Start Your Own Paralegal LDA Business in MUSIC
What are the Opportunities for PL-LDA in the Music Industry?

Paralegal and LDA Freelance in the Music Industry
"Starting your own Paralegal and Document Processing Service to the Indie Musician Industry"

by Jonathan Arnold, Esq. - Director
Lead Paralegal Academy Instructor

This is a Double Header, starting your own LDA (Legal Document Assistant) document processing service and focusing it on the Music Industry, and not working for a firm. While this topic could be an entire volume of books let's take a look at some fundamentals of what you can do and who your client base should most likely be. Like many of our articles and unique tips, this is not meant as a history, novel or tech book, but is designed to highlight what you're getting into and to get you thinking in a creative way

The Music Industry is one where the complexity seems to be in perpetuity land, in other words, it can be a 'legal mess' at times that seems to keep growing. So, let’s take a look at the benefits of playing the support role, so to speak, in the services you can provide as a Freelance LDA. In a sense you get the best of both worlds here, all of the benefits of running a business in an industry you find exciting, without advising on all the endless, tricky, catch 22 legal mine fields.

Many Indie Artists (Independent Musicians) do not have the huge operational or legal staff a major record label has necessary to draft contracts and file documents and notices with the courts, and simply can't afford the high priced hourly fees law firms charge, so these Indie Artists do this on a 'Pro Per' basis, 'people representing themselves', Here is where a Paralegal with an LDA certified service can be of great resource and a big money saving benefit.

'Expert Foundation Case'
Jonathan Arnold  - Entertainment Legal Expert - 6:47

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As an LDA you would be a professional registered and bonded in the county where you live, thereby making you legally authorized to prepare legal documents at the client’s direction – in relation to the topic of this article, the Indie Artist doing 'Pro-Per' legal filings for example.

Identifying Your Services and Understanding Your Service Limits

Creativity can be a valuable asset you bring in your PL/LDA service. Being able to assist clients going it alone ie; 'Pro-Per' and knowing exactly what the details of each form or procedure is that they will be signing on to is valuable. Having your High-Velocity Paralegal education along with your LDA bonus course at LAVC will give you an edge and reading through many of our advanced creative articles and tips give you that extra 'Maximum-Impact'. We highly suggest you take the time to read through the many new and advanced articles and tips as they each have their own unique themes to them you can benefit from.

 - ATTORNEYS PROVIDE ADVICE -
- PARALEGALS/LDA's PROVIDE SERVICES -
"Certified Paralegals and LDA's perform legally qualified services
as authorized and afforded to them by law...
at the SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF THEIR CLIENT!"

As an LDA freelancer identifying and offering services within your legal limits is important as only certain types of legal document preparation services can be performed by an LDA. Knowing what those are provide you with all the services you can freely engage in, so make your list before you start. Although LDA's do not provide legal advice or represent clients in court, you can prepare legal documents at the client’s direction, in this case, the 'Pro-Per' indie artist. So forming your list of services you intend to offer will form the basis of your business plan. As a refresher, laws concerning legal document assistants are clearly stated in the California Business and Professions Code (BPC §§ 6400-6415), so take a look to ensure you're starting off in the right direction and understand the scope and limits.

Paralegal Careers in the Entertainment Industry

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Copyrights and Trademark filings

Yes, you all know some basics of Copyright, but Trademarks are a bit different situation, especially in the music industry. For example coming up with a Band or Artist's name for a trademark can be very important as the artist/band wants to know that their name is protected and not infringing on a previous or other trademarked name. Remember, the copyright and trademark origination dates are key factors in all of this. As your own LDA service you can provide both the Copyright and Trademark filing assistance services and at a rate far below what an average law firm would charge. A good profit service for your new business.



Bookings and Venues

Assisting the Band or Artist with basic venue agreement bookings is another potential. There are far too many possible options on this one to list here but you'll get the idea once you begin looking into it. Also, knowing how to arrange for the Artist/Band to carry a 'location - performance' insurance contract policy is valuable, and many do not even know they would need one until they get hit with the request. Being able to arrange an affordable insurance rider for performances can save a booking. Not having an insurance coverage rider may cost your event booking. Insurance policies for productions, locations and performances can range greatly in costs, anywhere between $2700 a year to $900 a year for the same coverage amount for basic production - location performance policies. So you see, just that one single service you provide can make you look like a champ to your client, especially if they or a fellow artist of theirs got a quote for 3 times what you can get it for. So see what I mean about strategizing your network and resources and building your business plan in advance? Now you've just added another valuable asset to your resource database for your services by coming up with a solid low cost agency that you can utilize for all clients.

