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Hi, it's Anuj.
Most of my DMs and replies to this newsletter are some version of the same five questions. I've been answering them one by one, which doesn't scale and isn't fair to everyone who asks and waits.
So this issue answers them properly, all at once. At the end I'm asking for your questions for the next edition.
1. "Do I need a fashion law degree to become a fashion lawyer?"
No. There's no qualification that makes you a fashion lawyer. You qualify as a lawyer in your own jurisdiction first. That means a JD and bar admission in the US, the SQE in England and Wales, or your country's equivalent. Then you build fashion expertise on top.
A fashion law course helps you learn the landscape and meet people. It doesn't replace qualifying, and no brand will hire you for the certificate alone. Spend your money on the course only after you know which part of fashion law you want.
2. "I have no connections in fashion. Is it too late?"
Almost nobody I know in this field started with connections. What they had was a specific interest and proof of it.
Proof can be small. Write three short pieces on fashion cases you find interesting. Keep a running note on one area, like counterfeits, sustainability claims or influencer contracts. Share it. When you email someone at a brand, you're not a stranger asking for a favor. You're someone who clearly cares about their exact problem.
3. "Which area of fashion law has the most jobs?"
From the roles I go through every week: brand protection, IP and commercial contracts are still the biggest. Privacy, legal operations and regulatory compliance are growing fastest, because brands now collect more customer data and face more rules than ever.
If you're unsure where you fit, we built a specialism explorer and a short quiz for exactly this.
4. "Should I start at a law firm or go straight in-house at a brand?"
Both work. Here's the trade-off.
Law firms give you training, structure and a wide mix of clients. In-house gives you the business up close and a seat in the room where decisions happen, but junior in-house roles at fashion houses are rare and competitive.
The most common path I see is a few years at a firm with a strong IP or commercial team, then a move in-house. The second most common is starting in a compliance or brand protection role at a brand and growing from there. That route is less glamorous and far less crowded.
5. "When should I apply for internships?"
Earlier than you think. The big houses often post internships months ahead of the start date. If you start looking two months before you want to begin, the good ones will already be gone.
Pick five brands you'd love to work for and bookmark their careers pages. Check them every two weeks, and keep reading this newsletter, where the best ones land every week.
Now your turn
Hit reply and send me your question. It can be about careers, a case you don't understand, which course to pick, or how to write to a GC. I'll answer the best ones in the next edition and keep your name out of it unless you tell me otherwise.
I read every reply myself.
If you'd rather talk somewhere less formal:
Instagram: @anujonrecord
LinkedIn: Anuj Kumar
Anuj
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Fashion Law Journal
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