By Brittney Bruner
As a second year law student at the University of Louisville, Andrew Henson devotes much of his time to studying.
On Thursday, however, Henson set aside the books and took to the stage to perform with his band in Lawlapalooza 2008.
“Law school can be pretty damn stressful,” said Henson of his motivation to play in the event held at the Phoenix Hill Tavern.
The annual event, now in its fourth year, allows its participants to have fun while contributing to an important cause; Lawlapalooza is promoted by the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law to raise money for summer fellowship funding of a U of L law student, established in memory of Judge Ellen B. Ewing.
“Ellen B. Ewing was very committed to public service” said Bob Micou, major gifts director at the law school and member of the Lawlapalooza planning committee. He said she worked with issues concerning “family law, domestic violence, spouse abuse and HIV/AIDS,” which are the major focuses of the summer fellowship for U of L law students.
However, at Lawlapalooza, law students, professors and attorneys from throughout the Louisville area take time away from such issues to relax, play or listen to live music while raising money for their educational cause.
And on this night, Phoenix Hill Tavern was echoing an array of rock tunes amongst a crowded room of tie wearing attorneys and t-shirt sporting law students.
“There was a real good selection of bands – they were all sort of different,” said Micou.
And the bands on stage showcased this with their diverse appearances, some seeming to have just left the office while sporting buttoned-up polos, dockers and rimless glasses, while others appeared to have just slipped into a Cubs t-shirt before stepping out of the apartment.
With the atmosphere a bit offbeat, the tavern and the music opened up a night for good time and, most of all, good will.
With eight bands participating, each band had to consist of at least one attorney or one law student in order to participate. Viewers donated money as a means of judging and placed their cash in jars around the tavern. The band with the most money in their jar at the end of the night was declared the winner and received a trophy to keep until the next Lawlapalooza.
Prof. Timothy Hall, Associate Dean of the Law School, was one of many to participate but one of few professors to contribute musically.
With his group, “The Elvis Cardozo Band,” Hall helped to raise money for the event along with several other musicians.
Although Hall’s band didn’t win the competition, he was happy to contribute to such a cause.
“We didn’t win, but we had a lot of fun,” said Hall, who added that the event is more about raising money for a good cause than winning the competition. “It’s always good to be outspent because you know you’re raising more money.”
However, even for law students that don’t receive the internship for summer 2009, the social event also sets up connections and socializing with law firms established in the city of Louisville.
“It is a networking opportunity, too,” said Henson.
Some of the law firms represented at the event included Greenbaum Doll McDonald, Gibson & Sharps, Seiller Waterman, Stoll Keenon Ogden and Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones.
With campaign stickers for the upcoming judicial elections sported by viewers and musicians alike, Lawlapalooza 2008 invited a diverse group of people together to enjoy music and contribute to one cause of common interest.
