Q&A with a Sports Law Professor – Caleb Jay

Jay is a faculty associate teaching Sports Law at Arizona State University. In addition, he is the Senior Counsel for the Arizona Diamondbacks, having joined the organization in June 2007. His responsibilities include drafting sponsorship and other business contracts, preparing documents for marketing promotions, handling intellectual property matters, and providing legal advice on general business issues.

What were the circumstances that caused you to gravitate to sports law?

My first job in professional sports was as a ball boy for the Golden State Warriors, followed by being a bat boy for the Oakland Athletics.  While in law school, I had the fortunate opportunity to intern with the legal department at the Athletics.  Upon graduation the team hired me as the Assistant General Counsel.

Within the sports law field, what are your areas of expertise?

Business transactions, intellectual property, ticketing, and marketing promotions.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a sports law professor?

The ability to provide valuable and useful legal knowledge to students, whether or not they want to practice in the sports law industry.

Do you have a pedagogical philosophy when it comes to your academic practice?

Provide students with the resources, knowledge, and ability to be the best practitioners they can be.  Accountability (through attendance and class participation) is strongly emphasized and rewarded.

Do you teach in the fall, spring and/or summer?

Fall and Spring.

Do you use a text? If so, which one?

Sports Law – Cases and Materials, by Ray Yasser

Sports Litigation Alert, by Hackney Publications