5-2 Journal: Sports Agents
Ashley Marie Allen
Southern New Hampshire University
July 31, 2021
Professor John Infante
Professional sport in the modern era is, of course, a business, involving large sums of
money. Lawyers charge an hourly rate, whereas lay agents do not (who calculate their fee as a
percentage of the multi-million pound deals they are doing). The basis for such a fee calculation
raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The sports lawyer is able to take into account
the client's overall goals and objectives because he or she does not stand to gain financially from
the client's agreement. It is in the agent's best interest to sign the client up for the deal that is
financially more advantageous, while sports solicitors do not benefit from transfer fees (the agent
of course, works on a percentage). This could cause problems for the professional, such as career
development and job satisfaction, and fuel the public perception that sports people are no longer
playing for the love of the game.
Why then do sports professionals continue to use agents rather than lawyers? There is a
common misconception that aspiring athletes 'need' an agent, and that there is a viable, if not
superior, alternative. Agents are also considered to have the knowledge and contacts that their
professional (legal or financial) counterparts lack. In recent years, as sports law practice has
grown, lawyers appear to have realized that there is a disparity between lawyers and non-lawyers
with backgrounds in various sports. Those who are involved in sports, rather than those who
write the tabloid headlines, may welcome this new form of sporting representation.
When it comes to sports law, the first thing that comes to mind is usually a sports agent
(thanks a lot, Jerry Maguire). Agenting sports may not be your dream job because you aren't
yelling "show me the money!" They are responsible for the majority of their clients' daily
activities. Agents are responsible for a wide range of tasks, from advising athletes on financial
and legal issues to negotiating contracts. Other than professional athletes, agents can represent
coaches and general managers. There are still sports agents out there, even if they don't represent
the big-time talent. In many ways, sports lawyers and sports agents share similar duties. Unlike
an agent, most Sports lawyers work through a law firm rather than an agency, which is the case
for most agents. A lawyer will be paid by the hour instead of a percentage of each secured
contract deal, which is a crucial difference to understand. The client base of sports lawyers is
larger than that of sports agents' clients. Sporting goods and equipment manufacturers and
suppliers are among the clients. His or her client may be represented in litigation, mediation, or
arbitration.
Duties and responsibilities of Sports Lawyer:
●Achieving contract success and interpreting contracts
●Payment, compensation, and bonus negotiations
●sponsorship agreements to be negotiated
●Dispute resolution in contract or labor negotiations
●Clients facing criminal charges are defended by us.
●Assisting clients with legal issues
●Assisting clients with media appearances
●Assistance with the establishment of foundations and charities.
A sports lawyer skills and qualifications include the following:
●A bachelor's degree in law is required for employment (at least)
●The sports industry's knowledge
●Excellent analytical, diplomacy, and drafting abilities
●Fidelity in mingling, attracting customers
Duties and responsibilities of Sports Agent:
●Negotiating
●Statistic gathering and analysis
●Salesmanship
●Getting to know one another and networking
●Promotion
Qualifications and skills of Sports Agent:
●An interest in, as well as a working knowledge of, the sport
●Great sales skills
●Persistence
"Sports lawyer" and "sports agent" have very different responsibilities. To work in one of
these industries, it's important to first understand what each one does and what you want to do
(Heitner, P. n.d.).
References
Heitner, P. author B. D. (n.d.). Month: October 2013. SPORTS AGENT BLOG.
http://sportsagentblog.com/2013/10/.
Sports job interview with HOWARD Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles GM. SportsNetworker.com is
the #1 Resource Online For Sports Business Professionals Looking To Take Their Sports
Career To The Next Level. (n.d.).
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2012/12/01/sports-job-interview-with-howard-roseman-
philadelphia-eagles-gm/.
The most PROMINENT Sports law jobs in 2021 (1 new). (1 new). (n.d.).
https://legaljobs.io/sports-law-jobs/.
The sports lawyer v the sports agent. Farleys Solicitors. (2019, September 12).
https://www.farleys.com/the-sports-lawyer-v-the-sports-agent/.
