For lyrical inspiration when you blank at your next interview. Or maybe not
Non-Stop – Hamilton Cast (Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording)
The Act I closer about Hamilton’s rise to power is not just a snapshot of American legal history, it is a true musical masterclass. And now you can even be on Broadway if you learn the song—a great career alternative if coronavirus kills all the law jobs.
What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes (Bigger, Better, Faster, More!)
“25 years and my life is still / trying to get up that great big hill of hope”
- Most of the student body at U of T Law.
“Oh my God, do I try / I try all the time in this institution”
- The grading policy, job recruits, using Cognomos, etc.
“What’s going on?”
- Every law school class ever.
Bonus points for being an iconic meme.
Le droit d’aimer – Édith Piaf
Here’s one for the Federal Court or SCC hopefuls looking to practice their French listening skills. Piaf affirms her commitment to love, regardless of legal norms: “J’en ai le droit d’aimer … à la face des hommes, au mépris de leurs lois” (“I have the right to love … in the face of men, in defiance of their laws”). The right to love may not be in the Charter, but you have to admire her dedication to the cause.
Talk To My Lawyer – Chuck Brodsky (Letters in the Dirt)
Brodsky’s tongue-in-cheek folk song about a litigious plaintiff and their opportunistic lawyer manages to name every tort from negligence to “defamation of character” while offering a scathing critique of the costs of personal injury law.
Legal Man – Belle & Sebastian (Legal Man)
Nestled within this catchy indie-pop song are lyrics that wouldn’t sound out of place at a law firm. “I’ll render services that you may reasonably require” is making an appearance at my next client meeting, while “Get out of the office / and into the springtime” is sound advice for future articling students.
All Rise – Blue (All Rise)
If you are familiar with early 2000s British boy bands, you may remember this R&B tune. It deploys an extended metaphor on civil procedure so formidable that it could replace the Legal Process course pack and no one would be able to tell the difference.
I Fought The Law – The Clash (The Cost of Living)
First popularized by The Bobby Fuller Four, The Clash’s 1979 punk-rock cover remains the classic version of this song. Its pessimistic refrain—“I fought the law / and the law won”—will resonate with any student feeling attacked by a bad grade, a job rejection, or a Richard Stacey cold-call.
99 Problems – Jay-Z (The Black Album)
The second verse’s commentary on traffic stops (“I know my rights, so you goin’ need a warrant for that”) is legendary. In fact, a Windsor Law professor’s 2012 analysis of this song suggested Jay-Z’s stop would’ve been unconstitutional under Canadian search & seizure law.
Bet On It – Zac Efron (High School Musical 2)
Troy’s existential angst is reflected in every law student who questions their career choices. See: “How will I know if there’s a path worth taking?” Or: “Out on my own / it’s such a scary place.” Even “gotta work on my swing” speaks to those of us dreading rounds of golf with our future Bay Street overlords.
Don’t Be A Lawyer – Burl Moseley (Season 4, Episode 3 of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
The title says it all.
1 @HamiltonMusical tweeted on March 16: “Now Seeking: #Hamilfans singing “Non-Stop” for a chance to be included in our 2/38 digital Saturday Night On Broadway Video!”
2 Crowne, Emir. “Jay-Z’s 99 Problems, Verse 2: The Canadian Response to Professor Mason” (July 12, 2012).
