If we're talking about the hottest international gossip lately, it has to be the courtroom battle between Hollywood star 'Captain Jack Sparrow' Johnny Depp and his ex-wife 'Aquaman' Amber Heard!
This trial, lasting over a month, has been so spectacular that it's even more melodramatic than any Netflix drama. Both sides accuse each other of domestic violence and defamation. Since the trial is completely public, lawyers from both sides have been pulling out all the stops, with various audio and video recordings being exposed one after another, and sensational twists coming thick and fast.
Additionally, Depp's humorous and witty responses have provided plenty of laughs. His 'Captain Jack'-style answers left the opposing lawyer speechless, and even Amber couldn't help but laugh!
For example, when Depp was asked by Amber's lawyer, 'You are much taller than Amber Heard, aren't you?' Depp immediately gave a look of disagreement and said, 'I wouldn't say that.'
This answer left the opposing lawyer dumbfounded, and even Amber struggled to suppress a smile!
When the lawyer asked him about drinking first thing in the morning, he replied, 'Can't one enjoy happy hour anytime?' When asked about which movies he had starred in, Depp scratched his head for a while and only came up with 'Alice in Wonderland,' seemingly unable to remember any others...
These series of skit-like exchanges kept the courtroom in stitches, forcing the judge to issue a stern warning:
"Order in the court or I’ll have you remove"
Anyone who laughs again will be kicked out!
The judge is quite professional, handling such a hilarious scene with composure.
Being a Lawyer for Hollywood Superstars Is No Easy Task
It's not just tough for the judge—it's even tougher for the lawyers! During the trial, Depp even brought gummy bears and a sketchbook to court, doodling whenever he felt like it. At one point, he showed his doodle to his own lawyer seeking praise; it felt like if the lawyer didn't need to earn a living, they would have rolled their eyes to the sky.
Amber's legal team, on the other hand, has been frequently making mistakes in court, even presenting an unverified concealer as evidence of abuse, which has been widely mocked by netizens.
Some sharp-eyed netizens even dug up that Amber's trial lawyer Elaine Bredhehoft might have been a Depp fan at a press conference, and they mocked, 'I believe she only agreed to be Amber Heard's trial lawyer to meet Johnny Depp.'
Undoubtedly, being a lawyer for superstars is no easy feat; one careless move can easily make you a target of public criticism. This might be because in the American entertainment industry, lawyers receive a great deal of attention, especially Hollywood entertainment lawyers, as their power is far greater than you might imagine!
Do Hollywood Lawyers Really Have That Much Power?
Unlike entertainment companies in China, where lawyers are generally just office-bound individuals drafting and revising contracts and never lead business negotiations.
In the U.S., entertainment lawyers are the ones who control the lifeline of every collaboration; they have another title in the industry: dealmaker.
It can be said that from actors to directors, from salary to project investment, copyright sales, film production, and legal disputes, all terms and legal protections are negotiated by their respective lawyers, and the division of labor is highly specialized!
If you are an actor, the lawyer representing actors will handle contract negotiations for you, help you negotiate your salary—how much you get upfront and later, what special conditions—doing everything possible to maximize your compensation.
The same goes for directors, writers, and producers. For instance, Matt Reeves being able to direct the new 'Batman' and expanding his collaboration with Netflix into TV projects was assisted by top lawyer Karl Austen, a Harvard Law graduate.
Similarly, the Pokemon Company's ability to adapt the movie 'Detective Pikachu' was facilitated by renowned lawyer Daniel Black. Daniel has also been involved in various business negotiations for the toy brand Spin Master's expansion into film and television.
For example, Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise's recent filming of 'Mission: Impossible 7' went through multiple shutdowns, and each time the re-budgeting and insurance deals were assisted by lawyer Matt Galsor, a Columbia Law graduate.
So it's clear that the legal profession has a huge influence across Hollywood, and the fundamental reason is that Hollywood has a highly mature and standardized industrialized model and entertainment law!
That's why every year, The Hollywood Reporter compiles a list of the Top 100 most influential entertainment lawyers. These lawyers often come from top U.S. law schools, providing a clear direction for students who want to study entertainment law!
Ranking of U.S. Entertainment Law Schools
Each year, based on THR's list of the top 100 most influential entertainment lawyers, a ranking of the U.S. law schools that produce the most elite Hollywood lawyers can be calculated.
From this ranking, it can be seen that nearly one-fifth of the top 100 Hollywood entertainment lawyers are UCLA Law graduates. It seems that UCLA's excellent geographical location really helps law students easily access entertainment studios and secure internship opportunities.
The historic Ivy League school Harvard and USC are tied for second! Harvard Law School has also paved the way for graduates heading to Hollywood, with the Entertainment Law Clinic and Recording Artists Project hosted by the law school to cultivate practical experience, as well as the Harassment Assault Law-Student Team focused on rights advocacy.
USC's Intellectual Property Clinic also provides law students with various opportunities to interact with emerging filmmakers, offering consultations on copyright law, trademark law, and more.
Applying for a Master of Laws in the U.S.
In fact, not just entertainment law, but from the perspective of the entire legal system's development, the United States is the country with the most mature legal system in the world, which makes many Chinese law students have great aspirations to pursue further studies in the U.S. As a result, the popularity of law programs has been increasing year by year.
However, the U.S. legal system is vastly different from China's. In the U.S., there is no undergraduate law major, so only students who have obtained at least a bachelor's degree can apply to law school.
There are three main law degrees offered by U.S. law schools:
JD (Juris Doctor)
LLM (Master of Laws)
J.S.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science)
Typically, the LLM (Master of Laws) is the first choice for many Chinese international students pursuing further studies in the U.S. It is usually a one-year program with lower LSAT and GRE requirements, aimed at students with a legal academic background. The curriculum mainly helps students gain a basic understanding of the U.S. legal system.
Although the JD is called a Juris Doctor, because there is no undergraduate law program, the JD is essentially equivalent to a bachelor's in law, lasting three years. It is highly prestigious, and the academic life is intense and challenging.
For students who want to work in the U.S., applying for a JD is a better option. However, if you don't meet the requirements for direct JD application, you can first apply for an LLM as a stepping stone, giving yourself more time to prepare for the LSAT, and then transfer to a JD or re-apply later.
Studying law in the U.S. is bound to be a tough decision, and becoming a top talent in the field requires even more time and effort!
Wishing all students with legal goals and dreams to realize their law aspirations soon!
