The MPA Entertainment Law & Policy Fellowship is an entertainment-focused law and policy program that is dedicated to advancing the cause of inclusion, community, and belonging in the entertainment industry.
This prestigious program ensures the best and brightest students have the opportunity to participate in the entertainment industry, regardless of their background, by providing the selected Fellows with stipends for living and housing, and reimbursement for certain fellowship-related travel expenses to participate in the year-long program.
Fellows will gain relevant experience working at the MPA as well as its member studios and interact with senior executives and policymakers, while building the skills needed to prepare them to be the next generation of law and policy leaders in the entertainment industry.
About the Fellowship
The MPA Entertainment Law & Policy Fellowship is the first entertainment-focused law and policy program of its kind. Two dynamic students who have demonstrated an interest in entertainment law or entertainment policy, along with a commitment to inclusion, community, and belonging in the entertainment industry, will be selected as Fellows during each annual period.
The year-long program is an immersive and bi-coastal educational experience in Los Angeles and Washington, DC that hones the skills needed to prepare for future roles in the law and policy fields. The program enables Fellows to:
- Interface with MPA Policy and Legal executives to understand the entertainment landscape and various roles
- Gain relevant practical experience through MPA member studios (Disney, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery.)
- Interact and network with senior-level industry executives and policymakers while building the skills necessary to prepare for future law and policy leadership
Meet the 2024-25 MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law & Policy Fellows
Lucero Carrasco
Santa Clara University School of Law ‘24
Lucero Carrasco received her J.D. in 2024 from Santa Clara University School of Law. She graduated with a High-Tech Law Certificate: Intellectual Property Specialization, with honors, and received a High-Tech Excellency Award. She is a first-generation college graduate, holding a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, and is the only person in her family to have gone to law school. While in law school, she was active in the Journal of International Law where her Comment, titled “Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier in Copyright Law,” was selected for an Honorable Mention. Lucero was also active in the Hispanic National Bar Association as both an Intellectual Property Law Institute Scholar and Regional Rep for the Law Student Division. She has an immense interest in both intellectual property and entertainment law, and is very excited for the opportunity to learn from the MPA as an Entertainment Law and Policy Fellow.
Jasmine Geyen
Syracuse University College of Law ’24
Jasmine L. Geyen, from Houston, Texas, is a recent graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, where she specialized in Sports and Entertainment Law, earning the Dean’s Scholarship and Tomorrow’s Advocate Scholarship. At the College of Law, she served as the Upstate New York Sub-Regional Director for the Northeast Black Law Students’ Association and President of the Black Law Students Association. She holds a B.A. in International Studies and French from Spelman College, where she was a member of Pi Delta Phi, Phi Beta Delta, and the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Jasmine enjoys English horseback riding, reading mystery novels, and watching romantic comedies. Jasmine is fluent in French, and she also founded Hugs4Houston, Inc., a nonprofit aiding communities affected by natural disasters. Jasmine is excited to be working at the Motion Picture Association and looks forward to the opportunities ahead.
Read more about the 2024-25 Fellows
Qualifications & Eligibility
The Fellowship is open to anyone who has:
- An interest in entertainment policy or entertainment law;
- Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, community, and belonging in the entertainment industry; and
- Recently obtained, or will have obtained, a J.D., Master of Public Policy, or other related advanced degree.
The Fellowship is open to all applicants, regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability status, or any other category protected by law. MPA encourages all qualified applicants to apply.
How to Apply
The application for the 2025-26 MPA fellowship can be accessed here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is eligible?
The Fellowship is open to anyone who has an interest in entertainment policy or entertainment law; has demonstrated commitment to inclusion, community, and belonging in the entertainment industry; and has recently obtained, or will have obtained, a J.D., Master of Public Policy, or other related advanced degree. To be eligible, a candidate must have obtained their degree no earlier than the Spring of 2024 or obtain their degree by no later than the Spring of 2025.
The Fellowship is open to all applicants, regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability status, or any other category protected by law.
How long is the program?
This is a one-year fellowship.
Is housing provided?
Housing is not provided, but the stipend is intended to cover living and housing expenses during the Fellows’ time in both Washington, DC and Los Angeles. The MPA can assist Fellows in locating housing.
Will I receive a stipend as a Fellow?
Yes, you will receive a stipend that covers living and housing expenses and will be reimbursed for certain travel expenses related to the Fellowship.
What is the timeline for applications?
All applications must be received here by 11:59 PST on February 28, 2025.
Will I work directly with studios?
Yes, fellows will have opportunities to gain experience directly from the MPA’s member studios, including spending the last five months of the Fellowship working at one of the studios.
Do I have any input on what studio I will be working with?
Preferences for placement with a particular studio will be considered but cannot be guaranteed.
If I have or am obtaining a law degree, do I have to take the bar before starting the Fellowship?
No. You do not need to have taken the bar exam to be eligible for the Fellowship.
Will I have to time to prepare for and take the bar exam?
No. The Fellowship will begin in August 2025, after the July bar exam. Fellows will not be given any accommodations to prepare for and take the February 2026 bar exam.