Last Updated On 27 Aug, 2021
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.
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.
The eligibility criteria to become a fashion lawyer are enlisted below:
Qualification Required |
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Skills |
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Work Experience |
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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 |
5 Years | INR 30,000 to INR 3,00,000 | ||
3 Years | INR 22,000 to INR 2,50,000 | ||
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 |
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:
Fashion Lawyer
Legal Consultant
Senior Attorney
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.
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
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
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 |
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
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.
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.
Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.
The top recruiters that hire a Fashion Lawyer are H&M, Fashion TV India, Meena Bazar, It’s Fashion etc.
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.
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.
The best job profiles for a Fashion Lawyer are Legal Advisor, Legal Manager, Legal Consultant Corporate Lawyer, Litigation Lawyer, Journalist, Writer etc.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, it is mandatory to complete an LLB to become 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.
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.