Comments on: The Necessity Of Law School And The Art Of Negotiation http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/ A blog for sports agents: Discussing sports business news, Sports Law, and other interesting sports related material Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138743 Darren Heitner Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:53:16 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138743 I don't perceive law school as the ONLY place one can take a negotiations class, but I definitely was not offered that option as an undergrad. Certainly, there is lots of value in obtaining an MBA, which is why I assume the NFLPA mandates that certified advisors have a law degree OR a masters degree. What you fail to realize is that ALL lawyers are businesspeople; they are not only process oriented. I will also disagree that anyone who can master the GMAT can master Contract Law. Maybe the basics, if you mean offer, acceptance, and consideration, but I could probably teach that to a 10-year-old if you give me a day to do so. I don’t perceive law school as the ONLY place one can take a negotiations class, but I definitely was not offered that option as an undergrad. Certainly, there is lots of value in obtaining an MBA, which is why I assume the NFLPA mandates that certified advisors have a law degree OR a masters degree. What you fail to realize is that ALL lawyers are businesspeople; they are not only process oriented.

I will also disagree that anyone who can master the GMAT can master Contract Law. Maybe the basics, if you mean offer, acceptance, and consideration, but I could probably teach that to a 10-year-old if you give me a day to do so.

]]> By: MJ http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138742 MJ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:51:43 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138742 I'm not sure why you perceive law school as the only place you can take a negotiations class. I got an MBA at Tuck, and we had multiple negotiations classes. It's not as if you can't negotiate in business. In fact, I am going to go so far as to invoke the adage that businesspeople are more end-goal oriented (while lawyers are more process-oriented) and you could definitely get a better result for a client this way. Lastly, the basics of contract law are not lost on anyone that's smart enough to master the GMAT. I'm just saying...just because you didn't go whole-hog for a JD, doesn't mean you haven't learned a thing or two about contracts and how contract law works. I’m not sure why you perceive law school as the only place you can take a negotiations class. I got an MBA at Tuck, and we had multiple negotiations classes. It’s not as if you can’t negotiate in business. In fact, I am going to go so far as to invoke the adage that businesspeople are more end-goal oriented (while lawyers are more process-oriented) and you could definitely get a better result for a client this way.

Lastly, the basics of contract law are not lost on anyone that’s smart enough to master the GMAT. I’m just saying…just because you didn’t go whole-hog for a JD, doesn’t mean you haven’t learned a thing or two about contracts and how contract law works.

]]> By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138692 Darren Heitner Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:44:25 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138692 That's a major draw for the University. That’s a major draw for the University.

]]> By: watches07 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138690 watches07 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:28:24 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138690 I know at the law school that I attend, Florida Coastal, they have a specific program for sports law that you can begin taking when you are a 2L. That is the main reason I decided to come here. I know at the law school that I attend, Florida Coastal, they have a specific program for sports law that you can begin taking when you are a 2L. That is the main reason I decided to come here.

]]> By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138678 Darren Heitner Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:08:30 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138678 Definitely. And it is hard to find practical classes at law schools. Most likely you will not be permitted to take any of them as a 1L. Actively search for them in your 2L and 3L years. You won't feel as if you threw away money at the end of three years at law school (at least not AS much money). Definitely. And it is hard to find practical classes at law schools. Most likely you will not be permitted to take any of them as a 1L. Actively search for them in your 2L and 3L years. You won’t feel as if you threw away money at the end of three years at law school (at least not AS much money).

]]> By: SScott http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138677 SScott Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:01:17 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138677 Your article is certainly on point. Unless you can obtain an undergraduate degree that encompasses developing all of the skills you highlighted, getting a graduate degree is key in gaining the critical thinking and negotiation skills needed. Most agents I have met have confirmed this to me as well. I'm also partial to the JD b/c I have one too, however, if you went to my law school, Penn Law, you'd have to take an assortment of classes at the law school as well as Wharton business, which both schools encourage. While you could rely on one concentration/school to provide training, taking classes from both adds a tremendous benefit. The point is, getting the JD or the MBA isn't enough. If you're going to do grad school, do it right and try to find the classes that will truly enahnce your career as an agent. Your article is certainly on point. Unless you can obtain an undergraduate degree that encompasses developing all of the skills you highlighted, getting a graduate degree is key in gaining the critical thinking and negotiation skills needed. Most agents I have met have confirmed this to me as well. I’m also partial to the JD b/c I have one too, however, if you went to my law school, Penn Law, you’d have to take an assortment of classes at the law school as well as Wharton business, which both schools encourage. While you could rely on one concentration/school to provide training, taking classes from both adds a tremendous benefit. The point is, getting the JD or the MBA isn’t enough. If you’re going to do grad school, do it right and try to find the classes that will truly enahnce your career as an agent.

]]> By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138663 Darren Heitner Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:43:49 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138663 Great point. We learned a lot about BATNAs as well. No reason to bind your client to an agreement when he has better options available elsewhere. Great point. We learned a lot about BATNAs as well. No reason to bind your client to an agreement when he has better options available elsewhere.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138662 Ryan Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:12:38 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138662 I recently took a negotiation class in law school. One point that I feel would add to the list Warkentien gave SI is you should do enough research before the negotiation to know what your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is. Stated otherwise, know what other options are available for your client and decide what your walk away point is. If the other side cannot come to terms that are more favorable than your BATNA, you should walk away from the negotiations and go with your alternative. I recently took a negotiation class in law school. One point that I feel would add to the list Warkentien gave SI is you should do enough research before the negotiation to know what your best alternative to a negotiated agreement (BATNA) is. Stated otherwise, know what other options are available for your client and decide what your walk away point is. If the other side cannot come to terms that are more favorable than your BATNA, you should walk away from the negotiations and go with your alternative.

]]> By: Joe http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138640 Joe Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:46:16 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138640 Law school is absolutely necessary to become a sports agent in my opinion. Contract negotiation and problems are too tricky and specific to tackle without a thorough legal background. Law school is absolutely necessary to become a sports agent in my opinion. Contract negotiation and problems are too tricky and specific to tackle without a thorough legal background.

]]> By: Darren Heitner http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/10/19/the-necessity-of-law-school-and-the-art-of-negotiation/comment-page-1/#comment-138634 Darren Heitner Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:41:19 +0000 http://www.sportsagentblog.com/?p=7288#comment-138634 I think a better rule-of-thumb is to limit your usage of "but". Use only if proper, and not as a crutch transition word. I think a better rule-of-thumb is to limit your usage of “but”. Use only if proper, and not as a crutch transition word.

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