Young Lawyers Division Law Week
Law Week events are made possible by grant funding from the North Carolina Bar Foundation Endowment in cooperation with the Young Lawyers Division of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Law Day was inspired by Charles S. Rhyne, president of the American Bar Association in 1957-58 who practiced law in Washington, D.C. In response to the Cold War and the Soviet Union’s commemoration of May Day, Rhyne drafted the founding Law Day resolution and personally delivered it to President Dwight D. Eisenhower who proclaimed May 1, 1958, as the first Law Day.
Every year since, the President has officially proclaimed May 1 as Law Day throughout the United States. The North Carolina Bar Association and its Young Lawyers Division, through a formal proclamation by the Governor of North Carolina, celebrate Law Day on the first Friday in May.
2026 Law Day Theme: The Rule of Law and the American Dream
The rule of law — the idea that no person is above the law — is what ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams.
The NCBA’s observance of Law Day will be Friday, May 1, 2026.
All awards will be presented during the Law Day celebration. For questions, please contact Cheyenne Merrigan at [email protected].
Liberty Bell Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Liberty Bell Award. As we celebrate the 68th anniversary of Law Day and this year’s theme of “The Rule of Law and the American Dream” we encourage submissions reflecting the theme in our state. The recipient should be someone who exemplifies lifelong service to the law in North Carolina. We request that full information be given about each candidate’s qualifications, including a resume or brief description of the nominee’s career accomplishments.
The deadline for Liberty Bell Award nominations is Friday, March 6, 2026.
Regional Moot Court Competition – Grades 9-12
The Moot Court competition is an opportunity where North Carolina high school students and their respective schools can participate in Law Day and potentially earn rewards in recognition of their efforts. The deadline to register for the regional competition is Friday, February 27, 2026.
The first regional round of the competition will take place on Saturday, Mar. 21, at the NC Bar Center (8000 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513). The final round of the competition will be argued on Law Day, Friday, May 1, 2026, in the North Carolina Supreme Court Courtroom, located at 2 East Morgan Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27601. The final round judges will select the winning team. The finalists will be honored at the Law Day ceremony held immediately following the competition.
Poster Contest – Grades K-5
The Poster Art Contest is intended to be a fun and challenging experience. It offers an opportunity for North Carolina students in kindergarten through fifth grade and their respective schools to participate in Law Day and potentially earn rewards in recognition of their efforts.
Students are prompted to select a topic or issue to write out which encapsulates the theme of law day “The Rule of Law and the American Dream”— the idea that no person is above the law — is what ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams.
The deadline for submissions is March 6, 2026 and winners will notified in April 2026. Submissions can be submitted through the link below or by mail to the NCBA c/o Cheyenne Merrigan at 8000 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513.
Essay Contest – Grades 6-8 and 9-12
The Essay Contest is intended to be a fun and challenging experience. It offers an opportunity for North Carolina students in sixth through twelfth grades and their respective schools to participate in Law Day and potentially earn rewards in recognition of their efforts.
Students are prompted to select a topic or issue to write out which encapsulates the theme of law day “The Rule of Law and the American Dream”— the idea that no person is above the law — is what ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams.
The deadline for submissions is March 6, 2026 and winners will notified in April 2026. Submissions can be submitted through the link below or by mail to the NCBA c/o Cheyenne Merrigan at 8000 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513.
McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge
The McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge is a program implemented with the primary purpose of encouraging students to embrace and practice the principles of good citizenship. It provides high school and middle school students with a unique opportunity to identify a problem in their community, research potential solutions, and make recommendations. Student participants will prepare a 3-5 minute persuasive speech to inspire and challenge others to participate in the solution to the identified problem.
Students should register to participate in the 2026 McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge by Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
For questions about the McIntyre Youth Leadership Challenge, please contact the NCBF at [email protected].