Capital City Lawyers Association’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our community through education, service, and scholarship. CCLA will award two scholarships to deserving law students who demonstrate a commitment to practicing in the Triangle area and using their legal training and skills to benefit low-income and/or traditionally under-served communities.
Join us for the 2022 Black Lawyers Ball, Annual Scholarship Christmas Gala. Click here for more information.
Past Recipients
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Christina Hubbard is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and went to the University of Oklahoma for Undergrad. She moved to North Carolina to participate in Teach For America and taught middle school science and social studies in Grifton, NC. After leaving the teaching profession to make a larger systemic change, Christina enrolled at The University of North Carolina School of Law and hopes to work as a civil rights attorney.
Blake McKay was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon majoring in Family and Human Services, with minors in Legal Studies and Sociology. At the University of Oregon and presently, she is a sexual assault and domestic violence survivor advocate. Her current career interests include: Title IX policy work, Education Law, and Employment Law. I will be interning with North Carolina Central University’s Legal Affairs department. As a Title IX Intern, Blake will be conducting investigations, researching policy, and advising students throughout their administrative processes.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Lucy Campbell, Class of 2022, at Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, has a long history of involvement in public service work. Before law school, Lucy Campbell worked in both public defense and immigration law, hoping to serve the underserved. After law school, Lucy Campbell intends to go into civil rights law, either directly or through criminal defense.
At Campbell University, Lucy Campbell is extremely involved. She is a co-managing partner for the school’s death row visitation program, the president for the school’s public interest student association, the secretary the university’s “Legal Hackers” club, and a research assistant working under Professor Marcus Gadson. This past summer Lucy interned at Connecticut Legal Services and worked primarily on domestic violence cases and COVID-19 related housing cases.
Cristiano L. Méndez, Class of 2021, at Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, is committed to providing a voice for the voiceless. A second generation immigrant, Cristiano has focused his studies, extracurricular activities, and work experiences towards leaving his community in a better position than it was when he found it. Excellence is a lifestyle, and should be displayed in every thing you do.
Cristiano is passionate in criminal law and would like to provide criminal defense to low income individuals. The Project Manager of the Immigrants and Refugee Rights Project at Campbell Law and the former Vice-President of the Hispanic Law Student Association, Cristiano has a particular personal attachment to immigrants and the Latinx population. Being that Latinx make up ten percent of the North Carolina population but only two percent of attorneys within the state, Cristiano is determined towards seeing a future where Latinx take active role in the practice of law.
2019 Scholarship Recipients
Mireya Colin, Class of 2021, at Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, comes from a long line of immigrants which fueled her desire and passion to work in public interest law and provide legal assistance to the underrepresented communities. Mireya looks forward to the day when she can practice immigration law in the Triangle area.
Mireya is active at Campbell Law. She is a Student Ambassador, Secretary of the Hispanic Law Student Association, and a member of the Black Law Student Association. She also works on a number of pro bono projects including: the Death Row Visitation Project, the Innocence Project, and the Immigrants and Refugee Rights Project. This summer she will be interning with the Battered Immigrant Project at Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Jasana A. Levy, Class of 2019, at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, holds a number of leadership roles and is an active participant in her school’s pro bono program. Motivated by her family who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and instilled the importance of public service, Jasana works tirelessly to help and empower others in her community. She volunteers with many local organizations such as Durham County Guardian ad Litem, D.E.A.R, UNC Cancer Hospital, and World Overcomers Christian Church. Jasana will be graduating with her Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Justice in the Practice of Law and will begin working as a Clifton Everett Fellow with Legal Aid of North Carolina after taking the July Bar. Jasana is interested in various areas of law but is primarily focused on Public Interest Law, Criminal Defense, and Domestic Relations Law.
2018 Scholarship Recipients
Lashieka Hardin, Class of 2019, University of North Carolina School of Law is originally from Winston-Salem, Lashieka graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016 with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Eventually, Ms. Hardin would like to start a non-profit organization/law firm that provides legal services to those who cannot afford it, legal advice to anyone in need, teaches courses on how to interact with law enforcement, and provides resources to first generation high school students planning to attend college. Lashieka will be awarded the 2018 CCLA Scholarship.
Jasmine Jennings is a rising 3L at North Carolina School of Law (Class of 2019). Ms. Jennings is a native of North Carolina and an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jasmine is passionate about a range of topics within public interest law, including criminal justice reform, environmental justice, non-profit work, and civil rights law. After graduation, Jasmine plans to work in the public sector, serving impoverished and minority communities in North Carolina. Jasmine will be awarded the 2018 CCLA Scholarship.
2014 Scholarship Recipients
Joseph Bishop, Class of 2015, UNC School of Law, is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina. He graduated from Clemson University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Joseph is a competing member on UNC’s Broun National Trial Team and serves as the President of the Black Law Students Association. Joseph used his summer stipend to intern at the Chatham County Public Defender’s Office last summer.
Serenity Hargrove, Class of 2015,—NCCU School of Law, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Serenity received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She is a member of the Black Law Students Association and the Public Interest Law Organization. Serenity used her summer stipend to intern with the Guardian ad Litem Services Division of the North Carolina Administrative Office of Courts last summer.