Celebrating Law Day – Honoring the Rule of Law on May 1st

Celebrating Law Day – Honoring the Rule of Law on May 1st

Each year on May 1st, communities across the country celebrate Law Day—a time to reflect on the role of law in our lives, our communities, and our democracy. While it’s not a holiday in the traditional sense, Law Day serves as a meaningful moment to pause and recognize how the legal system upholds our freedoms, protects our rights, and binds us together.

A Bit of History

The tradition of celebrating Law Day began in 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower, having witnessed the consequences of lawlessness firsthand during his leadership in World War II, reinforced his belief in the importance of the law by stating, “If civilization is to survive it must choose the rule of law.” The idea for Law Day came from Charles S. Rhyne, then-president of the American Bar Association, who wanted to create a day dedicated to honoring our legal system and the role it plays in preserving democracy. In 1961, Congress made it official, recognizing May 1st as Law Day in the U.S.

What Law Day Is All About

At its heart, Law Day is about education and engagement. It’s an opportunity to better understand how laws are made, how they affect our daily lives, and why a fair legal system is so essential to a functioning democracy. Each year, the American Bar Association selects a theme that highlights an important aspect of our legal framework. For 2025, that focus is unity through constitutional principles. The theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” invites us to look closely at the ideals embedded in our founding document and the way they continue to guide our civic life today. In a time when differences often feel more visible than common ground, this theme serves as a powerful reminder of what unites us. Drawing on the phrase E pluribus unum—Latin for “Out of many, one”—it reflects the idea that the strength of our country lies in its diversity and our ability to work together toward the common good.

Some of our team at the Law Day celebration held at the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.

Why Law Day Still Matters

It’s easy to think of the law as something abstract—written in dense books or argued in courtrooms—but the truth is, the law is woven into the everyday fabric of our lives. It shapes how we live, work, raise families, and resolve disputes. When it functions fairly, the legal system offers accountability, protects freedoms, and gives people a path to be heard.

That’s why Law Day is for everyone—not just attorneys or judges. It’s a day to appreciate the structure that supports a just society and to remember that each of us has a role to play in keeping it strong.

Here at Williams, McClernan & Stack, we celebrate Law Day every year by partnering with the Department of Aging and the St. Mary’s County Bar Association to staff lawyers at the Senior Centers in St. Mary’s County. The lawyers offer pro-bono services, helping seniors complete Advanced Directives to inform their families of their end-of-life care decisions.