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The Master of Laws (LLM) in Media and Entertainment Law degree provides a specialized focus for law students who wish to further refine their knowledge of relevant laws, policies and trending issues in film, television, communications, digital media and the internet, copyright and trademark, music and sports.

As a student earning the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law degree, you will gain fundamental knowledge of media and entertainment law necessary to work with legal issues in this industry. Gain specialized training necessary to be a competitive candidate in the entertainment field, with coursework designed to build negotiation and contract drafting skills, as well as a deeper understanding of niche industries, including music, sports, and video game law.

The LLM in Media and Entertainment Law is a 24-unit degree program offered on campus on a full-time basis, with enrollment in the fall and spring semesters. This LLM is open to anyone with a law degree (JD, LLB or equivalent).

Interested? Learn more.

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LLM in MEL Degree Outcomes

Through the LLM in MEL degree, you will build key skills and knowledge:

  • Apply the diverse skills and knowledge required to practice law in media and entertainment markets.
  • Analyze and apply legal principles to emerging technologies and platforms such as streaming services, digital distribution, and social media. This includes challenges and opportunities presented by digital media, privacy concerns, and data protection.
  • Support and effectively represent clients with fundamental principles and specialized knowledge related to entertainment law, media law, art law, venture capital and entrepreneurship law, music law, and intellectual property (copyright) and technology law.
  • Apply legal and business concepts to tackle deal-making and dispute-resolution scenarios in media, entertainment and technology markets.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of standard legal terminology specific to the entertainment and media fields.
  • Negotiate and draft basic contracts.

A top-rated law school nationwide, USC Gould is the first law school in Southern California, renowned for its history of innovation and excellence in legal education.

Why Choose LLM in MEL at USC Gould?

Study at a top-rated law school

Earn your master's degree from one of the premier law schools in the United States.

Scholarships and housing stipends

All applicants will be considered automatically for our scholarship awards and housing stipends if applied by the application priority deadline. 

Join the renowned Trojan Family

A renowned network of over 437,000 USC alumni - including over 15,000 law school alumni - who are deeply committed to furthering the success of fellow graduates, Gould graduates include partners in the world's largest law firms as well as CEOs and presidents of leading-edge companies.

Career and professional support

USC Gould offers workshops and individually tailored guidance on developing your career plan, as well as mentorship opportunities and tools for law school exam preparation and bar exam preparation.

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Application Fee Waiver

We will automatically waive our $75 application fee for LLM applicants who apply before our February 1 priority deadline. Below, please find a link to a survey to request a fee waiver code for the LSAC Report for applications to USC Gould.

Students for now — Trojans for life.

When you graduate from USC Gould, you join USC's famed Trojan Family.

An alumni network over 480,000 strong, the Trojan Family spans the globe and will remain one of your most valuable — and lifelong — professional resources. Our more-than 15,000 law alumni share a steadfast commitment to nurturing the next generation of students.

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