To become a copyright lawyer usually requires extensive education, including four years of college and three years of law school. While you may choose just about any major in college, you will usually need to take a range of copyright-related law school courses as preparation for this career. For example, you may take courses in copyright, intellectual property, entertainment, and trademark law. Most jurisdictions also have a law exam you will have to pass to become a practicing lawyer after law school. Additionally, internships with entertainment and publishing companies or copyright law firms may prepare you for this career.
After graduating from high school or earning a general educational development diploma, you will first have to earn an undergraduate degree to become a copyright lawyer. You may pursue any major as you work toward a bachelor’s degree. Law schools usually accept students from a wide range of majors. Many individuals who wish to become copyright lawyers choose technical majors, however. For example, you may choose an information technology major or focus on a similar field.
Upon graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree, your next step will likely be enrolling in law school; most law school programs last three years, though this may vary by country. In law school, you will usually need to take a range of law courses, including some that focus on general law topics.
To become a copyright lawyer, however, you will likely need to take courses that focus on copyrighting, intellectual property, and entertainment law as well. For example, you may take courses with such titles as intellectual property strategies, international patent laws, cyber law, and patent law. You may also take classes that cover music and gaming law, intellectual property taxes, and copyrighting of software.
Internships may also prove helpful as you work to become a copyright lawyer, though they are not typically mandatory. You may learn firsthand about the legal aspects of this field as an intern with a copyright law firm or as in intern with a record or publishing company. Securing an internship with a software company may provide good experience as well.
In most jurisdictions, you will also have to take a legal examination to become a copyright lawyer. Many jurisdictions refer to this lawyer licensing exam as the bar exam. Once you have passed it, you will have the right to work as a lawyer in your jurisdiction.
