I can vouch for your user experience

Some law school purists may have questioned my insistence that films can be an amazing study guide. Well, maybe now film purists can find out the same. Lawyerlike, meet IMDb!



The Hit List links here, but I've also explored this theme before, comparing first year exams to Die Hard, second year exams to the various expressions on Eastwood's face throughout the Man With No Name Trilogy (read: uniformly tough), or generally describing the law school experience as a reflection of the Hogwarts experience.

Of course, I could have compared that time I solved the mystery of the assassinated Supreme Court Judges to The Pelican Brief, but that would have been totally obvious.

I'm typing like Roberto Benigni

This is like finding extra stuff in a Christmas stocking: my blog was voted "Best Lawblog by a Law Student" according to Blawg Review and their annual awards. That's, like, the Oscars for law blogs.

Thanks to all my readers, including the one, according to my tracker stats, that Googled "crushing law school debt" and zeroed in upon this site.

Least downloaded podcast

A while back I made reference to my involvement in various media forms apart from the internet. Last month's publication of The National put me into print and demonstrated that claims I resemble a young Michael Stipe are a bit exaggerated. But now, with a new radio announcement, listeners can discover that I also, in no way, possess a similarly honeyed voice.

To wit: the Law School has managed to get airtime on venerable university station CiTR 101.9FM, and along with my Law Revue partners-in-crime, I'll be hosting an episode or two of a new half-hour law-based program, "Radio Hearsay." Or more specifically, after subtracting commercials, music, disclaimers and the contributions of my co-hosts, it might about 10 minutes of me talking shop. But the funny kind.

The show is still in developmental stages, and I as well as the other students involved have yet to be put through the production lessons, but rest assured that when we go on air, you can hear it too: years of cost cutting at national universities has not yet prevented the school from discovering podcasting - we'll be global.

And yes, I've taken notes from at least one podcast, so Guinness World Records are set to fall.

Exit cat from bag

If you mill around any Canadian law school, you're likely to find a few copies of a certain magazine amidst law firm pamphlets and unsold Law Revue 2006 DVDs (place your order below!) Your natural instincts would tell you that any free magazine is perhaps not worth the paper it is printed on, but thankfully, that's not the case with National. The CBA's in-house magazine's articles are always topical, and particularly helpful to lawyers and law students alike. Plus, I always liked how they publish in English and French in the same issue - if only for how it irks those out West who hope the French language cannot traverse mountains.

Now I have another reason to like the magazine - I'm in it! Or rather, to my great surprise this morning, on it. The cover. Full page.



A while back I was interviewed by Amy Jo Ehman for the mag about this here blog, and why law students in particular blog. I, of course, imagining that the handful of daily visitors who access this site might jump to a whole two handfuls of visitors, leapt at the chance. And, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. It's not too often that somebody recalls things you said months ago positively. (I also like the title of the piece, LL.Bloggers, which is a pun I'm surprised I hadn't yet employed.)

The guilty pleasure of this whole thing, of course, was that I got to do my first photoshoot. (As if subsequent offers of further shoots are yet to come.) Prominent Vancouver photog Robert Karpa arranged the shoot near the Vancouver waterfront at a streetside cafe - which, don't know you, is where I write every post... Thankfully, the area around Canada Place is a hotbed of pent-up cruise-ship tourist activity, so being photographed like that wasn't such a rare sight.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the piece. I regularly visit the other sites mentioned in the article, so it's nice to be in good company. And perhaps this whole thing might bolster my claim below and elsewhere, that I really sorta look like R.E.M.'s lead singer circa 1983.

Blawg Review #57

I have a confession to make: I'm not sure if my blog counts as a "lawblog." Sure, I'm a third year law student who occasionally waxes legal about classes and cases, but the most erudite posts you're likely to find here concern the constitutionality of 24, James Bond-loving supreme court judges or some dirty constitutional poetry. Blawg Review has had some pretty impressive hosts: Blawg Review #28 was hosted by a defence lawyer, Blawg Review #41 a corporate in-house counsel and Blawg Review #55 was hosted by a lawyer, teacher, author and consultant.

