Legal Question in Entertainment Law in Illinois

Agent is a more general term, meaning someone authorized to act for another. May be an attorney, but more often not. Otherwise, the agent would use the more specific term "sports attorney."

Generally a sports agent is a marketing type, interested in maximizing the sports contract. Generally a sports attorney is the one who understands the contract, writes the contract, and know sports law so he or she can protect the sports team or athlete, depending who is paying the attorney. Often the sports attorney works for the sports agent. A good sports agent will use a sports attorney unless the sports agent is really experienced or is an attorney.

No, a sports agent does not have to be a licensed attorney, but is may be very helpful to the athlete if the agent is so that the athlete is more certain that the contract the agent negotiates will be legal. However, sports attorneys are not always good at marketing the athlete. Many are. So, both have their place and seldom do the twain meet, but once in while they do.