The American Bar Association began its celebration of Law Day 2025 this month with a virtual program that provided suggestions and guidance on how people could sponsor their own Law Day observances on May 1, the national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law.
This year marks the 67th annual celebration with the theme “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One.”
“We brought one great country out of 13 colonies that had many differences,” said ABA President William R. Bay. “It reflected a belief that we could work together. That was the promise of our Constitution, which has really stood the test of time.” Bay added, “We can learn great lessons from what they did then. They had significant differences, but they put them aside to form one country to be governed by one Constitution. These days we spend so much time talking about what divides us. I believe this is the time to focus on what unites us. It’s hard work but it’s important work.”
Law Day can be celebrated by schools and communities with various programs and events.
National Law Day Chair Tommy Preston Jr., noting that America will celebrate 250 years as a nation next year, said the Constitution was a “grand experiment,” and many thought the country would not succeed. “While we're not perfect, there are some key ideals that really has allowed us to continue to grow and prosper over the years: democracy, liberty and justice and opportunity and equality.”
The launch program featured organizers from successful Law Day programs such as the one at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas. Its live, virtual program focuses on high school and college students. Volunteers introduce students to careers in the federal courts and students participate in an interactive mock trial.
The Rhode Island Bar Association hosts a statewide celebration by bringing lawyers and judges to school classrooms. This year they plan to host 82 classroom programs and will include outreach to multilanguage learners and special needs students.
Yosemite Law Day led by the United States District Court, Eastern District of California sponsors a program in Yosemite National Park for 350 students. They also host a competition where students can address the Law Day theme in any format they want including poetry, music, artwork, videography and essay with the opportunity to win a prize.
Law Day resources are available to the public, including conversation prompts, downloadable Law Day logo and other marketing materials, virtual backgrounds, high school lesson plans and classroom activities, and sample proclamations for use with state or local governments. Resources are featured on www.lawday.org.
Envisioned in 1957 by then-ABA President Charles S. Rhyne as a national day to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law, Law Day was established by President Dwight Eisenhower the following year.
(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/03/aba-launches-67th-law-day/)
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