KU Law Blog

And now, your hosts for this evening, The Moody Bluebooks

An interview with members of The Moody Bluebooks

No night is more fun in one’s law school career than Pub Night. It brings together professors, students, and staff to enjoy an evening of good food, responsible drink, and great company.

At KU Law, however, we’ve turned this night into one that does substantial good. Organized by Women In Law (WIL), all proceeds from entry, auctions, and even some special edition t-shirts will be donated to Jana’s Campaign and the Willow Domestic Violence Center. Jana’s Campaign, founded in memory of KU Law student Jana Lynne Mackey, aims to “provide quality educational programming that prevents gender and relationship violence.” The Willow Center, located here in Lawrence, serves “to prevent domestic violence and ensure survivors have access to services and support along the journey to a safe and empowered life.”

With a night dedicated to such impactful causes and camaraderie, it’s no surprise a particular group of KU Law entertainers will again headline the event. When they’re not staring students down in a cold call or being of fantastic assistance to the career growth and well-being of students, KU Law faculty and staff are jamming out. The Moody Bluebooks, featuring our very own faculty, will take center stage and play their law-themed covers of well-known hits. I asked Professor Thomas Stacy—my Jurisprudence professor and KU Law’s Ringo Starr— and Professor Melanie Daily—director of KU Law’s Douglas County Legal Aid Clinic—more about the band and musicianship.

Faculty, staff, and students perform with The Moody Bluebooks at Johnny's Tavern — Faculty, staff, and students perform with The Moody Bluebooks at Johnny’s Tavern

Cameron Savard: How long have you been performing?

Thomas Stacy: I’ve been playing [drums] since high school. I was in a band called “The Apple Core.” Believe it or not, we received a cease and desist letter from Apple Records, which was putting out records by, e.g., John Lennon. So we changed the name of the band to “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.”

Melanie Daily: I grew up in a family prone to belting out showtunes fo any occasion, and it probably shows. I knew most of the Les Mis lyrics by the age of 9, and in high school I performed in: the all-county-choir, community theater musicals AND a screaming punk band. My next goal is to participate in Lawrence’s Adult Rock Camp, but you need you learn to play an actual instrument first.

CS: How did you learn about The Moody Bluebooks (MBB)?

TS: The MBB started in 1987 and was a combination of faculty members and student vocalists. Different faculty members and students have cycled in and out through the years. Professors Platt and Daily are the newest faculty members and they bring a lot of fresh energy and talent. Lots of creative artists go into the law as a source of stable income. The student body always has included a number of hugely talented singers and other musicians. Some have agreed to slum it and play with us. We’ve had a few near world-class guitarists, for instance.

MD: I saw them perform in the spring of 2016. In late 2019, it occurred to me to pester Rick Levy, [professor of Constitutional Law], to let me in. I am not sure if he ever agreed, but I found out about the rehearsals from Blake or Lua, and I just started showing up. We were working on songs by Bruno Mars, Pink Floyd, and more… it’s been great to learn about some artists I had never heard of before… I lost track of pop music somewhere around 1995. It was a very exciting time! I was in the band! At last! And then, well, March 2020 happened.

CS: How long do rehearsals go for?

TS: This year we’ve been rehearsing since mid-February. With everyone’s busy schedule, it’s hard to find a mutually convenient time so we don’t rehearse every week. And, yes, that is an excuse for any mistakes.

CS: Who’s the comedic talent behind parodying known songs for us at Pub Night to enjoy?

MD: That’s mostly (Ly) Rick Levy, but in recent years Meredith Wiggins and others have contributed to the hilarity, too.

Pub Night 2023 will be held at Liberty Hall in Lawrence on March 30th at 7 p.m. with a performance by The Moody Bluebooks featuring Professors Levy, Stacy, and Platt.

CS: How much does it mean, to you, to use your musicianship in support of such impactful causes?

MD: This is huge for me. I worked with survivors of intimate partner violence for years before coming to KU, and I know it takes many resources – financial, emotional, legal – to help them move safely toward a more stable future away from their abusers. It’s wonderful that the Women in Law group is able to put so much energy and time into this cause, and it’s always a great feeling to be in a room where the law school is united in supporting the community. The speakers from Jana’s Campaign and The Willow have moved me to tears in recent years. It’s really a powerful event.

CS: Are you looking forward to Pub Night 2023?

TS: We all relish the opportunity to connect with students and embarrass ourselves in good fun, all for a great, great cause. Olivia Schneider (2L) and all of the folks at Women In Law are working really hard on this year’s event. It promises to be one of the best ever!

Pub Night 2023 will kick off at 7 p.m. on March 30th at Liberty Hall. The doors will open at 6:45 p.m. Tickets and auction items are available at this link: linktr.ee/kuwomeninlaw.

–Cameron Savard is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Katy, Texas

Finding Happiness Outside of Law School

How to stay YOU while in law school

Desiree Duke a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador

Wake up at 5:00 a.m., study all day, eat a meal or two, study some more, and go to bed around 11:00 p.m. When I came to KU Law, my life revolved around law school. Everything I did, every move I made, and all that I was, was law school.

