Bar associations, schools and community groups across Michigan and throughout the nation are speaking up for democracy and diversity during Law Week, culminating with Law Day on May 1.

This year's Law Day theme, "Speak up for Democracy and Diversity," is the topic for the Annual Law Day Essay Contest sponsored by the Michigan Lawyers' Auxiliary and the State Bar of Michigan. A luncheon honoring 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade essay contest winners will be held on May 1 at the Lansing Center with keynote speaker, University of Michigan Law School Professor Emeritus John W. Reed.

The luncheon will be followed by a tour of the state Capitol sponsored by the Michigan Lawyers' Auxiliary. The Ingham County Bar Association has also arranged a Q&A session at Cooley Law School after the Capitol tour where Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman, Michigan Court of Appeals Chief Judge Donald Owens, 54A District Court Judge Beverley Nettles-Nickerson and 54B District Court Chief Judge Pro Tem David Jordon will greet essay contest winners, their parents and teachers. Lansing attorney Matthew Rick, chairs the 2000 State Bar of Michigan's Law Day Committee, while Mary Ann Farris of Frankenmuth chairs the Michigan Lawyers' Auxiliary (MLA) Law Day Committee.

Law Day was established in 1958 to reserve a special day of celebration by the American people in appreciation of their liberties and to provide an occasion for rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under laws.

Hundreds of events are being held throughout Michigan focusing on the "Speak up for Democracy and Diversity" Law Week theme. Local events held throughout the state range from luncheons and dinners to courtroom visits to free legal advice clinics. Many bar associations will present their Liberty Bell Awards given annually to a non-lawyer who has made a notable contribution to advancing public understanding through law or improving the justice system.

For further information about Law Day and Law Week, contact Communications Administrative Assistant Susan Oudsema at the State Bar of Michigan at (517) 367-6423 or soudsema@mail.michbar.org. You can also visit the State Bar of Michigan's Web site at www.michbar.org, click on Meetings & Events, and then on the Law Day 2000 icon. Following is a brief list of what some of the bar associations in your area are doing for Law Day 2000: Bay County Bar Association (Bay City)

• Holds a Law Day luncheon that is open to all members of the Bay County Bar Association, support staff, law enforcement agencies and anyone who has anything to do with the law. Every year they get approximately 200-250 people. This year's guest speaker is Bernard Dombranski, who will be dean of the Ave Maria Law School.
• Holds a free legal clinic at the Bay City Mall. Approximately 20 attorneys participate in the clinic. Branch County Bar Association (Coldwater)
• Holds a Law Day luncheon
• Gives a Liberty Bell award
• Gives speeches in schools.

• Law Day luncheon on May 1. It is a regular meeting of the Dearborn Bar Association and includes speakers, invitees and students.

• The Bar attorneys go to the five local high schools and speak to classes about Law Day and the legal profession. Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (Detroit)
• MELL Program. MELL stand for four professions: medical, education, law enforcement and legal. Teams consisting of one member of each of profession will go to 92 Detroit area elementary schools to make presentations to third and fourth graders to talk about the law, safety, drugs, guns, etc. Because of the number of schools involved, the program does not occur strictly on Law Day; rather, it lasts throughout the month of May.
• Courtroom Program, of which the DMBA is a co-sponsor along with the court system. The event will be held this year on May 4, 2000, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students from 13 high schools in Wayne County are invited to an orientation session in the City-County Building, and then go to one of various courts (Wayne Circuit, Probate Court or 36th District), where they sit in on mock trials conducted by local lawyers. The students are also treated to a lunch.

• Sponsors a local essay contest and forward's the winners to the State contest.
• They have an award ceremony breakfast on Law Day.
• They also take kids on tours of the capitol, the courts and the law schools.

• Holds a Law Day luncheon Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association (Traverse City)
• Holds a Law Day breakfast where there is a Liberty Bell Award presentation.
• Holds an essay contest is for the junior high level. Three finalists are selected and invited to the Law Day breakfast, where they are awarded with a U.S. Savings Bond.
• In the past, the bar association has sponsored a mock trial competition for high schools.
• They have an "Ask the Lawyer" session at a local mall. Volunteers make a two hour time commitment. The local young lawyers group usually staffs this activity.
• Conducts a forum at the local senior citizen center, where seniors can ask questions about senior issues and estate planning matters.
• On the morning of Law Day, the local radio station has two members of the Law Day committee come and discuss Law Day and the scheduled activities. During this time, people are invited to call in and "ask the lawyer."