Do I need a lawyer to read through a contract an established literary agency is offering me? -

Is it necessary if the agency has a professional website, a respectable list of published authors, is listed in Writers and Artists Yearbook etc?

Yep - it may contain aspects of film rights passing to them rather than you! If you can t make sense of it, it s worth getting a solicitor to check it over for you. Make sure that you engage a solicitor who has experience of literary contracts, though. Hope this helps.

Even if they re well-established and reputable, you still need to know your rights... so yeah, get an attorney to look it over.

There is no such thing as a standard contract . So advice might be a good idea. However, if you trust the publisher, then they are probably not going to screw you over. Also, in my experience, publishers contracts are not negotiable. Unless you are J K Rowling. So if you found a clause you didn t like, they would be unlikely to change it just for you. If you are unpublished so far, you will be offered terms that are in line with the publisher s expectations. Surprisingly, the more generous the offer, the less faith they have in your marketability. It also depends on what you are expecting to retain in the way of intellectual rights over your work. Never sign away film rights or e-book rights unless you are desperate to get published. Retain as much as you can, without scaring them away.

I would if literary agents are as bent as the musical kind. Bitter experience old chap.

Not necessary if you join the Society of Authors. See their website. If you are a member, they ll look at your contract, and advise you on it, free of charge. So there s no point in forking out for legal fees!

Better safe than sorry. Definitely take legal advice. Yes, there will be a charge, but the advice may well save you thousands of pounds in the future. Re your last remarks - don t judge a book by the cover (sorry for the pun)

yes ,its safer .!!!!

I would. The agents are making money out of small print.

I would say yes, even if this is just an agent interested in you. An attorney may be able to catch red flags that would escape most of us (unless you are an attorney yourself or are experienced with literary agencies and publishing companies),.