U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association Carole Bailey Scholarship

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims Bar Association will award at least one annual law student scholarship of up to $5,000.00, in honor of the Court’s former Chief Deputy Clerk of Administrative Services, Carole Bailey.

2022 Carole Bailey Scholarship Rules

Application acceptance start date:  June 15, 2022

Application acceptance end date:  September 15, 2022 (11:59pm Eastern Time)

Carole had been asked to serve as assistant dean for administration at Delaware (now Widener) School of Law when she met Judge Loren Smith.  A few months later, she moved to Washington, D.C., to serve at the Administrative Conference with Judge Smith.  She followed him to the Court of Federal Claims in 1985, serving as then Chief Judge Smith’s first chief of staff and law clerk.  Two years later, she left the Court to join the FTC, and ultimately moved to Atlantic City, where she operated a successful construction supply business with her husband, and eventually became an adjunct professor of business at the local community college.  In 2001, she returned to D.C. and, seeing the needs in the D.C. school system, wrote to the Superintendent of D.C. schools, offering her assistance to do anything, eventually serving as a 4th grade teacher and adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia.  In 2003, Carole returned to the Court as a staff attorney, and rose rapidly through the ranks, culminating in her position as Chief Deputy Clerk, from which she retired at the end of 2011.  During her tenure with the Court, Carole worked closely with the Bar Association and provided invaluable help to the Association in its mission to serve the Bar of the Court.

In commemoration of Carole’s longstanding commitment to public service and her tireless efforts in working with and providing assistance to the Bar Association, the Bar Association is pleased to award scholarships to law students with a demonstrated commitment to public service.

Who may apply?

Any student who is:

1. Enrolled or enrolling in any law school accredited by the American Bar Association for the 2022/2023 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 2022/2023 academic year.

Submissions must be transmitted in PDF format only by email to sandy@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 September 15, 2022.

Who judges the scholarship applications?

The applications will be evaluated by four members of the Bar Association’s Board of Governors, who comprise the Law Student Scholarship committee, 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 December 15, 2022.  Applicants need not make follow-up inquiries about the status of their applications.

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.