What Is Law Week?
Law Day is held annually on May 1 to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. The State Bar of Texas will celebrate Law Day 2026 with the theme “The Texas Constitution and the Rule of Law”. Learn more about it here.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 as a way to challenge Americans to understand how the rule of law impacts their lives and to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in a democracy.
The HBA joins the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association in celebrating the importance of the rule of law and its impact on our nation and local communities by hosting essay, photo, and poster contests based on the State Bar of Texas's theme. While the HBA calls its celebration “Law Week,” it encompasses much more.
Contact Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org with any questions regarding the HBA’s Law Week activities. Click here to learn more about the HBA Law Week Committee.
2026 Law Day Theme
The Texas Constitution and the Rule of Law
In 2026, Texans will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Texas Constitution, which took effect on February 15, 1876. Texans have amended their Constitution hundreds of times since then, reflecting that the highest law of our state remains in the hands of the people. As the foundational legal document governing Texas, the Constitution not only has its own Bill of Rights, which is laid out in Article I, but describes the structure of Texas government, and provides a host of provisions that affect the daily lives of Texans. The Constitution is an essential tool for the rule of law in Texas because it determines what authority belongs to the government, what rights are maintained by individual citizens, and how the balance of power will be maintained.
Contest Prompt: Explain how the Texas Constitution upholds the rule of law through its structure, key provisions, and amendments, balancing governmental power with individual rights, and promoting the principle of self-government. Assess its effectiveness in ensuring a just legal framework that both limits authority and empowers citizens to govern themselves.
★ 2026 HBA Law Day Contest Winners ★
| Essay Contest | Poster Contest | |
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1st Place: Antara Manish, "The Texas Constitution: The Lone Star's Foundation" 2nd Place: Alice Guirguis, "The Texan Labyrinth" 3rd Place: Aayan Thara, "Balancing Power and Liberty" |
3rd-5th Grade 6th-8th Grade 2nd Place: Ivette, "The Texas Constitution and the Rule of Law" 3rd Place: Layla, "The Texas Constitution and the Rule of Law" |
| Special Needs Photography Contest | Special Needs Poster Contest | |
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1st Place: Edgar, "All Bets Are Off!" 2nd Place: Santiago Puente, "Think Before You Hurt" 3rd Place: Alexander Falcon, "Stealing…Not Work The Risk" |
1st Place: Mya Thomas, "Law Helps: Officers, Our Modern Knights, Protecting Us From Evil" 2nd Place: Shawna McCall, "Respect the Road-Respect the 545.351" |
Questions?
Please contact Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org.
View past Law Day Contest Winners Here
