Law ditties rock

My story today, “First-year pain, third-year gain,” is about a third-year law student at University of Maryland who turned the trauma of his first year into a clever, catchy song that law students everywhere can relate to.

But I found, in trolling through YouTube for the story, that Owen Jarvis (at right) isn’t a class of one when it comes to putting legalese to music (although his song is still my favorite).

Jumane Redway penned the “Gross Income Song” after his University of Oregon tax law professor mentioned to her Federal Income Tax class that it was her dream to hear a tax rap song. The song is more R&B than rap, but the tune wins over Professor Nancy Shurtz in the video.

Kansas City patent lawyer Lana Knedlik wrote “Bar Date,” a foot-tapping, double-entendre-filled tune about looking for a dream-woman on the singles scene — “It’s so obvious to me/ her novelty… Should I appeal my case/ to make her mine?” (Hat tip to patent-law blawg Patently-O.)

Now that I’m sufficiently brainwashed, all I can think about is writing a song called “Jurisdiction,” sung to the tune of “The Inquisition,” the low-ball-humor song from actor/director Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I.

Thanks to online rhyming dictionaries, I’ve come up with:

Jurisdiction, where to go?
Jurisdiction, yes we know.
Let’s file a motion, to get this case removed…

We’re gonna go to district court.
We’re gonna end this pesky tort
No triable issues that they can refute!

If you were to write a song about law, what would inspire you?

-LIZ FARMER, Legal Affairs Writer