Knowing the Music Rights Orgs' and Helping Your Client Use Them
'The Basic Group'

When providing your LDA services to Indie Artists you'll need to have a basic working knowledge of various public performance societies, such as BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), SESAC (formerly known as the Society of European Stage Authors & Composers) and The Harry Fox Agency, the single place to go if your artists wants to do a 'Cover', (remake of an previous or current artist's copyrighted song).

Helping the Indie Artist/Band also may involve the need for them to arrange for backup players. Here's where an independent contractor or freelance artist's agreement would be very wise, especially if the Indie Artist has formed their own Publishing entity with BMI, something that can be good for all Indie Artists to do. There's another service you can offer, assisting them with forming their own Publishing/Writer name. Understanding the differences between buyouts and division of various royalties on the artist/publisher's company, with either ASCAP or BMI's filings. Assisting an indie artist/band with forming their own publishing company with either ASCAP or BMI should be a recommended service. It's not that difficult and will ensure protections for all concerned when it comes to performance and play royalties. Ensuring that the proper forms and fee structures are listed when negotiating with the Harry Fox Agency for 'covers' are also something to familiarize yourself with.

While the ingredients in this 'article mix' could be quite lengthy and far too detailed to cover in more detail here, these are all some basic examples of what can help you expand and provide excellent reliable services to your clients. Examining the history of each of these agencies and their 'mission statements' will help and also make you sound credible when discussing this industry. It is said that to fully understand Music as an artist you need to go way back, well, understanding these various agencies and their history is no different and can also be interesting.

Drafting and Filing Legal Documents

This one you should already know. Some basic filing services you can perform as a Paralegal and LDA are research, review, preparation of legal documents, processing and filing of petitions, documents and forms related to the specific Indie Artist’s needs, and at the specific direction of the Indie Artist. Many of these types of documents require they be presented to the various court locations for filing with the appropriate fees. This is where as a Paralegal and your own LDA freelance service you can build a database for all types of filings in all the area courts where you're licensed to service as an LDA.

Messenger Services and Notary

Messenger Services. Court Document Retrieval Services and Same Day Court Filings. As stated above you can apply these services to the specific needs as mentioned earlier. You can even get creative (which is what we always hammer out in our articles and tips) and come up with your own well-defined services specific to the Indie Artist/Band's needs. Also getting your license, which is not a big deal, being a registered notary can provide you additional services to offer.

Marketing - Use Fundamental Elements

Here's another topic that would be an entire book in itself, so just consider the fundamental tip here. Defining your client base, defining the services within your legal service capabilities and putting the two together. Add that to a good solid marketing message and attraction for reaching the Indie Artist industry being that if they don’t need legal advice but just need help preparing forms, why pay huge fees for it, and you've got a basic marketing foundation.

When compiling your list of marketable services you may be surprised to find them to be fairly considerable for the Indie Artist. Knowing your client's industry in as much detail as applicable helps you to define your target marketing efforts. Again, listing each of the areas within your service range of abilities as it pertains to the Indie group provides you with a profitable list of potential services and fee structures to offer.

Your Right Resources for Your New Career - Your Way!

It is highly recommended that you read one of our previous articles Paralegals in the Entertainment Industry (see Video Intro above) as it hits on a few interesting short stories about the Music Industry. One additional notation that is often overlooked is worth mentioning. As a Paralegal and LDA going into business for yourself, you'll need certain equipment and software, well that's obvious. But start now by making a list of these tools you'll need, especially the various software that can really make an impact on your service capabilities and plan to systematically order them 'while' you're still taking your courses. Why, because software sellers and academic sites all over offer huge discounts on all types of software tor students, and those can often be up to 90% off at times. That can allow you to buy a whole ton of great tools for your start-up. Want to see what you can get, do a search and check out some of the software you think you'd need and like to have and you'll be shocked at what you can save with your school credentials.

So if the Music Industry is what you desire to be in and you want to run your own business, then start planning now. As mentioned earlier, more likely than not you're core target market of clients would be the Indie Artist demographics. In reality you both have something unique in common, use it to your advantage and your clients will both respect and understand that passion. Build your service support network, know your basic music history, be encouraging and reliable to your clients and who knows, you may be responsible for the next Platinum Artist. Just like the Indie Artists who want to run their own show, write their own songs and perform when and where they like, you are in a sense, their counterpart, an Indie Paralegal who, as with the Iconic Band Fleetwood Mac's song...'Go Your Own Way!'

Start planning your career category as you go, your instructors are here to help you and the LFC articles will get you thinking creatively in ways you never thought of, only at THORNHILL LFC and LAVC!
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