Rather than list all of them, we'll point you to two directories of these arts-law organizations. They overlap, but not entirely. So if you check one and don't find anything in your area, be sure to cross-check with the other.
Lawyers for the Creative Arts
This Chicago organization, around now for 30 years, is a great example of a regional lawyer's group generous enough to volunteer to help artists. Another is the St. Louis.
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Directory
Go here to find the organization of lawyers for the arts that's nearest to your. VLA is a New York-based non-profit that offers legal services to artists, but it is also an umbrella membership organization for similar non-profits around the country. Here's a state-by-state listing of members.
Artists Help Network Directory
Hit this link then click on U.S. map for a listing of arts-law organizations in that region.
Legal Resources
Copyrights, trademarks, contracts, liabilities. No one's exempt from these concerns, not even artists. Selected Resources.
Fortunately there are online resources, and where that's not enough, there are organizations of kind-hearted lawyers (you read that right) who essentially donate their time to artists and their concerns. They provide legal services and advice at no or low cost, and the organization's Web sites typically contain downloadable sample contracts and other publications. Links in the box to the right will guide you to regional directories of these lawyers' organizations.
Other artists' organizations also offer articles, advice and other resourse. We've listed so some of the better ones we've found below.
Starving Artists Law
A great guide to copyright and trademark law. Plus, specialized sections focused by discipline--music, writing, online, etc. Also provides links to dispute resolution resources, and the news section tracks arts-law developments.
ArtBusiness.com
This site's based in San Francisco, and includes some regionally focused material. But check out the full list of a Articles for Artists. The list actually contains a motherlode of useful articles about several topics--including pricing art, dealing with galleries, tax issues and much more. Some linkes to specific legal topics include:
- Common Artist Legal Problems And How to Avoid Them
- When to See an Art Attorney
- Copyright Infringement, Reproduction Rights, and Your Career
- Art Law: Aspects of Appraisal and Valuation for Legal Reasons
- Borrowing Ideas From Other Artists: How Far Can You Go?
- When Your Art Sells, But You Don't Own It
NYFA Interactive
This full-featured site from the New York Foundation for the Arts offers a treasure chest of artists resources, like a searchable database of grant sources (see Foundation/Grants section of this site). Is also publishes understandable articles on all aspects of arts-business. A couple direct links to legal highlights:
Additional Websites