Q&A with Professor Loren Shokes
Tell us about the course you teach at USC Gould, Sports Law in Practice LAW 718:
Sports Law in Practice examines a wide range of legal and business topics that impact and influence the relationships between and among athletes, teams, leagues, broadcasters, fans and other key players in the sports industry.
The course strongly emphasizes hands-on, practical learning. Each week has a new skills-based exercise for students to apply the concepts that they have learned to real-life situations that pertain to professional and amateur sports. Some of the exercises are transactional in nature and delve into the business and economics of the sports industry. Exercises in other weeks focus more on advocacy and address, for instance, collective bargaining issues and dispute resolution procedures.
Can you tell us about your professional background?
After receiving my BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, I earned my JD from Harvard Law School. As a law student, I had the privilege of working in the business and legal departments of Sony Music Entertainment, the National Football League (NFL) and the Jacksonville Jaguars, which were all phenomenal experiences.
For a number of years, I worked as a Big Law corporate associate in Los Angeles, New York and London where I focused primarily on sports, music, fashion and entertainment deals. My first venture into academia came in 2021 when I joined the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment’s inaugural faculty.
I am admitted to practice law in New York and California.
Why is it important to have an understanding of Sports Law as a professional in the industry?
The world of sports is not just about the roar of the crowd or the thrill of the game; it is also underpinned by a complicated web of interdisciplinary legal principles and regulations. Sports law affects every aspect of the sports industry from interviewing players on the field, to putting together press releases, to providing play-by-play commentary from a broadcasting booth. It’s therefore incredibly important for individuals interested in sports or sports-adjacent careers to have an understanding of the broad spectrum of legal disciplines that collectively shape the governance, operations and integrity of the U.S. sports industry.
What should students to know about the coursework and classroom experience?
This is a class where students will develop practical skills. Rather than just passively absorb information, students will learn by doing and experiencing. The readings, case studies, lectures and experiential exercises are all designed to help students learn how to navigate real-world challenges in a range of settings.
What do you want students to know about learning Sports Law?
Sports law is a niche, yet expanding and multifaceted, field. A lot of topics that many people would not, at least initially, think fall within the context of sports directly impact the very fabric of the sports industry. And I hope that as students learn and discuss such topics during the semester, they gain a greater understanding and appreciation of how the sports industry, as a whole, operates.
Can you share potential career outcomes for students interested in your course’s area of law?
With the global expansion of sports and the seemingly constant development of new business and legal challenges within the industry, a career in sports can encompass virtually anything. Whether it is event management and marketing, representing athletes and teams in contract negotiations, or handling issues related to intellectual property, endorsement and NIL [name, image and likeness] agreements, the opportunities are essentially boundless.
Sports Law in Practice addresses a broad array of issues that will help students interested in pursuing roles both on and off the playing field. At the same time, Sports Law in Practice is also designed for students who simply want to gain pragmatic negotiation, contract drafting and advocacy experience. Whether they ultimately pursue a career in sports or work in a non-sports related field, the skills that students will learn in this class are readily transferrable to various disciplines and will hopefully be a great resource to them throughout their careers.
Can you share your most memorable experience teaching at USC Gould?
One of my most memorable experiences at USC Gould came towards the end of my first semester teaching Contract Drafting, Analysis, and Negotiation. Throughout the semester, I encouraged students to meet and work with people that they did not previously know. A few students were particularly shy during the first few class sessions, but they soon overcame any trepidation that they initially had about engaging with others. And by the last weeks of the term, many of those students had become the most outspoken in the class.
It has been an absolute pleasure witnessing my previous wallflower students develop into some of my most effervescent, and I take tremendous personal pride in knowing that I played a part in uplifting their self-confidence.
Previous Article
