Timothy Davis

What is Sports Law

“What is sports law” is a question often asked by students, academics, lawyers and lay persons. The person attempting to respond often searches in vain for a response that is cogent and demonstrates some modicum of understanding of “sports law.” Perhaps the difficulty in articulating a response is, in part, a result of uncertainty related to what information is being sought. Is the “what is sports law” query intended to focus our attention on the content of the practice of sports law? In other words, which substantive areas of practice fall under the rubric of sports law? Specifically, is the role of the sports lawyer intended as the principal focus of the question? In this regard, perhaps what is sought is information concerning the range of services provided by the attorney who practices in the sports law context. Finally, perhaps the person who asks “what is sports law” seeks an answer to a more fundamental consideration—does such a thing as sports law exist? In other words, is sports law recognized as an independent substantive area of the law such as torts, contracts or employment law?