And now you get the blogger who confessed to buying Hootie & the Blowfish as his first album. (A confession that, should you try to introduce as evidence, I will fight dearly to label hearsay.) Surely there must be more professional candidates to host Blawg Review. Sometimes I feel this place is only acting like a lawblog.

But then, when I was watching TV (as I am wont to do) I thought, don't we often learn as much about the law from the fake lawyers as much as the real ones? People who haven't been through law school might not have a handy definition of hearsay, but I'll bet they know from any number of TV shows when to yell it in a courtoom - and they know the magic word is "sustained."

So while I present to you this week's Blawg Review submissions from around the blawgosphere, I'll highlight some of the best, worst, new and old fake lawyers from TV, organizing submissions as best I can around the personality of each lawyer. Without further ado: Blawg Review #57.

Black-Letter Jack

Lawyers looking for the kindest representation of their profession need look no further than Law & Order's Jack McCoy. The real revolving door of justice is in that show's casting department, as over its 16 year history we've met Stone, Robinette, Kincaid, Carmichael, Ross, Cabot and Southerlyn. Yet none pursue black-letter law as well as McCoy. His comical resemblance to muppet Sam the Eagle belies a stern and unforgiving desire for justice. Dude even once declared gay marriage unconstitutional for the sole reason of destroying husband-husband confidentiality, thus having a murder confession ruled admissible. Talk about lateral thinking.



In honour of Black-letter Jack, some of the more serious submissions:

• Ron Coleman discusses copyright issues with scans of public domain works. Maybe we should have tightened up intellectual property law before inventing the internet.
• The Grey Area Left of Center joins the fray over NSA wiretaps, hears clicking when he picks up the phone.
• Daniel J. Solove at Concurring Opinions writes about the Bar Exam, but will it help me pass?
• Jon Swift adds an item to the ever growing list of things Iraq needs.
• Some say lawyers are nuts, but f/k/a argues they shouldn't be priced the same.
  

Works on contingency? No, money down!

Another TV show that's been on for almost two decades might just have my generation's most popular lawyer, not that you'd ever want to hire him. I speak, of course, about Lionel Hutz. From his whipsmart knowledge of courtroom procedure to his unbeatable legal deals ("in addition to a lawyer, you'll also get this faux-pearl necklace, our gift to you!") - Hutz has everything you'd never want in a lawyer. If it weren't for Phil Hartman's death, he'd probably still be appealing his fraudulent advertising case against The Neverending Story, but he's still solidified his place as our favourite law-talking guy.

Accordingly, here are some light-hearted Blawg Review submissions:

• The folks at QuizLaw are back up and running after a brief hiccup, you know, the kind started by U.S. Homeland Security? Those hiccups never go away.
• Not a fan of the Patriot Act? Wordlab suggests that maybe you'll prefer Pepsi Presents the Patriot Act!
• David Canton at eLegal Canton speaks of the devil, says some people don't like the Patriot Act.
  
• More Wordlab: Walmart asks if it can trademark the smiley face. Consumers ask if you can trademark the middle finger.
• Evan Schaeffer at the Legal Underground writes about Roy Black's return to prominence after a stint on the NBC reality flop, "the Law Firm." (Confession #3: I loved that show!)
  

Professional Irresponsibility

Lionel Hutz may be bad, but he has his charm. If you're looking for the flat-out, worst lawyer who destroys all your faith in a law degree, Barry Zuckerkorn from Arrested Development is your man. Bloggers would be pleased to know he once hosted his own website, www.barrygood.biz. (Of course, his successor, Bob Loblaw, maintained the Bob Loblaw Lawblog.) Barry's been known to tell his clients that a husband and wife can't be prosecuted for the same crime, and taking plea deals because they are literally quite heavy.



