that you should abandon the idea all together. Rather, you can start to prepare for the road ahead because you know what to expect.
For reference, the courses in the concentration are listed below:
1. 3 Course Requirements (9 credits)
- LAW 604 LEC Sports Law I
- LAW 621 Sports Law II
- LAW 722 Intensive Research & Writing Seminar in Sports Law
2. Short Courses (1 course required, 1 credit)
- LAW 733 Drug Testing in Professional Sports
- LAW 923 Professional Contract Negotiation & Arbitration
- LAW 978 NCAA Regulations
- LAW 657 Title IX & Gender Equity in Athletics
3. Elective Courses (select 2, 6 credits)
- LAW 604 SEM Law & Public Education
- LAW 611 Corporations
- LAW 624 Secured Transactions
- LAW 645 Local Government Law
- LAW 648 Nonprofit Organizations
- LAW 650 Employment Discrimination Law
- LAW 670 The U.S.-Canada Relationship
- LAW 689 Immigration Law
- LAW 690 Alternative Dispute Resolution
- LAW 699 Employment Law
- LAW 747 Arbitration
- LAW 826 Advertising & the Law
- LAW 891 Copyright
Review the most recent fall and spring course descriptions for sports law classes you may be interested in, and make sure that their content will set you up for success.
The Center for the Advancement of Sport is an interdisciplinary initiative to connect those interested in the Sports Industry with opportunities that will allow them to further their career outside of the classroom.
The Center brings in guest speakers, offers site visits, and coordinates social and networking events to provide real-world experiences to students pursuing the Sport Law concentration.
The UB Sports and Entertainment Forum was created by the Buffalo Sports and Entertainment Law Society (BSELS) as an outlet for students, faculty, and alumni to contribute articles and content relevant to the discipline.
Additionally, the forum is a way for all those interested in the Sports and Entertainment Law industry to communicate and generate discourse.
4. Network!
The best way to advance in any field is to network and make connections. There are many places to look when trying to connect with other professionals in your discipline, but a good place to start is social media.
Many professionals in every field are on various social media accounts, so identifying those who are most relevant to you and facilitating connections with them is an easy way to develop a line of communication with an individual who could help you grow as a professional in the Sports and Entertainment industry.
Another option for networking is to visit the UB School of Law Career Services office. There, you can participate in mock interviews, attend career fairs and expos, and receive individual career counseling or find a mentor to help lead you down your path.
5. Apply for Externships
A great way to gain real-world experience while you’re getting your education is to apply for externships with relevant companies.
UB School of Law suggests that students pursuing the Sports Law concentration consider applying for externships with the University at Buffalo and Daemen College athletic departments.
