Law students celebrate at the year’s biggest event
On Saturday, March 18, U of T Law students had their annual opportunity to dance the night away at Law Ball, the second since the annual event’s return after the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s Law Ball theme was Viva Laws Vegas. Students were treated to a night of good music, food, and drink, as well as the opportunity to engage in a little gambling—thankfully for many in attendance, the lack of real money involved lowered the stakes considerably.
The Students’ Law Society (SLS) hosted this year’s Law Ball at Old Mill Toronto, located on the border of the City of Toronto proper and Etobicoke. A Tudor-style hotel first opened in 1914, Old Mill offered an incredibly unique venue for this year’s festivities.
Check-in to Law Ball was fairly smooth, with a complimentary coat check provided. Attendees then walked the red carpet enclosed by shiny bronze stanchions before entering the main ballroom. The venue’s spaciousness was immediately appreciated by those in attendance. The layout was split into three rooms, with one dedicated to tables filled with food for weary dancers, one dedicated to the dance floor, and one operating as a dedicated casino.
The consensus among students Ultra Vires spoke with was positive, with students noting significant improvements over last year’s event. Law Ball sold out for the second year in a row, but students appreciated SLS choosing a venue with increased capacity for almost 600 law students and guests to dance the night away.
Common complaints among attendees at last year’s Law Ball were the long drink lines, with many Law Ball 2022 attendees feeling like they didn’t get their “money’s worth” from the event. Viva Laws Vegas improved on this greatly, featuring three separate bars with efficient and professional bartenders. Students did not have to wait more than 10 minutes for a drink.
In previous years, attendees have raised concerns about the lack of snacks available for various dietary restrictions. SLS ensured there would be an assortment of snacks at this year’s Law Ball, including gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, and halal options. Attendees were treated to a pasta bar, nacho bar, pierogi bar, and various other hors d’oeuvres.
Attendees also valued the number of activities taking place in the venue. The offering of multiple casino games, including roulette, blackjack, and poker, was a great way for students to recover from the dance floor.
Multiple photo booths also allowed students to capture great memories from the night with friends; this was in response to complaints from last year about the limited number of photo opportunities. Attendees could snap a memory at the colour photo booth or strike a classic pose at the black and white photo booth.
Law students turned up to Law Ball—and turned up in style! We didn’t initially recognize many of our classmates in formal attire. COVID-19 may have accelerated the pre-existing athleisure and casual wear trend, but it seems that law students never ditched their ball gowns and tuxedos.
We thank SLS for their hard work in making Law Ball a success, and we look forward to seeing what they have in store for next year.
