The Eyes of the Law: Professor Tom Cruise at Harvard Law School?
Jerry Maguire appeared as a guest lecturer at Harvard Law School last night. A HLS tipster tells us that Professor Bruce Hay invited Tom Cruise to talk to his Entertainment Law class on Monday night.
A most excellent guest, Tom Cruise is quite familiar with lawyers. He’s had legal star turns in The Firm and A Few Good Men. And he’s been involved in lots of litigation, including a suit filed by injured extras in Valkyrie, a RICO lawsuit against him and the Scientologists, and his plaintiff turn in that I’m-not-gay suit. (Insert “you can’t handle the truth” joke here.)
One HLS student sent us a link to this photo from last night. No word on whether or not Cruise jumped up and down on Hay’s lectern.
Our tipster was not in the class, but he did catch a glimpse of Cruise’s getaway.
From our source:
I actually wasn’t in the class, but heard the news via Facebook after the class ended and walked over to the classroom to see if I could get a glimpse. Word was he’s a really nice guy, insisting that everyone have the opportunity to get a picture with him if they want. I just saw him on his way out, where he ran (practically skipped, actually, as if he were boundlessly energetic) to his black Escalade with a number of security personnel.
Hey Hay students, share a bit of your Harvard education with the rest of ATL’s readers. What did you learn from Professor Cruise?
UPDATE: Read more about the Tom Cruise visit at the Harvard Law Record (via ABA Journal).
(52) Comments
Comments
I am first. tom cruise is my first love.
You had me at QUINN REMAINS
Don't forget Minority Report.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
I heard that at the end of his lecture he reached for the bottom of his neck and pulled his face off, revealing another, older, Tom Cruise face. then he ran out of the classroom with the MI music blaring out of what were apparently speakers built into his jacket pockets. he ran up the chest of one of the students who was nearest to the door and broke the students neck with a backflip / kick to the jaw. then he left.
jerk.
That chick who banged Letterman should be lawyer of the day.
She's got my vote
guys at my high school used to hang out with Tom Cruise all the time. It was no big deal.
We use words like walrus, blanus, sci fi midget. You use them as a punchline.
Col. Jessup
I am not a lawyer, but I googled this site and thought some smarty pants lawyer could explain something. Why in the heck is David Letterman in so much trouble with the law? While I don't approve of what he did, I didn't think that having an affair (even with a coworker) was against the law! Is this some sort of conspiracy by the "moral right". Please explain this one. I am not really a fan of his humor (more of a "Leno Guy") but still.
I'm glad that Tom Cruise made sure to get photos with everyone.
This is the way a man should be...trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Basically, the opposite of PE.
Neither I nor the spiritually confused David St. Hubbins ever resorted to the "religion" of Scientology, which was invented by a hack science fiction writer to make money. Tom Cruise is a very confused person. I suggest that he listen to Frank Zappa's album "Joe's Garage" for an insightful parody on L. Ron Hubbard's "religion."
This would be a good photo for the caption contest:
"Yes, you can put "Scientology" on your resume, no one really knows what it means and it sounds kind of smart."
Stephanie Birkitt, the Letterman paramour, already WAS named Lawyer of the Day (last week):
http://abovethelaw.com/2009/10/lawyer_of_day_stephanie_birkitt.php
I am hardly impressed by Tom Cruise's appearance at HLS. Looks like he is recruiting for his scientology cult.
Did he also give a lecture to the Harvard Med students on treating post-partum depression?
Those girls must be really short if Tom Cruise looks measurably taller than them.
11: he is not in trouble because of having an affiar, but because it was with a coworker. since it was a coworker, it is treated as sexual harassment under the law and therefor illegal.
Sourrounded by women and not a single guy. Is HLS discriminating against the gays?
forget Tom, who is the hot asian girl in the background?
17: WTF are you talking about. Sex with a coworker is treated as sexual harassment? What are you smoking?
He must be wearing platform shoes or something. Cruise is not that tall. (He's an inspiration for us 5'6''ers everywhere.)
17: DUDE....That is all.
