Scholarships Available For Rhode Island Law Day Student Essay Contest Winners

RHODE ISLAND — The Rhode Island Bar Association, the Rhode Island Judiciary, and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association joined together to sponsor the annual Hon. Francis J. Darigan, Jr. Rhode Island Law Day Essay Contest.

With support from the Rhode Island Department of Education and Roger Williams University School of Law, the organizations will provide scholarships to essay winners of $1,000 and $250. The essay contest is open to all Rhode Island students in grades 10, 11 and 12 attending school in the Ocean State.

The winning essay author receives a $1,000 scholastic award and an engraved trophy cup. A second-place essay author receives a $250 scholastic award donated by the Edward P. Gallogly Family Law Inns of Court.

This year’s essay topic is "Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration."

"This topic focuses on rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation," a spokesperson from the Rhode Island Bar Association said. "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."

Background information on this topic can be found on the Rhode Island Bar Association's website under: For the Public: 2023 Law Day.

The entry deadline is 4 p.m. May 9. Any questions can be directed to Erin Cute at the Rhode Bar Association. She can be called at 401-421-5740 and emailed at ecute@ribar.com.