Inside
A transfer dispute
How a transfer gone wrong actually gets resolved, from the first complaint to the final ruling.
1-week intensive, Lisbon, in English
How to Become a Sports Lawyer
Real access to the sports law world, and the practical training to work in it.
Overview
Sports law beyond the classroom
Golpath Institute's How to Become a Sports Lawyer programme gives you a full week of real, practical exposure to the sports law world.
Sports law covers far more ground than most people realise, from club contracts to governance and CAS arbitration. You spend the week meeting professionals working across these different paths, from club legal and compliance staff to arbitration practitioners, to figure out where you actually fit. Now in its third edition, this is where a sports law career actually starts.
- Format
- 1 week
- Location
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Language
- English
- Next intake
- 19 to 24 July 2027
What you'll explore
Every route into sports law, and how to take your first step
You'll work through the real cases that land on a sports lawyer's desk, meet people who got into the field in very different ways, and leave with a plan for your own route in.
01
The work: real cases
Built around real cases, not a fixed curriculum. Each one could land on your desk as a sports lawyer.
Inside
A contract negotiation
Sitting at the table as a player, club or agency contract gets drafted and agreed.
Inside
A sponsorship agreement
Structuring and protecting a sponsorship deal before anything goes wrong.
Inside
A doping case
What happens from the positive test to the final hearing, including an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Inside
A governance dispute
A disagreement between a club, a federation or a governing body, and how it actually gets settled.
02
The routes in: different ways to become a sports lawyer
There's no single path into sports law. You'll meet people who took each of these routes.
Route
In a law firm
How sports law teams work, and how juniors get their first cases.
Route
In-house
Working inside a club, league or federation, as part of the organisation.
Route
Arbitration and governing bodies
CAS, and the legal and disciplinary committees of federations.
Route
Building up your own law office
From your first client to running your own sports law practice.
By the end, you'll have handled the kinds of cases that actually land on a sports lawyer's desk, seen the different routes into the field, and leave with real contacts and a clear plan for starting your own journey.
On the final day
Leave with your own pathway
On the last day, you step back from everything you've heard and map out where you want to be in three to five years, and the steps to get there. Our team mentors you through it and gives you feedback on your plan, so you leave knowing exactly what to do next.
Reflect
Look back at everything you've seen and heard during the programme.
Plan
Map where you want to be in 3 to 5 years, and the first steps to get there.
Get feedback
Our team mentors you through your plan and gives you honest feedback.
Who it's for
This programme is for you if
You're a law student or recent graduate and want to specialise in sport.
You're a practising lawyer and want to move into sport.
You're aiming for governance, arbitration or club-side legal roles and want to see how they work from the inside.
Book your place
One intake in 2027
The programme runs once a year, in July.
July 2027 Limited places
19 to 24 July 2027
Book your placeOr reserve your place with €500 and lock in the early-bird price.
Three ways to pay
One payment
€2,240€2,690
Pay the early-bird price in one go when you book, and you're all set.Pay everything in one payment when you book and save 10%.
Two instalments
2 × €1,1202 × €1,495
Half when you book, the other half 90 days before the programme starts. The early-bird discount applies.
Reserve your place
€500 now
Hold your place and lock in the early-bird price (€2,240 in total).Hold your place (€2,990 in total). Pay the rest within 30 days, or once your visa is approved if you need one. The €500 is non-refundable.
All prices include VAT. The early-bird price is the same whichever way you pay.
Have questions first? Talk to us.
Faculty
Meet your speakers
Speakers from our previous editions. The 2027 line-up will be announced soon.
Jan Schweele
Founding Partner, Berlin Sports Law
Prof. Dr. Martin Schimke
CAS Arbitrator, Of Counsel at Bird & Bird
Rosalía Ortega
Sports Lawyer and International Arbitrator
Included
What's included
Industry professionals
Learn from agents, lawyers and people running sports organisations today.
Practical workshops
Case studies, role-plays and real-world exercises, not lectures.
Club visits
Go behind the scenes at clubs and sports organisations in Lisbon.
A small, international intake
Real attention, and peers from across the world.
Certificate
Awarded at the closing session of your programme.
Your personal pathway
On the last day, map where you want to be in 3 to 5 years, with mentoring and feedback.
Testimonials
What past participants say
I finally feel more confident about working in sports law.
Zurab Baratashvili
An inspiring and incredible week spent learning and connecting with professionals. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in sports law.
Atul Sooraj
Across continents. United by sports law. Connected by ideas, friendships and a shared passion.
Ayush Singh
FAQs
Questions before you book
Do I need a law degree or legal background?
No. Many participants are law students or lawyers, but a genuine interest in sports law is enough. You need to be 18 or over, with English at B2 level or above, since all sessions are in English.
Is this only about football law, or sport generally?
Sport generally. Many cases come from football, as the biggest market, but the programme covers sports law across sports, including governance, doping and CAS arbitration.
What's included, and is accommodation part of it?
The fee covers all sessions and workshops, visits to clubs and sports organisations, networking and social activities, your pathway session and your certificate. Travel, meals and accommodation aren't included in the price, but we can help you arrange accommodation. Just let us know when you book.
How do I pay, and can I pay in instalments?
You book and pay securely online, in one of three ways: pay in one payment, pay in two instalments (50% when you book, 50% 90 days before the programme starts), or reserve your place with €500 and pay the rest within 30 days (the €500 is non-refundable). Book by 31 December 2026 and you get our early-bird price, 25% off, whichever way you pay, and reserving locks it in. From 1 January 2027, paying in one payment saves 10%. All prices include VAT.
Can my employer or university pay?
Yes. Contact us before you book and we'll send an invoice made out to your employer or university.
Do I need a visa, and can I get an invitation letter?
EU and Schengen citizens don't need a visa. If you're from outside the EU, you may need a Schengen visa to enter Portugal, so check the requirements for your country. We can send you an official invitation letter for your visa application once you've reserved your place with €500 (non-refundable), and you pay the rest once your visa is approved. If you'd rather apply before paying anything, we can also issue the letter after a call with our team, but that doesn't hold a place for you, and places are limited. Apply early, as visa appointments can take several weeks.
Do you have a referral programme?
Yes. Once you've booked, recommend us to someone who hasn't booked with us before. When they book a programme and give us your name, you get a €100 Amazon voucher and €200 off your next Golpath Institute programme.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Everyone who completes the programme receives a certificate of participation at the closing session.
What's your refund and cancellation policy?
All payments are non-refundable, except within your 14-day right of withdrawal where it applies. If you can't attend, you can pass your place to someone else at no extra cost, or ask to move to a later intake of the same programme, subject to availability. Full details are in our Terms and Conditions.
Still have questions? We're happy to talk it through.
Request a callNot quite the right fit?
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Learn moreReady to start?
Book your place for July 2027
Or book a free 15-minute call with our team if you'd like to talk it through first.
Not ready yet? Get updates on dates and early-bird offers.