The Law Revue and the Guile Debate

Here's a post by recent alumnus Daniel Wood about two of the most light-hearted and certainly entertaining events of the year, the Guile Debate and the Law Revue. Your Orientation Assistant, Martina Zanetti, will be one of this year's Law Revue co-directors. Feel free to send her scripts and stop her in the halls for an impromptu audition.***

***There actually are no auditions. We take everyone.

When you enter into law school, you may feel a need to project an image of yourself as only professional and respectful; PUMP YOUR BREAKS. That thinking is pure unfiltered nonsense. The more you meet lawyers, the more you'll discover how delightfully whimsical and witty some of them can be. They're regular folks, you know.  Also, it’s important to maintain a light heart when you're in a profession known for dealing with heavy, soul-crushing stress and due diligence. The best places at UBC Law to flex your whimsical and sometimes crude muscles, and to keep your heart a featherweight, are The Robert H. Guile QC Memorial Debate and the UBC Law Revue.

Guile Debate: You are given a resolution (ex. "the ends justify the means") which you are argue pro or con for, but you have to make it funny or otherwise you fail.  There are two rounds; the tryouts and the finals. The tryouts happen in November and are for everyone who wants to participate.  They’re judged by UBC Law professors and representatives from the sponsoring firm, and are not very restrictive on how much you have to be on topic or what the realms of decency are. If you are one of the four hilarious individuals to make it to the finals in January, you have to settle down a slight bit and stay focused on the resolution (while still emphasizing humour, of course). The finals are judged by real life Provincial Court and Supreme Court judges, which could be your first exciting taste of their menacing and disapproving glares. An added bonus is that on top of all the glory, admiration and love you receive for being a finalist, you also get paid.  A cool 500 bones go to each member of the winning duo, and a less cool $250 to the runners-up. If you find yourself hesitant to sign up because you’re a first year and don’t really know anything up the law or law school, don’t be, 1Ls have had great success in the past.

Here is the 2012 Guile Debate Final in its entirety. 



Taylor Clarke and Camille Israel mourn the poor salmon run in a song and dance number at the 2012 Law Revue



Law Revue: A combination of live skit shows, videos and musical performances complete with whacky costumes and dirty dancing. Sometimes 1Ls are reluctant to participate in the Law Revue because it happens in March when anxiety about finals begins to sink in. But abandoning the Law Revue is far too drastic of a measure. Give up exercise, sleep and eating before you give up the Law Revue. Being a part of the show was the most fun I had every year that I was in law school and it’s not a huge commitment to be involved in it. It’s only a weekend of rehearsals in the morning and two of nights of shows done the following Monday and Tuesday.  Not to mention, sketch-writing is the highest form of procrastination.  So, in addition to having roles for theatrical types, the Law Revue always has jobs for writers and film producers, as well as all the unsung heroes such as costume designers, stage hands, bartenders and  door-money-taking-folk for whom the show couldn’t go on without. The Law Revue is a party onstage (and especially backstage). It’s a great opportunity to be creative, make new friends, get attention, and to see your professors, who often are guest stars, in a whole new light.

L-R: Career Services Director Jenn Lau, Career Services Public Interest Coordinator Tracy Wachmann, Criminal Law Professor Nikos Harris, Assistant Dean Kaila Mikkelson, Acting Assistant Dean Pam Cyr, and Tax Professor David Duff in the 2011 Law Revue.

Here is a short video I wrote/starred in, which features a cameo appearance from your very own orientation leader.  (SNAILS = Students not actually in law).

Just because you're beginning law school doesn't mean that all your non-professional aspirations have to die.  I highly recommend one or both of these staples of UBC Law to anyone who likes to perform or who likes being a part of creating something.  I also recommend participating in these events for anyone who is willing to go on a process of self-discovery.  I’ve witnessed people not only do things that they never thought they would, but also learn that they love doing those things.