Virginia Law – No Longer A Virgin

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date February 11, 2007
4 Comments on Virginia Law – No Longer A Virgin

At Virginia Law School, there is a lot of interest in strengthening the Sports and Entertainment section of the school.

One of the most frequent questions that I receive as someone who has studied the Sports Agent profession for a while now is whether or not an aspiring agent should go to Law School. The following question is usually, “Should it be a school that specializes in Sports Law?” There is no definitive answer to either question. Many agents, readers, professors, etc. disagree about whether or not a J.D. is important, and most agree that going to a school that specializes in Sports Law is not necessary. However, schools like Tulane, Marquette, and Duke, which have strong ties to Sports Law may provide a great climate of learning for those of us interested in becoming agents [Law Schools that specialize in Sports Law].

Virginia Law is looking to add its Sports and Entertainment Law Journal to the list of premier journals. The school recently hosted its first Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal law symposium [First-Ever Symposium Held by Sports & Entertainment Journal]. With many alumni working in Sports and Entertainment, Virginia Law could become a great choice for future agents to study Law and continue to build up the Sports and Entertainment society.

As the #8 ranked Law School in the nation, you are pretty sure to be in a great learning environment, anyway.

Sports Law Blog also has some info. about the actual symposium [Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal Symposium].

-Darren Heitner

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.

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4 replies on “Virginia Law – No Longer A Virgin”

Loyola Law School seems to have a decent Sports Law Institute which seems to be picking up steam. Being in LA obviously doesn’t hurt and Arn Tellem is a member of the board I believe.

I was always curious as to whether or not sports law was that different than normal law.

Haha. Sports Law is all encompassing — Intellectual Property (Digital Rights Media, TV Sponsorship sales, etc.), Antitrust (Competitive Balance issues), ADR (Arbitration), Contracts (obvious, with players, vendors, merchandisers, etc.), Tort (Workers Comp — if your player is injured; of if a fan is injured at your stadium), and so on…. You need a diverse legal background. You need to become a great lawyer before you can become an event better sports attorney. Go to the best law school you can (obviously, consider the financial and personal costs).

Put it this way, if you don’t break into the business at least you have a solid legal education and a JD to fall back on.

[…] Don Yee graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1987 and has gone on to be a very successful agent (for more on UVA Law, check out a recent post: Virginia Law – No Longer A Virgin). He associates Charlottesville to Mars. While it may not have been Mars, it was very different than his undergrad school (UCLA). […]

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