They are very much involved in structuring deals and shaping artists' business lives. One of the major things to look for in a lawyer is his or her relationships in the industry. Lawyers have evolved into one of the most powerful groups in the music industry. So a lawyer with good relationships will get your deals done quicker, and, if they know what they're doing, will get you the maximum that can legitimately be had. Make sure that the lawyer you are hiring is an entertainment lawyer with at least some experience in the industry.
Some lawyers charge on an hourly basis.
For instance, if the lawyer had very little to do with shaping the deal, but rather just did the contract, the band should expect a fee that is close to an hourly rate. On the other hand, if the lawyer came up with a clever concept or strategy that made the band substantial sums of money, or the lawyer shaped or created the deal from scratch, he or she will ask for a much larger fee. References Ask the lawyer for references of artists at your level, and check them out. It's not uncommon for a record deal to take four or five months to negotiate, especially if you're a new artist and can't force the record company to turn out a draft quickly. Once you have an attorney and have opened up your own publishing company, and built your career on your own for a good while, a label deal may come your way.