This program focuses on original speeches that clearly enrich the public's understanding of law and appreciation of the role law plays in our society. We now accept video or audio tapes, as well as transcripts, for consideration.

2007 winners coming early November!

Speech Award Winners Will:

• receive a cash award
• be honored at a special presentation at the ABA Mid-Year Meeting
• be featured in ABA's national publicity effort and the ABA Journal
• be included in next year's Law Day Planning Guide

Purpose of the Competition

The Judge Edward R. Finch Law Day Speech Awards were established in 1968 by Edward R. Finch, Jr., in memory of his father, a member of the American Bar Association Adjunct Committee on Law Day and a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York for many years. The awards encourage speeches that help the public understand the rule of law and appreciate the positive role law plays in our society.

Prizes

The first-place winner will receive a check for $1,000 and an inscribed plaque presented at the ABA Mid-Year Meeting in February.

Who Can Enter

Speakers must have delivered the speech at a Law Day observance to be eligible. American Bar Association officers, Board of Governors members, and staff members, as well as their spouses, children and parents, are not eligible, nor are K-12 students who speak to school groups.

How to Enter

Anyone can enter on the speaker's behalf—the speaker, a Law Day planner, etc. Note, though, that you must secure the written permission of the speaker. The final part of the entry form has a place for him/her to sign.

You can enter only by mail. No fax or e-mail entries will be accepted this year.

Please send five (5) copies of the entire entry set as specified below:

1. the completed entry form (signed original and four (4) photocopies)
2. the speech (five copies; can be transcripts or audio or video tapes)
3. supporting materials (five sets) to help us evaluate the speech's impact, including media coverage (e.g., letters, testimonials, newspaper articles, broadcast tapes, etc.) No more than 10 pages of such materials and two (2) tapes will be accepted.

Sorry, entries cannot be returned.

How Entries Are Judged

We judge entries on:

• originality and clarity of speech
• educational value
• how much the speech expands the American public's understanding and appreciation of law and its role
• how much the speech addresses the Law Day 2008 theme
• public impact (audience size and composition, media coverage, broadcast audience, publicity generated)

Deadline

Entries must be postmarked by June 13, 2008.

Mail five (5) collated copies of each entry set to:

Judge Edward R. Finch Law Day 2007 Speech Awards
ABA Division for Public Education
Mail Stop 20.2
321 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610

No fax or e-mail entries will be accepted this year.

For information, call 312-988-5735

Entry form