SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE

What if Twitter and Facebook had existed when John Adams defended the soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre? What would his “Top 10 Tweets” have been or what would his Facebook Page have looked like?

The Alabama State Bar is calling for entries from students in grades K-12 across the state for a creative competition based on this year’s Law Day theme, “The Legacy of John Adams: Defending the Rights of the Accused.”

But now there’s a new wrinkle: for the first time, students will be able to submit entries for a new social media category in addition to creating posters or writing essays.

State Bar President Alyce M. Spruell of Northport (Spruell & Powell LLC) said, “This year’s theme Fits well with our Bar’s year-long emphasis on the importance of civics education in our schools and communities. Focusing on the life and legacy of John Adams provides us with the opportunity to explore the historical through modern-day role of lawyers in defending the rights of the accused – one of the cornerstones and often times lightning rods – of our system of justice.”

Information and entry forms can be found on the state bar website at www.alabar.org/lawday or by calling 800-354-6154, extension 2126, for contest entry information. The deadline is April 4, 2011.

The poster and essay entries will be presented in two (2) classifications – grades K-3 and 4-6 for posters; grades 7-9 and 10-12 for essays and the new social media category. A total of $2,400 in U.S. Savings bonds will be awarded to winners. Teachers also receive a monetary gift for use in the classroom.