Many people assume law school is a purely analytical pursuit that requires minimal imagination, with long hours of reading textbooks, case law, and legislation. The reality, however, is quite different. Some of our most distinguished graduates completed degrees in the performing arts. Whether it's a student's theatre background that translates into exceptional courtroom advocacy, or a dancer's rigorous commitment to excellence that informs their legal career, performing arts is an exceptional field to pursue prior to law school.
Fresh off finishing her second year at UAlberta Law, Emma Banfield comes from yet another area of performing arts: music. Emma's unconventional path to law school began in 2003 when she completed an undergraduate degree in Violin Performance at Wilfrid Laurier University. She went on to complete her Master's degrees in Violin Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, and a Doctorate of Music at Northwestern University in Illinois. An accomplished violinist, she has performed and taught throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Emma sat down with us to discuss what it's like to be a travelling musician, university instructor, and most recently, UAlberta Law student.
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Q: Prior to law school you completed a Doctorate of Music at Northwestern University. What motivated you to pursue graduate studies in music?
A: I pursued graduate studies in music because I love to learn. I wanted to be to learn as broadly and as deeply as I could, so I just kept going.
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Q: What aspect of graduate studies and performance was the most rewarding? What was the most challenging?
A: The most rewarding part was always the learning. I loved the ideas, and the "ah ha!" moments when concepts fell into place. The hardest parts were overcoming fears about what I could accomplish. The unknown is always the scariest part for me.
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Q: You completed your Masters and Doctorate degrees in the United States and you have been performing and teaching throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. What motivated you to come back to Canada?
A: I came back to Canada because Canada is my home. My family and my life partner are in Canada. I wrote my dissertation on a Canadian composer, and devoted a large part of my performing career to furthering the music of Canadian composers. The United States has a very high quality of education, and I learned a huge amount there, but I always knew I would come home.
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Q: What motivated you go to law school?
A: Law seems to me to be a field where you are constantly learning. Every new client knows something you don't know, and presents a problem you have the chance to research and craft a response to. I also believe that a degree in law will open doors and provide opportunities to grow. Finally, I wanted to do something where I felt like I was contributing in a concrete fashion to making the world a better place. It might sound naive, but what unites lawyers is a commitment to fairness and justice. That is a professional creed I am proud to own.
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Q: What skill(s) from your music background transferred the most to your legal education?
A: Skills that transferred from music to law: focus, concentration, self-discipline and the ability to manage multiple projects at once.
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Q: What are your ambitions for after law school?
A: I want to find a job I'm excited about every morning, but I also want to make sure I keep balance in my life. Other than that, I'm happy to wait and see what is ahead.
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Q: If you could go back, is there any advice you would give yourself as a first-year student?
A: No one knows what they are doing. They might sound confident. They might have a background in legal studies. They might have worked the past four years in a law firm. And they are all smart - really smart. But no-one knows what they are doing.
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Q: What was the highlight of your musical career?
A: The chance to perform some of the greatest music in the world.
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Q: We'll close the interview out with a few rapid fire questions:
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What is your biggest Pet Peeve:
Rules that don't apply. I get that rules are in place for a reason. So if a situation isn't the reason, then we need to adjust.
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Describe yourself in 3 words?
Not grown-up yet. Is that four?
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What is the last book you read?
Currently reading: Pink Brain, Blue Brain; The Goldfinch; and A Question of Belief (sounds deep, but it's really a murder mystery). Most recently finished: On Hitler's Mountain by Irmgard Hunt.
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Best advice you've ever received?
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (my mom)
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Favourite Phone App?
Probably the Weather Network. I never said I was cool.
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