I. Was. Miserable.

I had lost all that I was – who I was. I no longer did things that made me happy. I no longer took time to focus on myself and my mental health. I loved law school, I was getting good grades, and made great friends…but I wasn’t happy.

During the summer between 1L and 2L year, I had time to re-discover myself and the things that I loved: working out, reading for pleasure, finding new hobbies, and spending time with those I cared about. Coming into my 2L year, I made it my absolute mission to ensure those things that I loved – those things that made me happy – followed me back into law school.

Now don’t get me wrong, my life is still very revolved around law school, and I am still incredibly busy with studying and work! However, I have simply found ways to incorporate doing the things that make me happy into the mix with law school in a realistic and sustainable way. Ever since, this challenging time of my life – law school – has felt more enjoyable.

Working out every single day isn’t as easy or accessible. So, I find comfort and joy in simple fifteen-to-thirty-minute walks here and there. Before going to bed, I put the law books down, and pick a nonfiction book up. I want to escape into a world and a reality that isn’t law school related. Some nights, instead of studying or laying on my phone, I watch a painting tutorial on YouTube and mindlessly paint with some good music on in the background.

I have put time and effort into things that I love that aren’t law school related, and it has made me a healthier, happier, and more successful law student.

Whether it is staying active, reading, or any hobby you enjoy doing, I cannot stress enough – make sure you bring it with you to law school. Work hard, study hard, and do your best – but do not ever lose yourself in this process. Your happiness and mental health mean more than you know.

— Desiree Duke is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Taking a Leap of Faith

Whether you’re a townie or an out-of-towner, KU Law is the place to be.

Matt Koegel, a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador

When I first visited KU, I wasn’t sure that I would end up going to law school here. I visited Lawrence for the first time in the beginning of February 2022 during a bit of a cold spell. Walking around town, not many people were out and about, and even walking around campus was pretty quiet. I’m glad I gave Lawrence (and KU) a second chance.

When my dad and I first arrived in Lawrence after a grueling 20-hour car ride (plus one night spent in Terre Haute, IN), one of the first things I did was go to a Royals game with some new law students that I was meeting for the first time. Even though the game wasn’t particularly memorable, it gave me an opportunity to meet some of the people I’ll be spending a lot of time with over the next couple of years. A couple days later, my dad and I got the chance to go to a Father John Misty concert in Kansas City, which reminded me that Kansas isn’t really the middle of nowhere.

The Royals game showed me something important, which was that your fellow students in law school are really not as cutthroat as you might have heard. I have friends that go to a couple different law schools across the Northeast, and each of them has some story about students in their class refusing to share notes if somebody was sick. Or of people laughing when somebody was navigating their way through a cold call. Things that after one semester haven’t happened here at KU. Even though establishing relationships with your colleagues can help your future, it also doesn’t hurt to have friends that you can look to when you need a little bit of help.

Even though I’ve only called Lawrence home for six months, I can tell that it’s a special place. When you talk to people who have lived here for years, their faces just light up at the opportunity to talk about the town they call home. Coming to KU for law school is one of the best decisions I’ve made, even if I wasn’t sure it was the right decision at the time. If you’re deciding whether or not to come to KU from somewhere far away, it might just be one of the best decisions you make. So far for me, it absolutely has been.

— Matthew Koegel is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Long Island, NY

Building Relationships in Green Hall

The importance of building relationships with those around you

Reagan Hoskin, 1L, KU Law Student Ambassador

Law school is an exciting time. I know in the whirlwind of everyday life, the excitement of this time in our lives can get lost. But now is a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with classmates who will become lifelong friends, get to know professors who can help guide you through law school and network with attorneys around the area. It is important to take advantage of these opportunities.

Reach out to professors

Professors are the best resource available to you. They have been through law school, have real-world experience in the legal profession and know the ins and outs of the class. Not only will you gain knowledge about the class, but you will also gain knowledge about the legal profession and the nuances of law school. The best way to reach out to professors is to utilize their office hours, or set up time outside of class to go over course material or practice problems

Get to know the faculty

From the Dean’s assistants, to library staff, to the admissions office, the faculty at KU Law have the best interest of the students at heart. Every day you are greeted with cheery smiles as you navigate through Green Hall. Whenever I have a question, I always have someone I can turn to who can either answer that question or point me in the right direction.

Build relationships with classmates

Your classmates are the people going through law school with you. While I have friends and family who are supportive of me, they do not necessarily understand the anxiety of a cold call. Build those relationships with classmates because you can lean on each other. Besides, there are some pretty cool people attending KU Law. Learning their stories and what inspired them to obtain a law degree is fun. Everyone has their own unique story and perspective; you never know what you will learn. After law school, these classmates will become a network of attorneys for you across the nation and possibly the world.

Take advantage of networking events

I cannot stress this enough. The Career Services Office (CSO) works tirelessly to ensure there are countless networking and educational events for the students to take advantage of. Recently, I attended the Speed Mock Interviews hosted by Martin Pringle and facilitated by the CSO. Each year, Martin Pringle brings in attorneys from a wide array of career paths to conduct mock interviews with students in a low-stakes, but fun environment. It was an awesome opportunity to practice my interviewing skills, while also networking with local attorneys. This is only one example of the many networking opportunities available to KU Law students.

