Cornerstones of Democracy
Civics | Civility | Collaboration

The 2023 Law Day theme will be “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.” The American Bar Association invites all the people of the United States to join the annual celebration on May 1, 2023. This year’s theme focuses on rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation.

”In recent years, tensions in our democratic system have revealed deep divisions in American society. These divisions are aggravated by incivility in public discourse and insufficient understanding among many people about the Constitution and the way American government works. Together, however, we can collaborate to overcome our differences, resolve our disputes, and preserve our democracy and republic. To that end, we call on members of the legal profession to lead the way in promoting civics, civility, and collaboration—the cornerstones of our democracy.” -American Bar Association

Civics is defined as: the study of the rights and duties of citizenship.

Civility is defined as: formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.

Collaboration is defined as: the action of working with someone to produce or create something.

Discourse is defined as: written or spoken communication or debate.

What is Law Day?

Law Day, held annually on May 1, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.

A Celebration of Our Legal System

In 1957, American Bar Association president Charles S. Rhyne envisioned a special day for celebrating our legal system. President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law in 1958. In 1961 Congress designated May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. This program continues today and has grown to many countries around the globe.