The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One – Law Day 2025
By Sidney Thomas and Nicholas Sorensen
A little history about Law Day . . . President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the first Law Day on May 1, 1958, to provide an opportunity for the nation and legal community to reflect on the vital role law plays in maintaining justice and order, protecting our rights, and promoting democracy. In 1961, Congress officially designated May 1 as Law Day, a nationally recognized celebration.
Each year, the American Bar Association hosts Law Day on the first Friday of May to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. Law Day 2025 will focus on “exploring and renewing our duties to one another under the Constitution and our democratic norms. The Constitution establishes a framework for government that unites us as one citizenry, through means such as our representative government, jury service, and a regular Census. And through this commitment to our Union, we each provide for the common good through government responses to national crises and natural disasters, and through community and advocacy programs for students and adults.” Across the country, local bar associations, law schools, and legal organizations, including the North Carolina Bar Association, recognize this day with events, programs, and competitions.
The Young Lawyer’s Division – Law Week and Liberty Bell Committee features a series of competitions aimed at educating students about the law and recognizing legal professionals throughout the state that have dedicated their time to pursuing justice and civic engagement. Please see a list of the exciting opportunities below:
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell award is one of the most prestigious awards a North Carolinian can receive. The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions or exemplifies lifelong service to the law in North Carolina. Past recipients have included prominent lawyers, judges, and legislators. To be considered, please submit nominations by Friday, March 14, 2025. For more information, please contact Cheyenne Merrigan.
McIntyre Award
The North Carolina Bar Foundation’s McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge allows middle school and high school students the opportunity to identify a problem in their community, research potential solutions, and make recommendations by preparing a three- to five-minute persuasive speech to inspire others. The first-place winner will present their speech at the Law Day celebration, and a $1,000 donation will be made in their honor to a non-profit organization that addresses the issues the student identified in their speech. Students will need to sign up by Friday, February 21, 2025, on the competition website. Video submissions are due March 21, 2025. For more information, please contact Ashley Oldfield and Sarah Mink.
Essay Competition
The Essay Contest is a fun and challenging experience for students from sixth to twelfth grade. Students may select a topic or issue that focuses on the Law Day theme. Essays must be submitted on or before March 7, 2025. Entries can be submitted electronically or by mail to the NCBA c/o Cheyenne Merrigan at 8000 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513. Winners will be notified in April. For more information, please contact Nicholas Sorensen.
Poster Competition
The Law Day Poster Art Contest provides a fun and challenging way for North Carolina’s youngest students to participate in Law Day. This year, we invite students from Kindergarten through fifth Grade to design posters about the Law Day theme, The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One. The deadline for submissions is March 7, 2025. Winners will be notified in April. Submissions can be submitted online or by mail to: NCBA c/o Cheyenne Merrigan, 8000 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513. For more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kelley Storey.
Moot Court Competition
The Moot Court Competition brings together high school students for a chance to take on real-world legal scenarios to showcase their preparation, logical reasoning, and oral skills. During the regional competition, students will argue in front of volunteer attorneys, and those who reach the final round have a chance to present their argument at the North Carolina Supreme Court. This year’s regional competition will be on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Make no mistake, this will be a great opportunity for students to showcase their skills, network with law students, attorneys, and judges, and learn more about the law and what it means to be a member of the legal profession. The final competition will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025. Teams must register by Friday, February 21, 2025. Please contact Sidney Thomas, Heather Tabor, and Kelley Storey with any questions.
All winners will be invited to attend the Law Day celebration. Law Day will be celebrated on Friday, May 2, 2025. For more information about the competitions, please visit the NCBA 2024-25 Law Day website.