Career as Fashion Lawyer

Last Updated On 27 Aug, 2021

How to Become a Fashion Lawyer

About Fashion Lawyer

A fashion lawyer is an individual who specializes in legal issues encountered in the fashion industry. They not only are aware of the legal system and laws but also have a fully-fledged understanding of the business of fashion. A fashion lawyer addresses the legal and business issues that usually crop up during the ordinary course of the fashion business. To be a successful fashion lawyer, one needs to have a sound knowledge of the legal issues, compliances, and solutions in the fashion industry.

With the numerous laws and regulations governing the fashion industry, it becomes crucial to avoid pitfalls and take legal assistance from a fashion lawyer. There is a compilation of laws in the fashion industry and a fashion lawyer has a good understanding of the laws such as labour and employment, intellectual property, real estate, contracts, advertising, commercial sales and so on. 

Various clients such as Fashion Houses, Fashion Designers, Manufactures, Jewellery Designers, Models, Footwear Designers, Textile Designers, Retail Stores, Fashion Labels etc. hire a fashion lawyer to help them navigate through the laws and regulations in the fashion world.

Responsibilities of Fashion Lawyer

The responsibilities of a fashion lawyer are as follows:

  • To form and dissolve business entities.

  • To negotiate contracts in arbitrating and litigating trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property issues.

  • To advise on areas such as brand development, IP monetization, franchising, merchandising, advertising, protection to drafting.

  • To look into export and import matters related to the fashion industry.

  • To secure the rights of the clients and make them aware of them.

Eligibility to become Fashion Lawyer

The eligibility criteria to become a fashion lawyer are enlisted below:

Qualification Required

  • Candidates must have at least completed either a 5 year long LLB or a 3 year long LLB.

  • Students holding an LLM degree are also eligible for becoming fashion lawyers.

  • Candidates with just diploma or certificate courses are not eligible to be fashion lawyers.

  • Students who have completed a diploma/ certificate in fashion law along with a UG or PG level law course are the most apt candidates to be fashion lawyers.

Skills

  • Good Debating Skills

  • Problem Solving Abilities

  • Sound Communication Skills

  • Critical and Analytical Thinking

  • Time- Management

  • Persuasion Skills

  • Deep Knowledge of Legal Terms and Concepts in the Fashion World

  • Eye to Details

Work Experience

  • 2-3 years of experience with a seasoned lawyer or a well-established firm can help in enhancing the required skill set which can further help in being a distinguished fashion lawyer.

 

Courses to become a Fashion Lawyer

Since there is no specific specialisation in fashion law available in undergraduate or postgraduate law degrees in India, candidates can go for certificate/ diploma courses in fashion law to dig deep and understand the legal system and laws in the fashion world. Here are some popular courses offered by top colleges to become a fashion lawyer in India

Course

Duration

Course Fee (Annual)

Top Colleges for Fashion Lawyer

BA LLB/ B.Sc LLB/ BBA LLB

5 Years

INR 30,000 to INR 3,00,000

LLB

3 Years

INR 22,000 to INR 2,50,000

LLM

2 Years

INR 50,000 to INR 5,00,000

Certificate in Fashion Law

6 Months to 12 Months

INR 1,800 to INR 35,000

Diploma in Fashion Law

1 Year to 2 Years

INR 2,000 to INR 50,000

Types of Job Roles Fashion Lawyer

Candidates willing to be fashion lawyers can work with a state, private law or a business firm depending on their preferences. After gathering an experience of a few years, a fashion lawyer can start working independently as well. Here are the top job roles that are available for a fashion lawyer in India:

If you are wondering what occupation is the best pick for you, take the Career Profiling Test of CollegeDekho. In case you have any questions about the Fashion Lawyer, write to us on the QnA zone.

