Joel Avey, an eleventh-grader at McCallie School, has won second place in a Law Day essay contest sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association.
This year's first place award went to Matthew Street of Memphis, a senior at First Assembly Christian School in Cordova. Students placing in the top two slots received cash prizes for their winning entries. In addition, their essays will be displayed at the TBAs annual convention in Nashville on June 2-5.
Each year, the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division holds a statewide art and essay contest in conjunction with Law Day, a national day set aside on May 1 to celebrate the rule of law.
Established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, Law Day provides an opportunity for young people to learn about the law and the American judicial system and an opportunity for lawyers to serve their communities.
The theme of this year's contest was Law in the 21st Century: Enduring Traditions, Emerging Challenges, which asked students to consider how society can honor long-standing traditions in the law while addressing new issues and situations that might challenge old ways of doing things.
The Tennessee Bar Association is the largest professional association in Tennessee with more than 10,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA's dedication to serving the state's legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys.