Lavery specialized in entertainment law as a partner at Fink, Levinthal and Lavery (1954 to 1960), subsequently operating his own firm until 1963. In 1965, he was appointed director of business affairs at 20th Century Fox Television,.
Launched Emmet G. Lavery Jr. Productions in 1975.
Served in the U.S. Army in 1945 and 1946 and graduated from UCLA in 1950. He earned his law degree from UCLA Law School in 1953 and was admitted to the California bar a year later.