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Recent Baylor Law graduate AJ Jameel, JD ’19, is the first Baylor Lawyer in history to graduate with the ambition of being an “esports attorney.” According to Jameel, esports is an exciting new industry with a desperate need for legal counsel.

“Esports might be the fastest growing industry you’ve never heard of,” says Jameel. “There is a huge and growing demand for attorneys who understand the quirks of how this industry works and who can step in and help the young professionals who are trying to navigate the system.”

For the uninitiated, “esports” is a general term that encompasses the world of competitive video gaming. Game publishers push out new video games with the purpose of fostering a competitive scene around the games. Teams of professional players organize around the games and attract big sponsorships from some of the world’s most well-known companies, such as Intel, Coca-Cola, and Mercedes-Benz. The dream for these players is to compete in large-scale international esports tournaments, winning fame, prestige, and their shot at eye-popping prize pools. Last year, a tournament known as “The International” featured a staggering $25 million prize pool.

In 2017, esports revenues worldwide hit $655 million — at the time, considered a landmark milestone — then in 2018, revenues hit $905 million, an impressive 38% growth. This year, revenues are projected to exceed $1.1 billion.

For Jameel, these numbers imply more than just opportunity.

“I’ve always loved the gaming community,” he said. “In college, I worked as a Senior Game Master for Blizzard Entertainment, helping moderate a game called World of Warcraft. The experience serving that gaming community was formative, and when I started law school, I knew I wanted to stay involved.” At Baylor Law, Jameel followed his own custom course plan, electing to take classes that would prepare him for his career as an esports attorney.

“We are so proud of AJ for his leadership and for his service-first mindset,” says Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben. “Baylor Lawyers are known not just for their grit and for their determination, but also for their passion to serve, and AJ has embodied all of the above as he has forged his own path to becoming an ‘esports attorney.’ While he is the first at Baylor Law to navigate this new career opportunity, I suspect he will not be the last.”

Jameel is currently serving as a conference committee member of the nation’s first Esports Bar Association (EBA). The EBA is a community of young lawyers from across the country who are passionate about serving the legal needs of the video gaming community. In addition to his involvement in the EBA, Jameel regularly attends video game conferences where he speaks with key esports stakeholders, including game publishers, designers, sponsors, and the players themselves, about the legal issues confronting the industry.

Jameel’s goal is to open his own law firm focusing on the representation of esports teams and professional players. The firm will specialize in helping professional players navigate legal issues concerning contract negotiations, non-competes, intellectual property, brand management, immigration, and taxes.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Nelson, Director of Marketing & Communications
EMAIL: Ed_Nelson@Baylor.edu
PHONE: 254-710-6681

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Established in 1857, Baylor Law was one of the first law schools in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,500 living alumni. Accredited by the American Bar Association and a member of the Association of American Law Schools, Baylor Law has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. Baylor Law boasts among its notable alumni two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and members of the Texas Legislature. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program as among the best in the nation at No. 2. Baylor Law School also is ranked No. 48 in the magazine’s 2020 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law as one of the “Best School for Practical Training” and No. 4 in the nation in its most recent “Best Law School Facilities” listing. Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Baylor Law School received the 2015 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, making it only the third law school in the nation to be honored with the award since its inception in 1984. Learn more at baylor.edu/law

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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more at baylor.edu