This annual contest provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about our legal system, justice, get creative and win prizes. The contest can be incorporated into a curriculum, offered as extra credit, or just done for fun. Individual and groups submissions are welcomed.

Students are allowed to submit an art piece which may be represented in two-dimensions to be entered in the Law Day Art Contest. Students are encouraged to use their creativity and create art pieces in any medium desired (including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, films, photographs, graphic novels, comics, etc.).

The Law Day Art Contest is open to students, student groups, and classes attending a public or private high school, or being home schooled, within the United States and in grades 9-12 or the equivalent.

All qualified participants under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the Parental Permission Release Form, and each Entry Form must be signed by an adult.

2018 Law Day Theme: The American Bar Association recently announced the theme for Law Day 2018, which is “Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom.”

The U.S. Constitution sets out a system of government with distinct and independent branches—Congress, the Presidency, and a Supreme Court. It also defines legislative, executive, and judicial powers and outlines how they interact. These three separate branches share power, and each branch serves as a check on the power of the others. “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” James Madison explained in Federalist 51. Why? Madison believed that the Constitution’s principles of separation of powers and checks and balances preserve political liberty. They provide a framework for freedom. Yet, this framework is not self-executing. We the people must continually act to ensure that our constitutional democracy endures, preserving our liberties and advancing our rights. The Law Day 2018 theme enables us to reflect on the separation of powers as fundamental to our constitutional purpose and to consider how our governmental system is working for ourselves and our posterity.

Learn more about the theme.

Submission: Students will create a two-dimensional representation of an art piece (including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, videos, photographs, graphic novels, comics, etc., exploring the procedural protections afforded to all of us by the U.S. Constitution and why the preservation of these principles is essential to our liberty. Please note artwork should be no larger than 11" x 17".

Eligibility: The Law Day Contest is open to students, student groups, and classes attending a public or private high school, or being home schooled, within the United States and in grades 9-12 or the equivalent.

All qualified participants under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian sign the Parental Permission Release Form, and each Entry Form must be signed by an adult.

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2018

Recognition and Awards: Runners-up for both the individual and team categories will receive prizes with a value not to exceed $250.00 and winners for both the individual and team categories will receive prizes with a value not to exceed $750.00.

Questions? Please contact Asia Harris, YLD Office Administrator at asia.harris@americanbar.org

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2018 ABA YLD Law Day Art Contest

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