#10:
Thank you for the boy scout motto
19, that is David Lat in the background.
#9 -- from what I've been reading, he was only "in trouble" because he was a potential victim of an extortion plot. He didn't do anything illegal. As for whether having sex with a co-worker is sexual harassment (as some above are suggesting), yes it can be evidence of SH in some cases. But no one has yet suggested that went on with Letterman.
He also might be in trouble in that he's really embarassed, or that adverstisers might not stick with him, etc. But that's trouble with respect to the marketplace, not legal trouble.
17 = EPIC FAILURE IN LEGAL REASONING.
I heard that at the end of his talk he apologized for Vanilla Sky, Lions for Lambs and all of the Mission Impossibles.
Woah. Hold on. HLS did not invite Tom Cruise to speak. HLS invited Bert Fields (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Fields), Cruise's attorney and a legal in entertainment law. B/c Cruise is filming in Boston he decided to drop by.
It was fun to have him there. In discussing how deals are done, what movies should be made, the movie rating system, and more, Cruise did chime in and it was interesting hearing his perspective.
All in all, a fun time.
8 - NICE.
28 = Keanu Reeves, although I believe he spells it "WHOA!"
Will Dianetics be on the exam?
I think that is so cool that Tom Cruise agreed to speak to the students at HLS. He just went up a notch in my book.
17, while I appreciate your urge to go to 11, I was the one who posted 11 (naturally) and I did not raise the Letterman situation. You must be referring to 9. While not university material myself, I agree with those who disparage your legal reasoning.
Did anyone ask him about his liability for car accidents? Because, you know, he's really the only one who can help.
16 - he was most definitely wearing lifts. I saw enough uploaded pictures of students with him to be absolutely certain...he even looked taller than some guys I know that are at least 5'7", and well all know Tom Cruise isn't that tall.
Full coverage from the Harvard Law Record (which ATL took that photo from, without credit):
http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2009/09/24/News/Tom-Cruise.Plays.Harvard.Law.Student.For.An.Hour-3793640.shtml
Full coverage from the Harvard Law Record (which ATL took that photo from, without credit):
http://media.www.hlrecord.org/media/storage/paper609/news/2009/09/24/News/Tom-Cruise.Plays.Harvard.Law.Student.For.An.Hour-3793640.shtml
Go Ampipe !
Can someone who was there let us know the final count on the number of Thetans liberated during Cruise's visit? Also, is Xenu scheduled to speak during the semester?
31 FTW
Yo, Tom, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish. But, John Travolta is one of the best gay scientologists OF ALL TIME! One of the best gay scientologists OF ALL TIME!
23...
You are the only one who got it. Congratulations. I was just wondering how many scouts there really are in biglaw.
Not many, it seems. Perhaps that is why biglaw lawyers feel the need to crush other people in this economy, rather than helping each other out.
P.S. Here's some good advice from a savvy Plebe:
Suck up to the partners. Particularly those who make hiring and firing decisions. This should be obvious, but for some, it is not.
41 LOL
This is why Harvard is ranked 8th.
- NW grad.
15 - gold!
Apparently, TC got confused and thought Steve Sandis from UC-Irvine was a 1L at HLS. He's off to Irvine before Katie and Suri get back from Telluride . . .
(http://www.law.uci.edu/students/steve_sandis.html)
I might volunteer to do this at Southwestern next semester. You know I was in Jerry Maguire right? SHOW ME THE MONEY! Lolz.
The Firm is still the best movie of all time...
42, he isn't the only one who got it, but there's no use repeating him calling you out.
Be prepared.
So, is Xenu invited next week, you know, to give the intergalactic overlord equal time?
36 / 37 - The photo is from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TomCruiseDec08MTV_cropped.jpg
Damn. Fields came by himself when I was in the class. He's basically Cruise's 'consigliere,' or so they touted him. When I asked Fields for his business card he said dryly that he didn't have one. "We don't really get walk-ins..."
I took evidence from Hay, and he had a great take on evidence and memory/perception. A lot of the class was watching movies and docs. 1/3 of the final exam was on Memento.