This weeks #TopTip comes from Legal Co-ordinator Meabh O'Shea and it's for those animation enthusiasts with a legal flair:

While I know that law isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of animation, somebody has to deal out justice!

It can be disheartening if you’re really interested in animation, but find that you just can’t get your head around drawing, or animating. The good news is that there are plenty of other options such as law, finance, or human resources, and they’re all AWESOME.

Speaking specifically about the legal side of things; if you’ve decided that you’d like to go into an in-house position in animation or film, try to familiarise yourself with the various components that make up media law; such as contract and commercial law. You can read articles online detailing the various developments in these areas and keep on top of things.

In terms of your CV – keep things nice and short, even to a single page if you can. Always be sure to put the job title in the subject bar when you’re applying, and sign your full name at the end of your covering email. Knowledge of the company you’re applying to is essential, so it’s a great excuse to watch movies and series (all for research purposes, of course!). Familiarise yourself with the production process because even though you may not be applying for a role as producer, knowledge of the industry is invaluable!

Every day is different in an animation studio, it’s not a conventional law office; what with dogs and 3D printers… But there’s one similarity between the two – there is a lot of paperwork! Be sure your typing skills are up to scratch, and be prepared to take on a respectable amount of filing.

Remember: don’t lose heart if you don’t succeed with your first couple of applications, keep at it if it’s truly what you want, and your enthusiasm will be rewarded!