A long, long time ago, in an unbranded law school not so far away….
Alumni of the law school at the University of British Columbia may recall the Robert H. Guile, Q.C. Memorial Debate (the “Guile Debate”) as a legal comedy event hosted by the law school for nearly two decades. Featuring law students as debaters arguing for or against an assigned maxim (with varying success), and adjudicated by an esteemed panel of professors, lawyers, and judges, the Guile Debate emphasizes the infusion of joy and hilarity into the otherwise dry and serious subject of law. The event was characterized by humour, collegiality, and a touch of irreverence as participants poke fun at themselves, their law school, and the legal profession in general.
In 2018, alumni and former participants of this event, with the resounding support of friends and family of Robert H. Guile Q.C., brought back the spirit of the Guile Debate to the wider Vancouver legal community in a new form: the BGuiled Debate!