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Internships Sports Agents

Are all of us crazy?!?!?!

Don't ever look like this

Probably, but I still will not give up my drive to become the best Sports Agent that has ever existed.

All of the signs tell us “Future Sports Agents” that we statistically have a very small chance of being successful at all (and that is with defining success as having one client). So why does this site get so many hits, and why are there so many people in my generation that insist on becoming Sports Agents?

The Sports Business Journal wrote a good piece on the small amount of jobs available for the large number of applicants.

wanna-be agents must prepare themselves for other jobs in law or business, in or out of the world of sports.

That quote from the article should be taken to heart. No matter how great we may think we will be in a specific profession, diversification is extremely important. This statement applies to pretty much any type of industry (including professional athletes who may see their career slip away due to a severe injury). That is why when I am asked if there is a specific major that one should study to become a Sports Agent, or if Law School is necessary, or if you should go to a particular school, etc., my answer is no.

You can major in English, not go to Law School, and get a degree from the University of North Florida (not trying to put down the Univesity) and still be the next Leigh Steinberg.

Yet I will continue to stress the importance of obtaining an internship. The list of Sports Agency Links on the left side of this website has been growing every week. Please use the links to research different companies and see if you are interested in applying to intern with one of them. An interesting point from the SBJ article is that Phil de Picciotto, the president of Octagon, started his work with Octagon as an intern. Alastair Johnston, president of IMG, also started as an intern.

The last important point taken from the article is that networking is key. Do everything that you can to create relationships with those around you and reach out to make new relationships each day. Once again, networking is not only important in the Sports Agent profession, but also in any other walk of life.

[tags]networking, law school, img, octagon, sports agent[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.