president’s message
BREAK A LEG!
By Michael B. Terry
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP
“
B
reak a leg” is not, of course, the fervent wish of a personal
injury attorney as she watches a potential client walk
towards a spill in the supermarket. It is the traditional
good luck wish to performers before they take the stage.
But in May and June, the personal injury attorneys, as well as
defense attorneys, real estate attorneys, judges and a motley mix
of members of the bar will take the stage. First, they will take
the stage for the latest installment of that most entertaining of the
traditions of the Atlanta Bar Association: The Bard Show! This
year’s show, “A Courthouse Line IX, Law School Musical,” is
coming May 19, 20 and 21, 2011 at the 14th Street Playhouse.
Second, they will take the stage for the second annual battle of
the Atlanta Lawyer Bands – LawJam 2011! LawJam 2011 will be
at the Variety Playhouse on Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Bard Show is written, directed, acted, danced and sung by
lawyers and judges known to many of you. What you may not
know is the level of talent lurking beneath the pin stripes and
judicial robes. This show is your chance to peek beneath the
robes… if you dare.
This year’s installment takes us back to school. Courthouse Line
IX: Law School Musical -- is a little like “High School Musical”
meets “Glee.”. The show takes you back to those great law school
days (which we all agreed were a little like high school) so you
can experience once again those challenging first year classes
and the fun of exams; you can relive the “write on” competition
for law review and selection for moot court; and you can see all
those familiar faces -- the gunners, the hopeless romantic, the
party guys, and more. (Although personally, I am not really
sure why anyone would make fun of the gunners). And you
will be there at law school at a challenging time -- when the
law school is scrambling to raise enough in donations to keep
the President from giving the buildings to a more financially
lucrative professional school (surprisingly, NOT the business
school). Law School Musical promises to once again make you
laugh, so come join us!
4
THE ATLANTA LAWYER
March/April 2011
[email protected]
Once again, in LawJam 2011, Atlanta lawyers who play in local
bands will compete for fortune and glory (well, at least glory).
The Idol –style competition will feature bands of three or more
people with at least one lawyer per band (musician or vocalist).
Bands can be original and/or cover bands in any musical genre,
including rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, soul, funk, hip hop, etc.
Last year over six hundred people attended the show and it was
an overwhelming success as an inaugural event. Proceeds will
support youth programs in Atlanta and free legal services for low
income citizens.
The Bar Show and LawJam are key fundraisers for the Atlanta
Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Atlanta Bar Association.
The Atlanta Bar Foundation and the Atlanta Bar Association
would like to thank the entire cast and crew of A Courthouse
Line IX: Law School Musical for contributing their creativity,
talent, and many months of time preparing to present the ninth
hilarious production, to benefit the charitable programs of the
Bar. And although we don’t yet know who the bands will be for
LawJam 2011 (applications are still being taken!), we know that
they will bring the same type of talent and hard work to the battle
of the bands.
Atlanta lawyers are talented and dedicated. Come out and support
them and the good works of the Atlanta Bar Foundation. You will
have a great time. ■
About the Cover
Shown on the Cover for A Courthouse Line IX: Law School
Musical are: Seated - Co-Producer Maggie Vath (Vath
Law and Georgia State College of Law) and Director and
Choreographer Cathy O’Neil (King & Spalding). Standing left
to right: Writing Committee member Brian Johnson (Drew
Eckl & Farnham, LLP), Co-Producer Alison Arce (Arce
Shaw), Assistant Director Les Wharton (Epstein Becker
& Green PC), Assistant Director Steve Lang (360 Venture
Law), Musical Director Kimberly Myers (Rogers & Hardin),
and Assistant Producer and Dance Captain Lisa Nelson
(Alston & Bird).
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association