On that note of professional irresponsibility:

• Steve Bainbridge writes about a peculiar indictment, involving insider trading within insider investigations in Grand Jury Leak = Insider Trading?
• George Wallace has two posts about extortion and blackmail with the California Auto Industry, and what also sounds like a good screenplay for a George Clooney/Russell Crowe political intrigue film.
• I've said it before, zombies are cool. But, if you're the creator of an army of them and just plead guilty to unleashing them upon a computing public, well that's not so cool.
• Law Professor Paul Secunda blogs about Cyberslacking, but was he at work when he wrote it?

Single Female Lawyer

Ally McBeal's importance to fake lawyerdom shouldn't be understated. With female attorneys usually relegated to whatever haircolour Jack McCoy liked that season, Ally McBeal was smart, funny, maaaaaaybe a little too thin, but ultimately a leader. In her own way, McBeal was cutting edge. If her show spawned the advent of bad viral videos and terrible soundtracks, well she shan't be blamed for that.

Accordingly, here are some posts about cutting edge law:

• Strugging with the Law offers advice on when associates should take the plunge and go solo.
  
• Adam Smith Esq. writes about first year associates now eligible for partnership.
• Health Care Law Blog talks about the legal uses of Google Trends, thereby reducing the cry about the legality of Google Earth.

Maaatlooooock!

You can't write a post about famous TV lawyers without mentioning the grandaddy of them all. Matlock may have a high criminal defence fee of over $100,000, but he gets results dammit! A veritable Columbo and McGuyver of the courtroom, Ben Matlock is just as popular with the old crowd as he is with the judges. There aren't many shows nowadays where a criminal defence lawyer is the protagonist, but I wouldn't rule out a sitcom about Saddam's attorneys. Imagine the zaniness!

In honour of Matlock's almost ancient, sage-like wisdom, some more historical posts:

• Speaking of days of yore, Charles Rubin of Rubin on Tax says that the U.S. is no longer a tax haven.
  
• Sir William Blackstone gets quoted about "naked possession," and surprisingly, doesn't mention nudity or drugs.
  

Lady Justice is his Lois Lane

Finally, there's the new attorney in town, Jim Steele of NBC's Conviction. Sure, the show is filled with noteworthy attorneys, like Billy Desmond who constantly boasts about his lossless courtroom record, and Brian Peluso who, sporting an ugly leather jacket, goatee and Red Bull addiction, proves that not all lawyers are the catches they seem. But Steele is unique amongst L&O ADA's in that his M.O. is S-E-X! Simultaneously bedding his second chair and his boss, Steele is as vainglorious as his name.



In honour of Steele's libidinous personality, some of the more salacious submissions:

• George's Employment Blawg follows up on that employee-spanking case. Somehow that seemed to fit in this section.
• Craig Williams at May It Please The Court writes about legal issues with Anti-Dating sites, and how they make great fodder for TV shows. Hmm, usually Law & Order covers these first.

There are obviously too many TV lawyers to mention. (f/k/a even chimes in on CourtTV's 15 most popular Movie Lawyers.) But some honourable mentions for TV include Harvey Birdman, Jackie Chiles, Sandy Cohen (The O.C.'s heavily eyebrow-ed attorney), Boston Legal's Deny Crane, The Practice's Eugene Young and CNN's Nancy Grace. I know, I know - but some part of that hilarious Southern persona must be fictional!



So finally, some odds and ends:

• University of Illinois' College of Law has its own TV show? Man we are missing out.
• Check out the Legal Underground's Weekly Law School Roundup.
• Jim Calloway helps synthesize 60 sites every lawyer should visit.
  

And remember, it's always OK to say TV made you want to become a lawyer.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the issue. I appreciate any comments you post, and if you want to add your favourite lawyer from the silver screen, let us hear it!

Blawg Review has information about next week's host, and instructions how to get your blawg posts reviewed in upcoming issues.

