The Lycoming Law Association (LLA) has announced its 2026 Law Day Competition criteria in a recent press release.

The annual event is “designed to engage local students in learning about the law, the justice system, and the important role lawyers play in society,” according to the release.

All students enrolled in Lycoming County school districts are invited to participate in the competition, including those enrolled in public, private and homeschool programs, by submitting essay or art projects aligned with the 2026 Law Day theme, “Rule of Law and the American Dream,” the release said.

Celebrated on May 1 and throughout the rest of the month, Law Days was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, as a means to celebrate the rule of law in a free society, according to www.uscourts.gov.

Congress would follow with a proclamation affirming May 1 as Law Day in 1961.

The Lycoming Law Association has coordinated Law Day celebrations each year since 1962, with exceptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the 64th year the day has been recognized by the association, said Executive Director Michelle Frey.

“Each year, a group of judges, attorneys and paralegals collaborate to interpret the American Bar Association’s Law Day theme and develop engaging, age-appropriate essay and art prompts that reflect its spirit and purpose,” Frey explained in an email to the Sun-Gazette.

The competition is held with the hope that students walk away with a deeper understanding of the law and how it applies to their daily lives.

“Beyond learning about legal principles, the goal is for students to recognize how the rule of law shapes their communities, protects individual rights and promotes fairness and justice,” Frey said.

“The LLA also hopes the experience encourages critical thinking, thoughtful civic engagement and an appreciation for the legal system and those who serve it,” she said.

“The rule of law protects us all, and Law Day provides an important opportunity to pass that understanding on to the next generation. It is a celebration of the principles that unite us–fairness, accountability, and equal justice under the law,” Lycoming Law Association Jeana Longo said in a statement to the Sun-Gazette.

“Students who participate in the LLA’s Law Day Competition explore what justice means, examine their rights, and reflect on the responsibilities we share as citizens. Through that experience, they begin to recognize that their voices matter and that they have a role to play in shaping the future of our communities,” Longo said.

Winners of the competition will be recognized at a special Law Day ceremony at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at the Lycoming County Courthouse, where cash prizes will be awarded, and student work will be presented, according to the press release, with teachers, parents and community members encouraged to attend in support of the winning students.

Additional information regarding submission guidelines, judging criteria and deadlines has been distributed to local schools and is also available through the Lycoming Law Association’s website, www.lycolaw.org, or on the Lycoming Law Day Facebook page.