Entering the Art World: Gaining Working Experience in Art Law

Mar 12, 2024

Written By Lewis Ogg

Art law has a hugely important role in the art industry, as a regulator of fundamental legal issues such as authenticity, provenance, copyright, and cultural heritage of acquired pieces. There has been a growing demand for this specialised area of law in recent years, fuelled by the rocketing expansion of the global art market and the rise of new legal challenges. This article guides you through strategies for entering the art world and gaining experience in art law.

Understanding Art Law

There are a number of key legal issues which art law seeks to address, such as authenticity and provenance, copyright and intellectual property rights, art transactions and contracts, restitution of looted art, and cultural heritage protection.

These primary issues are dealt with across a diverse host of laws governing art, including legislation, case law, international conventions, and industry guidelines. Broader legislation, such as the Unfair Contract Terms Act (1977), is as relevant as in any other transaction, combined with more specific Acts like Cultural Objects Offences Act (2003) and Cultural Property Armed Conflict Act (2017). This domestic legislation and case law is within the context of broader international agreement obligations such as UNESCO’s 1970 Convention and the Berne Convention.

Because of the place of art as a premium asset with cultural significance, it is necessarily multidisciplinary in nature, combining elements of contract law, property law, intellectual property, cultural heritage law, and international law.

Exploring Career Opportunities

In line with art law's interdisciplinary nature, there is a massive range of available positions for legal professionals, including not just traditional art lawyers but also legal advisors for galleries and museums, in-house counsel for art collectors or dealers, and legal experts for auction houses.

Because of the diversity in this field, professionals in this area have a clear opportunity to pursue specialisation in a specific sub-area. Art litigation, finance, insurance, taxation, or cultural property law are all potential specialisations, each requiring a unique knowledge base but all sharing a common understanding and appreciation of the wider art industry.

There are a number of emerging trends that are further driving the growth of the art law industry, such as the growing impact of technology on art transactions, the rise of art-related disputes, and the growing importance of ethical and regulatory compliance in the art market. These all offer further opportunities to gain experience in art law.

Gaining Work Experience

Looking for internships at law firms is a great way of gaining work experience. Remember to do thorough research into the firms you are applying for, however, as not all law firms will offer art internships due to the niche nature of this area of law.

Also, don’t forget that art law has a particularly large offering of internships outside of law firms, with art galleries, museums, auction houses, or cultural institutions all potentially being a source of legal work experience.

In seeking such legal experience, networking with experienced professionals in the art law field through industry events, conferences, workshops, and online platforms can be instrumental in helping you find and secure opportunities.

You should also not overlook the value of volunteering opportunities with art organisations, legal aid clinics, or pro bono clinics that focus on art-related issues, which can provide practical experience and allow you to build industry connections.

Developing Relevant Skills

Legal research and writing skills are an essential part of a successful art lawyer’s arsenal, helping them analyse complex legal issues, draft contracts, opinions, and legal documents, and effectively presenting arguments in art-related cases.

In addition to these writing skills, robust analytical thinking is needed to interpret legal documents, assess evidence, and analyse relevant case law thoroughly.

Especially important in art law is a high level of cultural competency and sensitivity to different cultural norms, practices, and legal systems when dealing with international art transactions and cross-border disputes.

Additionally, art law tends to be a particularly client-facing practice area, so the ability to effectively represent clients, resolve conflicts, and negotiate agreements is a pre-requisite. Having strong communication skills is needed to both discuss cases with clients as well as argue and debate with opposing counsel in court.

Navigating the Job Search

When looking to gain experience in art law, there are a range of platforms to find work experience postings, with job boards, company websites, legal directories, and professional associations all being good starting points in your search.

Do not be dissuaded if postings are not as abundant as with other areas of the law - remember that this is a specialised field, which naturally creates competition.

Because of this competitiveness, it is especially important that you tailor your CV and cover letter specifically for the firm you are applying for.

Consider not only what skills are important to highlight for a career in art law, but what the culture of the organisation you are applying to is as well. Think about whether any of your previous experiences or coursework might be particularly suited to the type of work and culture of the firm.

Similarly, when preparing for your interview, make sure to thoroughly research the culture, practices, and recent deals of the firm, and think carefully how you might portray your experiences to suit their style of work.

To prepare for interviews for internships, it is useful to use practice common interview questions to create banks of potential examples that can be at the forefront of your mind going into the interview.

Conclusion

Art law is an integral part of securing the authentic and safe transfer of the world’s cultural capital. This area of law is growing in prominence as new challenges from digitisation and emerging cultural trends create new paths for art lawyers to tread.

If this type of law sounds appealing to you, then make sure to pursue this fascinating field with enthusiasm and determination, be prepared to pursue career opportunities and work experience, and look to improve your professional skills.

Do not be put off by the competitiveness of the employment market. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to the art world, then the added effort is worth the initial sacrifice!

Legal Work Experience