Important Links

CLICK HERE to view past winning essays
Essay Contest Questions/rules flyer
2010 Essay Contest Tutorial

Info for Teachers

Content Standards with Benchmarks

Public School Essay Rubric

Student Essay Contest

2010 Essay Contest Winners Announced!

The essay contest is administered by the State Bar of New Mexico. The purpose of the contest is to encourage an appreciation for the law and to promote higher education. The law firm of Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, PA, sponsors cash awards of $1000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place. In addition, the first place winner’s classroom receives a $100 award. Winners will receive their awards at the annual Law Day Luncheon on May 5 in Albuquerque.

The State Bar received 187 essay entries this year, and there were many very thoughtful, well-written essays! Each essay was judged by a preliminary group of judges, and the top fourteen essays were sent to final judges. The State Bar of New Mexico, Public Legal Education Commission, New Mexico State Bar Foundation, and the Modrall Sperling Law Firm are proud to announce the following winners:

1st Place: Jordan Pruett, Onate High School, Las Cruces, NM (Teacher: Dr. Anne Burke-Foltz)

	Jordan Pruett is a junior at Oñate High School where he takes mostly advanced classes, including AP English Language and Composition. He is very involved in extracurricular activities, including his LDS Church Youth Group, the Boy Scouts of America, and his high school orchestra. He was the Rio Grande Rotary Club Student of the month and will soon be an Eagle Scout. He is still deciding on which university to attend, but is considering BYU, the University of Chicago, and Rice University.
2nd Place: Ellen Rabin, Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos, NM (Teacher: Brian Easton)
	Ellen Rabin is a junior at Los Alamos High School. She enjoys taking challenging AP classes in both math and the social sciences. A member of National Honor Society and LAHS French Club, Ellen also volunteers at Barranca Mesa Elementary School assisting the ESL teacher. In addition, Ellen has represented New Mexico in National History Day at the national level for four years, as well as being president of the LAHS National History Day Society. Ellen’s long standing interest in law has been sustained by her volunteer work with an attorney for Los Alamos Teen Court for three years and member of the court’s Truancy Panel. She hopes to be an attorney, and plans to attend St. John’s College or UC Berkeley.
3rd Place: James Billingham, Valley High School, Albuquerque, NM (Teacher: Anne Young)
	James Billingham is a senior at Valley High School. He is an active member of many extracurricular activities as well as maintaining a 4.3 grade point average. He is a member of Mock Trial, where he won Outstanding Witness in 2009, and was an attorney in the 2010 competition. He is also in National Honors Society, Youth Court, M.E.S.A (vice president), Valley Academy Senate, and is the president of Valley’s Model U.N. He also works at Subway, and is planning on attending U.N.M and becoming an attorney.

This contest is open to high school juniors and seniors across the state from public schools, private schools, charter schools and home schools.

Now in its 21st year, the essay contest is co-sponsored and administered by the State Bar of New Mexico. The purpose of the contest is to encourage an appreciation for the law and to promote higher education. This year’s topic deals with First Amendment Freedom of Speech issues arising when a student posts suggestive photos of herself on a popular teen networking website, in violation of school policy. All essays must be submitted by 5 p.m., March 9, 2010. Please follow the link to the Essay Contest Question/rules flyer for specific information.

The law firm of Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, PA, sponsors cash awards of $1000 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place. In addition, the first place winner’s classroom receives a $100 award. Winners will receive their awards at the annual Law Day Luncheon on May 5 in Albuquerque.

The essay contest is administered by the State Bar of New Mexico. The purpose of the contest is to encourage an appreciation for the law and to promote higher education.