Employment Opportunities for Fashion Lawyer

With the growing requirement of fashion lawyer in the fashion world the following areas offer employment opportunities to Fashion Lawyer:

  • Fashion Houses

  • Media Houses

  • Law Firms

  • Textile Industries

  • Jewellery Industries

  • Fashion/ Jewellery Designers

  • Manufactures

  • Models

  • Textile Designers

  • Footwear Designers

  • Retail Stores

  • Fashion Labels

Top Recruiting Agencies for Fashion Lawyer

A few of the well-known recruitment agencies for fashion lawyers are as follows:

  • H&M

  • Fashion TV India

  • Meena Bazar

  • It’s Fashion

  • Established Fashion Designers

  • Established Models

  • Established Celebrities

  • Successful Media Houses

Planning to choose Fashion Lawyer as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Fashion Lawyer

The average salary of a Fashion Lawyer is around INR 4,81,964. The salary depends on the skill set, aptitude and knowledge of the candidate and it keeps increasing with time and experience. Check out the salary extracted by a Fashion Lawyer below:

Job Profile

Starting Salary per annum

Mid Level Salary per annum

Senior Level Salary per annum

Fashion Lawyer

INR 1,79,000

INR 4,82,000

INR 30,00,000

Books & Study Material to Become Fashion Lawyer

The study materials and books that are recommended to a Fashion Lawyer are provided below. They help in enhancing knowledge and understanding of the laws in the fashion world.

  • Fashion Law- A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives, and Attorneys

  • Fashion Law and Business: Brands & Retailers by Lois F. Herzeca and Howard S. Hogan

  • The Laws of Style: Sartorial Excellence for the Professional Gentleman by Douglas Hand

  • Fashion Law: The Complete Guide by Julian Blanchard

  • The Business and Law of Fashion and Retail by Barbara Kolsun

Pros of becoming a Fashion Lawyer

  • The learning of a fashion lawyer never stops. Every new client brings new learning which makes the work exciting.

  • After a few years of experience, a fashion lawyer enjoys a handsome salary and other perks.

  • A fashion lawyer gets invitations from well-known brands and celebrities in fashion shows and functions, both locally and internationally.

Cons of becoming a Fashion Lawyer

  • The work of a fashion lawyer is very heavy as it demands a lot of time and effort.

  • Due to long working hours, a fashion lawyer may face an imbalance in his/ her personal and professional life.

  • Sometimes, clients can get very unreasonable and intolerant which may make it difficult to work with them.

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FAQs about Fashion Lawyer

Can I become a Fashion Lawyer after a diploma or certificate course in Fashion Law?

No, candidates can pursue a certificate or diploma courses in Fashion Law, however, it is important to have an LLB in order to practice as a Fashion Lawyer.

What are the duties of a Fashion Lawyer?

A Fashion Lawyer forms and dissolves business entities, offers legal advice, negotiates contracts in arbitrating and litigating trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property issues, looks into export and import matters related to the fashion industry and secures the rights of the clients and makes them aware of them.

Is it important to complete an LLB to become a Fashion Lawyer?

Yes, it is mandatory to complete an LLB to become a Fashion Lawyer.

What skills are required to be a successful Fashion Lawyer?

The key skills required to be a Fashion Lawyer are Good Debating Skills, Problem Solving Abilities, Sound Communication Skills, Critical and Analytical Thinking, Time- Management, Persuasion Skills, Deep Knowledge of Legal Terms and Concepts in the Fashion World and Eye to Details to name a few.

How is work experience important to be a Fashion Lawyer?

Work experience with a seasoned lawyer or a well-established firm can help candidates in getting a better understanding of the industry and enhance their skill set which would help them further while building a career as a Fashion Lawyer.

Which top colleges offer courses to become a Fashion Lawyer?

The top colleges that offer courses to become a Fashion Lawyer are UPES, Dehradun, Rai University, Ahmedabad, K.R. Mangalam University (KRMU Gurgaon), Gurgaon, Bhai Gurdas Group Of Institutions (BGGI), Sangrur and ABBS School of Law, Bengaluru among others.

Which job profiles are the best for candidates willing to be Fashion Lawyers?

The best job profiles for a Fashion Lawyer are Legal Advisor, Legal Manager, Legal Consultant Corporate Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer, Journalist, Writer etc.

Which employment areas recruit a Fashion Lawyer?

The employment areas that hire a Fashion Lawyer are Fashion Houses, Fashion Designers, Manufactures, Jewellery Designers, Models, Footwear Designers, Textile Designers, Retail Stores, Fashion Labels etc.

How much salary can a Fashion Lawyer earn every year?

In the initial year, a Fashion Lawyer can earn around INR 1,79,000 per annum, however, with time and experience, the salary may rise up to INR 30,00,000 per annum.

Which recruiters hire a Fashion Lawyer?

The top recruiters that hire a Fashion Lawyer are H&M, Fashion TV India, Meena Bazar, It’s Fashion etc.

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