Do not let this exciting period in your life slip away without building some meaningful relationships. I know it can be easy to get lost in the coursework but look up from your books for a moment and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

— Reagan Hoskin is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Pittsfield, Illinois

Recent graduate spotlight: Michelle Brady, L’21

As a veteran herself, Michelle Brady has a passion for veterans law.

When the 2021 University of Kansas School of Law graduate saw an opening to clerk under Judge Amanda Meredith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, she decided to apply. Brady has been clerking with Judge Meredith since October 2022.

As a clerk, Brady works on a few cases at a time. She researches the law that applies to each case, looks through records and reads briefs. A lot of reading and writing goes into the job.

“I honestly love all of it. It’s all my favorite part. Every day, I am so excited. I do not even like stopping. But my real favorite part is reading the briefs,” Brady said.

“It’s fun to see what different attorneys think is appropriate to write or how they state their argument. I am learning so much so that when I become an appellate attorney – that’s my goal – I will have an idea of what it should look like and what is truly persuasive,” she said.

As a non-traditional student and mother of two, Brady was limited in her availability for hands-on learning opportunities at KU Law. One that she chose to take advantage of was moot court. She and her partner competed and learned skills such as reading, writing and oral advocacy.

In her time with the Moot Court Program, Brady formed lifelong relationships. Her competition partner is still a close friend. Her moot court faculty coaches helped Brady land her clerkship. Taking the time to prove her skills to coaches paid off, Brady said.

“I had to do a good job and when they saw that, they were willing to stick their neck out for me a little bit. I wouldn’t be here otherwise,” she said.

Brady ended up at KU Law by a bit of chance, but always felt very welcomed. Her husband is in the Air Force and needed to go to school. He ended up in Leavenworth and KU Law was the best law school nearby. In addition to moot court, Brady was also the president of the Military Law Society. The group gave her a network of veterans to interact with as well as people who were interested in military and veterans law.

Before coming to KU Law, Brady was a helicopter pilot in the Army. After law school, Brady worked as an attorney for the Air Force.

Brady knows how hard law school can be, especially as a non-traditional student with kids. Her advice to current students is to put in the work and take chances when applying. It just might pay off.

“Apply broadly, but don’t be too worked up if they don’t get something. There are plenty of other opportunities out there,” Brady said.

“Be creative and branch out. You don’t even have to be a lawyer; a law degree is helpful in a lot of places,” she said. “Your first semester does not define your career. Try not to stress, maintain a balance and know that things will work out.”

— Sarah Pickel

Earning Pro Bono Hours: Volunteering for VITA

All you need to know about the VITA clinic

What is VITA?

The Volunteer Income Assistance (VITA) clinic is offered by the University of Kansas School of Law each spring. Through VITA, law students prepare free federal land state tax returns for Douglas County residents earning less than $58,000 a year. KU Law students can earn pro bono hours by volunteering for VITA. This year, VITA runs from February 20 to April 17 (Tax Day). VITA sessions are held Monday through Saturday. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday sessions are held at the law school. Tuesday sessions are held at the Ballard Center, and Thursday sessions are held at the Lawrence-Douglas Housing Authority. KU Law students volunteer for at least one session a week. Students attend training sessions led by Dean Mazza, and each tax return is checked by a site coordinator prior to being submitted.

Who can volunteer for VITA?

Any KU Law student can volunteer for VITA! Tax experience is preferred – but not required. “Tax experience” includes taking a tax class in law school or undergrad (VITA recruits students from Dean Mazza’s Income Tax!) However, I volunteered for VITA last year without any tax experience. I reached out to Dean Mazza and expressed my interest in volunteering for the clinic. Despite my lack of experience, Dean Mazza encouraged me to attend a training session and ultimately volunteer for the clinic. I quickly figured out how to use the software – with Dean Mazza’s and the site coordinators’ help. I encourage anyone who is interested in VITA to give it a go!

Why volunteer for VITA?

Kat Girod, 3L, recruiting students to take part in the VITA clinic

I really enjoyed my time volunteering for VITA last year and despite my busy 2L schedule, I’m making time to volunteer again this year. VITA allows students to serve their community in a meaningful way. Clients often struggle to file taxes on their own and are grateful for the service we provide. VITA provides law students with opportunities to develop interpersonal skills while working directly with clients. If students volunteer 15 or more hours of their time for VITA, they will make the pro bono honor roll! Finally, many attorneys have participated in VITA, and it is a great way to connect with attorneys during networking events or interviews.

Why should I try new things in law school?

Many law students come into law school not knowing what they want to do with their law degrees after graduation. Many of us think we know, but completely change our minds once we start learning about all our options. Participating in clinics like VITA allows students to experiment with different areas of law and find out what they like. VITA led me to take Dean Mazza’s Income Tax class last fall. While the class was challenging, I enjoyed it a lot. VITA and Dean Mazza’s Income Tax have inspired me to pursue a career in estate planning. VITA may lead you down a new and exciting path too!

–Rachel Henderson is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Wichita, Kansas

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