Interdisciplinary initiative will give students an advantage in these dynamic industries
USC Gould School of Law has launched the Center for Sports, Entertainment, Media & Technology Law, an interdisciplinary hub designed to prepare students for careers at the intersection of law, business, and innovation. Jeff Schneider (JD 1991), an accomplished entertainment attorney and longtime educator, has been appointed as the Center’s inaugural executive director.
“This Center is a natural extension of the incredible work our faculty and alumni have already been doing in these spaces,” said Franita Tolson, Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law at USC Gould. “Establishing this Center will signal to the world that our graduates will be ready to hit the ground running in these fields, and I’m thrilled that Jeff Schneider will be leading the charge.”
Schneider, who most recently was the executive vice president, worldwide production operations and business affairs for National Geographic Content, has a long history of working in senior roles at global media titans like Paramount Pictures Television, MTV, Fox TV Studios, A&E Networks, NBCUniversal and Endemol-Shine.
Creating a ‘catalyst for success’
Schneider says his goal for the Center is to provide students with access to cutting-edge industry insights, hands-on learning opportunities, and a network of professionals across Los Angeles and beyond.
“Our goal is to create a platform where legal education meets real-world experience,” said Schneider. “We want our students to not only understand the law, but also to be equipped with the practical tools and professional relationships they’ll need to succeed from day one.”
The Center reflects Gould’s commitment to equipping students with the skills and experience needed to navigate the evolving legal landscapes of high-growth industries including film, music, sports, gaming, and emerging technology.
Under Schneider’s leadership, the Center will focus on four pillars: interdisciplinary curriculum development, experiential learning, alumni and industry engagement, and emerging legal challenges. Students will be able to benefit from new opportunities, listen to industry speakers, and attend networking events that bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice. Schneider also plans to host symposia and engage in thought leadership that examines legal trends across entertainment, sports, media and technology.
His immediate initiatives include establishing advisory panels of faculty, students, alumni and industry leaders to understand where the Center can best support these industries, while longer term ideas include launching an entertainment and sports law journal, performing a review of current curriculum offerings, and developing relationships with other USC schools and programs, like the USC Athletics Department and the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he said.
“The way it happens now is that students find their own opportunities and come back to the law school for clinical credit,” Schneider said. “I want many opportunities to be sponsored by the law school, so the students can further their career in a way that students at other law schools may not be able to.”
Given its location in Los Angeles, and with multiple global sports and entertainment events coming to the city in the next few years, USC Gould is uniquely positioned for influence, Schneider emphasized.
“My vision is for the Center to not only be a catalyst for student success, but also to elevate USC Gould’s visibility on the national and global stage,” Schneider said. “Los Angeles is still the headquarters of entertainment and media for the world, and we want the legal community to look to us as a hub for expertise, innovation and talent.”
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