Jonathan Mark, L'16
December 10, 2014
Entertainment conference opens industry doors for Richmond student
University of Richmond law student Jonathan Mark (L ’16) came to law school hoping to work in entertainment law. Now, thanks to strong networking skills and university funding, Mark is on a first-name basis with vice presidents from across the industry.
During his internship in New York last summer, Mark attended to a networking event at Viacom in Times Square. He walked out with an invitation to a major sports and entertainment law conference.
In October, Mark worked as a student volunteer for the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association’s (BESLA) annual conference in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. He secured funding for the trip through a grant from the law school.
“The conference is an opportunity for entertainment lawyers and professionals to come together, share ideas and best practices and participate in CLE panels,” Mark said. “It was a great networking opportunity for students, lawyers and talent.”
Mark helped organize the conference and run CLEs. He also worked closely with the BESLA Board of Directors, many of whom worked as student volunteers before emerging as industry leaders.
“A lot of them started their stories by saying, ‘Well in 1997, I was a BESLA student volunteer,’” Mark said. “So a lot of alumni from this organization who were student volunteers now serve on the Board of Directors and are vice presidents of major entertainment companies or general counsel for professional sports teams.”
Student volunteers also attended panel discussions, including a student-only discussion called “How to Break-In and Succeed in the Entertainment and Sports Industry.”
“Sometimes it’s very hard to get in contact with these people who are the heads of firms,” Mark said. “With the opportunity that BESLA and the University of Richmond provided me, I was able to connect with power players in the music and entertainment industry.”
Mark, who majored in public relations as an undergraduate, said the experience made him confident that he could find his career in a popular and competitive field. “I went from wanting to be an entertainment lawyer,” Mark said, “to knowing that I’m going to be an entertainment lawyer.”
During his internship in New York last summer, Mark attended to a networking event at Viacom in Times Square. He walked out with an invitation to a major sports and entertainment law conference.
In October, Mark worked as a student volunteer for the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association’s (BESLA) annual conference in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. He secured funding for the trip through a grant from the law school.
“The conference is an opportunity for entertainment lawyers and professionals to come together, share ideas and best practices and participate in CLE panels,” Mark said. “It was a great networking opportunity for students, lawyers and talent.”
Mark helped organize the conference and run CLEs. He also worked closely with the BESLA Board of Directors, many of whom worked as student volunteers before emerging as industry leaders.
“A lot of them started their stories by saying, ‘Well in 1997, I was a BESLA student volunteer,’” Mark said. “So a lot of alumni from this organization who were student volunteers now serve on the Board of Directors and are vice presidents of major entertainment companies or general counsel for professional sports teams.”
Student volunteers also attended panel discussions, including a student-only discussion called “How to Break-In and Succeed in the Entertainment and Sports Industry.”
“Sometimes it’s very hard to get in contact with these people who are the heads of firms,” Mark said. “With the opportunity that BESLA and the University of Richmond provided me, I was able to connect with power players in the music and entertainment industry.”
Mark, who majored in public relations as an undergraduate, said the experience made him confident that he could find his career in a popular and competitive field. “I went from wanting to be an entertainment lawyer,” Mark said, “to knowing that I’m going to be an entertainment lawyer.”