With spring in the air, it’s time again for Above The Law’s annual law revue video contest, now in its 15th year. This contest provides a unique opportunity for legal professionals and law students alike to showcase their creative talents, with the winning entry receiving prizes and the admiration of their law school peers. (Above the Law)
Submissions can range from humorous skits to melodious performances, but rest assured the judgment will be swift and fair, dictated by the Above The Law audience. All the same, participants are encouraged to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.
To ensure a level playing field, the contest enforces several rules. All entries must be publicly available online and submitted via email, with videos from the current year preferred. To keep the competition within the community, primary performers must be members of the law school community, although cameos from outsiders are permitted. Furthermore, submissions are limited to two entries per school, ideally resulting from a collaborative effort by the students themselves.
Notably, the contest deadline is strict – all entries must be submitted by Friday, April 26, 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time. This is a hard deadline, akin to law firm deadlines, with no exceptions granted.
In addition to these official rules, the contest also has several informal guidelines. The contest organizers strongly urge participants to keep videos short, funny, and high quality. Shaky footage or drawn-out videos are unlikely to make the cut. Finally, they admonish entrants, humorously, not to make them hate you.
The contest’s preference for humor, quality, and succinctness may pose a challenge, but potential rewards await those who manage to strike the right balance between these elements, not least of which is the chance to earn applause and recognition from their peers. It will indeed be an exciting competition and we all look forward to the submissions.