The portentous posterior

Hop, skip and hyperlink over to the Tyee where you can read my latest article on the sex-ification of crime dramas and divining wisdom from Dennis Franz's NYPD butt.

But don't let that mental image stop you - though it almost did me. Trying to do research on when that particular episode aired was tough enough. Googling "Dennis Franz nude" is like entering a mine field. Tread lightly my dear readers.

Yet still snubbed by Oscar

Big day for Law Revue: the February show got a big write-up in this month's Legal Eye. Amongst the accolades: "This year’s Law Revue was a huge success and no article or photo will do it any justice. It truly was a night of hilarity..."

If you want to read the whole issue, a PDF for March is available here. In lieu of that, here is an article/photo which won't do it any justice.



As well, our DVD's came back from the copier and are now ready for pickup. This project was definitely a labour of love - and also blood, sweat, tears, raised voices, frozen computers, etc.

For any who still wish to buy one, email ubclawrevue at gmail dot com. I'm personally pleased that I got to record a director's commentary, one I'm sure is a good future contender the Onion's "Commentary Tracks of the Damned" column.

Laughter: 1799 - 1998

The thrill of my previous fleeting internet fame having worn off, today, with the help of the Toronto Star, I was able to enjoy fleeting publicized fame on a national scale.

Following up on a post on Stereogum, culture reporter Dana Brown wrote a spot-on expose of the "Indie Yuppie," a class of citizen to whom High Fidelity serves as a quasi-religious reference point, and who have been enjoying a Killers backlash far longer than most. The article was a pretty spot-on glimpse of the macchiato-swilling, O.C.-watching, iPod-toting music geek, aptly and shamelessly represented by yours truly. To read the full thing, go here (though you may have to register with them for free.)



My love of The O.C. was mentioned (nay, trumpeted) - it's just a shame that 24 doesn't regularly flaunt its indie music affection. Though, I have been watching season 1 of 24 on DVD and - keen I-Y that I am - I did espy an early and rare song by Doves, "Darker," available on their collection of b-sides, Lost Sides. (It's featured in the episode where Kim is rescued by the heroin addict with a heart of gold). Jack Bauer, you closet yupster!

Overall I was proud to be featured in the Star, a daily staple of mine during my undergrad years in Kingston. That is to say, between Romantic Lit class and Macroeconomics, I hit the crossword section pretty hard. The paper is also home to a pretty damn good comics section, featuring the likes of Sherman's Lagoon and the irresistable Get Fuzzy. (The National Post, on the other hand, has two daily obituaries, one for lives lived and the other for comedy. Seriously, who finds Betty funny?)

A day that will live in blogfamy

Ah, fleeting internet fame. No, this blog hasn't been picked up on the cultural radar... yet, but I did win a little contest over at Stereogum. I adeptly, and quite shamefully, identified a music video screenshot as belonging to an old Bryan Adams video. I made it clear that I wasn't a fan, but after months of trying to sell friends on the virtues of Ryan Adams, only to have them ask me if I said Bryan Adams, this will not help.

I'm aware the B-prefixed Adams is a pretty crappy artist, and it's a pretty bad video, but those were still the golden years on Muchmusic as far as I'm concerned. Days when you could still see a wealth of decent Canadian talent, VJ's that cared more about music than launching their own careers, and where one didn't have to put up with endless reality TV piped in from another once useful music station south of the border.

Anywho, I'm still awaiting the email from Stereogum with my free iTunes song code number (my prize!), at which point I think I'll get the new Bright Eyes single, "When the President Talks to God." I checked out a sample of on iTunes earlier, and it's positively the most Dylanic-sounding of all his songs. If that doesn't float your catamaran, it's quite the anti-Bush song, which might broaden the appeal.

Anyway, that's just a little bonus after a great day. 16 degrees and sunny here in Vancouver today!

Oh, and P.S. Adam Brody, I want my zings back.