Season greetings from VLA! December 2012 Newsletter

December 2012

VLA Quote of the Day:

"Always desire to learn something useful."

-Sophocles

Season's Greetings!

Closing out another successful year, VLA would like to thank all of its friends and supporters. Special thanks this month go to:

Shearman & Sterling LLP for hosting the Fashion Law Series
Queensborough Community College for hosting the Music Law Class
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP for hosting VLA at its Pro Bono Fair
All of the Fall 2012 Columbia Law School externship students for a great semester and for conducting their series of free classes
Greg Boyd of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC for a great class on Video Games and Interactive Media

The year might be coming to a close, but VLA still has some great classes for December that you won't want to miss:

For members of the arts community seeking assistance navigating the small claims court system, VLA is pleased to offer a class on Navigating the New York Small Claims Court System on Monday, December 10, 2012 from 5 - 7 pm taught by Katerina I. Duarte, Esq. of the Law Office of Katerina I. Duarte.

Attorneys interested in volunteering at VLA Legal Clinics or in taking VLA cases should attend our New Attorney Orientation on December 12 from 12-1 pm.

Best,

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

The Art Law Line

A legal hotline staffed by law students and volunteer attorneys who field calls from artists, arts professionals, and arts organizations seeking assistance about their art-related legal questions. The hotline is staffed Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

VLA receives over 150 new phone calls each day from callers seeking legal information or advice. We ask that you please be patient while waiting for one of our legal interns to return your phone call. Also, since our Art Law Line is staffed by law students during semester periods, our Art Law Line return-call frequency slows down in-between fall and spring semesters. Please be patient.

VLA's Art Law Line provides the arts community with legal and business advice, referrals, and information about both substantive legal questions and VLA's services. Every year VLA answers over 10,000 telephone calls, letters, and internet inquiries. Through the Art Law Line, low-income artists and nonprofit arts organizations may be scheduled for an in-house consultation with a VLA staff attorney.

The Art Law Line is also an important vehicle for informing the public regarding VLA membership opportunities, course offerings and other services.

Contact us! 212.319.2787 ext.1

Navigating the New York Small Claims Court System

When: Monday, December 10, 2012, 5 - 7 pm

Where: VLA Auditorium 1 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022 (Auditorium)

This class is taught by Katerina I. Duarte, Esq., Law Office of Katerina I. Duarte

Many disputes involve monetary disputes of less than $5,000, and thus may not warrant the cost of retaining an attorney. This workshop will discuss how artists can resolve these claims without the use of an attorney.

Issues covered will include: what sort of claims can be heard in the New York Small Claims Court System; how to start an action; what proof is required by courts; how to obtain a judgment, and what to do with the judgment after you won. The workshop will also cover: how to defend a small claims action; vacating a default judgment entered against you; motion practice; the option to arbitrate; and ways to protect yourself by memorializing your agreement in writing.

Fees: (there is a late registration fee of $10 if you register the day of the class)
$20 Full-Time Student (must present proof of full-time status with registration)
$30 Arts Professional VLA Member
$50 Arts Professional Non-Member
$75 Legal Professional VLA Member
$100 Legal Professional Non-Member
$50 VLA YAM's Young Associate Members
$20 All You Can Learn Pass

All registration fees are non-refundable. Please note you are not registered until full payment is received.

For additional information on this program, please contact Diana Siozios at dsiozios@vlany.org or at 212.319.2787 ext. 16

Don't miss this great class!

Copyright for Arts Professionals

When: Monday, December 17, 2012, 4 - 5:30 pm
Where: VLA Auditorium 1 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022 (Auditorium) See map below

This class is taught by VLA's Interim Executive Director, Kathryn E. Wagner, Esq.

If you are involved in the arts, this class is a must. This workshop provides valuable information on the fundamentals of basic copyright protection, including copyrightability of works, ownership (initial ownership; transfers; works-for-hire), registration, infringement and remedies, and fair use. Through this course you will gain a basic understanding of copyright law and learn how to protect your work.

Fees: (there is a late registration fee of $10 if you register the day of the class)
$20 Full-Time Student (must present proof of full-time status with registration)
$30 Arts Professional VLA Member
$50 Arts Professional Non-Member
$85 Legal Professional VLA Member
$110 Legal Professional Non-Member
$50 Young Associate Members (YAM's)
*Free for All You Can Learn Pass Holders

All registration fees are non-refundable. Please note you are not registered until full payment is received.

For more information on this program, please contact VLA Development Associate Diana Siozios at dsiozios@vlany.org or at 212.319.2787 x 16.

Donate to VLA

VLA has seen an increase in demand for pro bono legal services, in-house consultations, legal clinics and educational programming, and we expect 2013 to be even more demanding.

Would you like to support more VLA legal services and educational programming?

In 2012-13, your support will make possible:

More legal services to low-income artists
More legal services to arts nonprofit organizations
More educational programs
More scholarship programs
Maintaining lower fees for legal services and educational programming
More discounts on legal books for artists

Donations of any size will have a positive impact on our ability to provide vital services for artists and the arts community.

$5, $10, $25, or $75 will help.

Library and Bookstore

VLA has a small but in-depth book library containing a wealth of materials and resources for artists, arts organizations, and legal professionals. Our books and materials cover diverse areas such as nonprofits, fiscal sponsorships, visual art, music, theater, dance, writing, film, internet, and digital media, all in relation to intellectual property, contracts, licensing, legal entities, free speech, employment law, and grant writing. Access to VLA's library is free and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 12 to 6pm.

Along with providing individuals and organizations with access to the VLA's Library, VLA makes available a wide variety of books for all arts disciplines and organizations. For a list of our publications and books available for sale, please visit our list. For book prices and shipping fees, please contact VLA at our Art Law Line at 212.319.2787, x1.

About VLA

Established in 1969, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is the pioneer in arts-related legal aid and educational programs about the legal and business issues that affect artist and arts organizations.

VLA believes that individual artists and arts organizations deserve access to dedicated legal representation and advocacy to ensure that their voices are heard and that their interests are protected. VLA also believes that the arts community should understand certain legal and business matters to protect themselves and their work. To achieve these goals, VLA serves the arts community through 4 program areas: Legal Services with MediateArt; Education; Advocacy; and the Art & Law Residency.

Learn more about VLA here!

Our Supporters

VLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal service organization supported in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and through generous gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals. View a full list of foundation and government supporters here; to view a full list of law firm and corporate supporters, click here.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

1 East 53 Street, Sixth Floor | New York, NY 10022

P: 212.319.2787 | F: 212.752.6575

http://vlany.org

http://askthelawyer.info