Brian Jones is currently enrolled at the University of Chicago Law School. Q: How did you first learn about LCA, and what motivated you to apply for an internship with us? A: I worked for Saper Law the summer after my first year of law school, and my boss Daliah Saper had actually interned at Lawyers for the Creative Arts when she was in law school. As part of the firm’s “Saper Immersion” program, we took a group of high school and college students interested in the legal field to tour LCA’s offices, where both the program participants and I got to meet Jan and the rest of the LCA team! What were your initial expectations when joining LCA, and did anything about the experience surprise you? I had heard nothing but positive things about LCA, and I expected to get great experience, but I was still pleasantly surprised at the amount of ownership I was able to take over my internship. Working closely with LCA’s legal director and staff, I felt like I was really invited into the conversation on how to best manage cases, which was a really fantastic way to learn how to think like a lawyer. Many of our interns come to us with unique backgrounds in the arts. Do you have any personal background or experiences in the arts that you feel have contributed to your time at LCA? I’ve always had a strong love for the arts. Growing up I’d go see a movie with my dad at our local theatre every weekend, and I’ve played instruments my whole life (including a stint as a guitarist in a garage rock band in high school). Many of my close friends are still musicians and artists, which I think really helped in terms of connecting with clients. In what ways has your experience at LCA connected with and enhanced what you’ve been learning in law school? Did you enter LCA with gaining experience in a specific area of law in mind? If so, has your experience influenced or changed your interests? Going in I was most excited to learn more about copyright, trademark, and drafting contracts. I got to see a lot of all three at LCA, in addition to getting exposure to a wide variety of other legal issues (since LCA covers everything but family and criminal law). I think that’s part of what makes the internship so valuable—experiencing areas of the law you might not work in otherwise, and getting a look at common but unexpected legal issues that many artists face. Discuss the significance of learning about arts law from a practical perspective and how this exposure has added value to your education. Additionally, reflect on your overall experience in a law office setting at LCA – in what ways has this contributed to your professional growth and understanding of legal practice? I am definitely a hands-on learner, so the process of speaking directly with clients, spotting potential issues, and gathering more information was really valuable in terms of learning to think like a lawyer. In addition, it was really valuable to see what case management looks like in practice within an organization offering legal services. Can you share some of your favorite moments or projects from your time with LCA and why they stood out to you? One of the best parts of my internship was getting to learn about all the fantastic things happening in the arts community in Chicago, from theatre to visual art to comic books and just about anything else you could imagine. It was really rewarding to feel like I was able to play a small part in contributing to and helping protect that community. What are your plans following the completion of your degree, and do you feel your time at LCA has helped shape these plans? Do you have any intentions of volunteering with LCA after obtaining your degree, and if so, why? I plan to practice corporate law in Los Angeles, specifically Mergers & Acquisitions. I hope to work with clients in the entertainment industry, and once practicing, I would love to take on pro bono matters from volunteer lawyers for the arts organizations like LCA. Reflect on the broader impact of the work that LCA does in the arts community and share your insights on the organization’s role in shaping the legal landscape for the arts. Additionally, in your opinion, what unique value does an organization like LCA bring to the arts community? Consider your experiences working with clients at LCA and any insights or lessons gained from these interactions. Organizations like LCA are absolutely crucial for the arts community. Not only do they protect the rights that artists have over their creations, but they provide a variety of other legal services which may otherwise be prohibitively expensive for many artists. Reflect on your interactions with the staff at LCA. How has this aspect of your internship impacted your overall experience? The staff at LCA are friendly, welcoming, and an absolute abundance of knowledge. Getting to work with them has been one of the highlights of my internship experience, and it makes me excited to enter the legal field knowing that it has passionate individuals like them within it. Which TV show, movie, song, or book have you recently finished, and would you recommend it to your peers? I recently saw the film Anora, which was just given wide release after winning the Palme d’Or earlier this year at Cannes. It was directed by Sean Baker and starred Mikey Madison in a story about falling in love in New York City—albeit one unlike any other you’ve seen with that familiar premise. I laughed, I cried, I absolutely adored it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys film. Thank you Brian for all of your hard work as an intern this quarter! Check the website or follow us on social media for future intern profiles and other exciting content. Tags: Intern Profiles, News
