🎓 CAROLE BAILEY SCHOLARSHIP

Who may apply?

Any student who is:

1. Enrolled or enrolling in a JD program at any law school accredited by the American Bar Association for the 2025/2026 academic year; and,
2. Able to demonstrate either an interest in pursuing a public service legal career, or a past or present commitment to public service.
3. An interest in the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims is beneficial but not necessary for an applicant to be selected.

How to apply?

An application must include:

1. A curriculum vitae or résumé that contains the applicant’s current contact information, including email and phone number;
2. The applicant’s most recent transcript (undergraduate, graduate or law school);
3. A letter of recommendation from a professor or any other suitable person; and,
4. An original essay written by the applicant alone.  The essay is limited to no more than 600 words and should address any interests, experiences or other qualifications considered relevant by the applicant that demonstrate an interest in pursuing a public service legal career, or a past or present commitment to public service.

Unofficial transcripts will be accepted. For those applicants who have not yet begun law school, and who therefore cannot provide a law school transcript, please submit a copy of your letter of acceptance to law school and proof that you are enrolling in that school for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Submissions must be transmitted in PDF format only by email to arussell@cfcbar.org.  Please (i) send only one (1) PDF file; (ii) identify each submission by noting “CFC Carole Bailey Scholarship Submission” in the “Subject” line.  Unfortunately, the Bar Association cannot process incomplete applications, nor will the Association contact an individual noting deficiencies in the application. All applications must be received no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

Who judges the scholarship applications?

The applications will be evaluated by members of the Bar Association’s Board of Governors, as well as a judicial officer of the Court. Carole Bailey, or her designee, will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.

How and when will I be notified if I am awarded the scholarship?

A representative of the Bar Association will contact the recipient by email or telephone, and then by regular mail, on or before January 30, 2026.

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association is a 501(c)(3) organization, and is awarding this scholarship in furtherance of that status.