Capital City Lawyers Association’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our community through education, service, and scholarship. CCLA will award 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.
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance during their legal education and examination, which will: (1) supplement the income of students who have accepted summer employment for which they will not be compensated; or (2) pay for expenses related to the bar examination, such as bar prep fees or bar application fees, or towards the students’ legal education, such as books for the semester.
Each year CCLA holds the Annual Christmas Gala affectionately known as Black Lawyers Ball to raise funds for our Scholarship Fund. CCLA also accepts donations to the scholarship fund throughout the year.
All scholarship application details can be found here.
🏆 2026 Scholarship Recipients
🏆 2026 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to this year’s award recipients!
Ludny Jean-Baptiste
North Carolina Central University School of Law — J.D. Expected May 2026
Ludny Jean-Baptiste is a graduating 3L at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she has earned Dean’s List recognition every year (2023–2025). A tireless advocate and leader, Ludny founded and serves as President of the Immigration Law & Justice Society, competes on the Trial Advocacy Board, and represents her class as SBA Class Representative. She is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division Inaugural Pro Bono Leadership Cohort (2025–2026), an ABA Judicial Clerkship Program participant, and has published research on Black Maternal Health & Poverty (2025).
As a Certified Legal Intern in NCCU’s Civil Litigation Clinic, Ludny represents low-income clients in eviction defense, housing and employment discrimination, prisoner civil rights, and wrongful death matters. She is also the founder of The Legal Cavalry, through which she provides legal and administrative support to attorneys across immigration, estate planning, and business practice areas.
Ludny is bilingual in English and Haitian Creole and is a licensed Notary Public.
Clinton N. Jones
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law — Rising 2L
Clinton N. Jones is a rising 2L at Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law and currently serves as a Judicial Intern in the chambers of Justice Anita Earls at the North Carolina Supreme Court. Originally from Prince George, Virginia, he is a first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and law student who understands firsthand the responsibility that comes with being the first in one’s family to break through barriers and create new opportunities for future generations.
Prior to law school, Clinton built a successful career in corporate leadership, serving as an Associate Director at Kyndryl and in leadership roles with IBM and Amazon. He earned his MBA from North Carolina Central University and his B.S. in Mass Communications, cum laude, from Norfolk State University. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and a member of Norfolk New Light Lodge No. 196, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia.
At Campbell Law, Clinton served as a 1L SBA Representative and Co-Lead of the Student Ambassadors program. He is a member of the Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Student Association, and the McIntyre-Whichard Legal Fellows Program. His mock trial team earned Semi-Finalist honors in the Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Competition, where he was individually recognized with the Outstanding Witness Award. During his first year, Clinton became the first 1L in Campbell Law history to be awarded the David Teddy Innovative Student Leadership Award in recognition of his advocacy and leadership on behalf of his classmates. He was also selected to serve as a member of the Police Advisory Board for the City of Raleigh, which serves as a liaison between the Raleigh community and City Council. Following law school, Clinton plans to establish a nonprofit focused on mentoring, uplifting, and creating pathways to opportunity for youth from underrepresented communities.
Kenneth R. Cole
Campbell University School of Law — Rising 2L
Kenneth Cole is a rising 2L at Campbell University School of Law. At Campbell, Kenneth is a member of the Mock Trial Team, volunteers for the Innocence Project, and serves as a Student Bar Association Representative. He is also a student employee at the Campbell Law Library and a student representative contract employee with Themis Bar Review.
Before law school, Kenneth obtained his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin and his M.A. in Justice and Advocacy from Fuller Theological Seminary. He applied that education as an Education Administrator for underrepresented students and families in Madison, Wisconsin; as a policy research analyst advancing fair education funding and childcare access in California; and as a community organizer who led a coalition campaign securing ongoing Greensboro City Council allocations to fund eviction defense for residents.
This summer, Kenneth is joining Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Raleigh office as a member of the 2026 MLK Internship Program.
Past Scholarship Recipients
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Breyanna Rice
Breyanna Rice is from Wake Forest, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro majoring in English, with minors in Political Science and Communication Studies. A rising 3L at NCCU School of Law (Class of 2024), Breyanna serves as the Communications Director of the Women’s Law Caucus and has volunteered with the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. Her career interests include public defense and family law. She interned with the Wake County Public Defender’s Office.
Tiqeece Brown
Tiqeece Brown is from Shelby (Waco), North Carolina. He graduated in May 2023 from Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. At Campbell, he served as Assistant Director of Pro Bono Council, clerked at the NC Department of Justice, and was a judicial intern at the NC Court of Appeals. His mock trial team won the 2023 Regional Constance Baker Motley Mock-Trial Championship and placed fourth nationally. He was awarded the Order of Old Kivett Advocacy Award at graduation.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Christina Hubbard
Christina Hubbard is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. She moved to North Carolina to participate in Teach For America, teaching middle school science and social studies in Grifton, NC. She enrolled at The University of North Carolina School of Law with hopes of working as a civil rights attorney.
Blake McKay
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. A sexual assault and domestic violence survivor advocate, Blake’s career interests include Title IX policy, Education Law, and Employment Law. She interned as a Title IX Intern with NCCU’s Legal Affairs department.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Lucy Campbell
Lucy Campbell, Class of 2022, at Campbell University School of Law, worked in public defense and immigration law before law school. At Campbell, she co-managed the death row visitation program, led the public interest student association, and served as a research assistant. She interned at Connecticut Legal Services, working primarily on domestic violence and COVID-19 housing cases.
Cristiano L. MĂ©ndez
Cristiano L. MĂ©ndez, Class of 2021, at Campbell University School of Law, is a second-generation immigrant committed to criminal defense for low-income individuals. He served as Project Manager of the Immigrants and Refugee Rights Project and former Vice-President of the Hispanic Law Student Association, with a personal mission to increase Latinx representation in the legal profession.
2019 Scholarship Recipients
Mireya Colin
Mireya Colin, Class of 2021, at Campbell University School of Law, comes from a long line of immigrants which fueled her passion for public interest and immigration law. Active at Campbell, she served as Student Ambassador, Secretary of the Hispanic Law Student Association, and participated in the Death Row Visitation, Innocence, and Immigrants and Refugee Rights projects. She interned with the Battered Immigrant Project at Legal Aid of NC.
Jasana A. Levy
Jasana A. Levy, Class of 2019, at NCCU School of Law, graduated with her J.D. and a Certificate in Justice in the Practice of Law. Motivated by her Jamaican immigrant family’s commitment to public service, she volunteered with Durham County Guardian ad Litem, D.E.A.R, and other community organizations. She began her career as a Clifton Everett Fellow with Legal Aid of North Carolina.
2018 Scholarship Recipients
Lashieka Hardin
Lashieka Hardin, Class of 2019, UNC School of Law, is originally from Winston-Salem and graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2016 with a degree in Criminal Justice. She hopes to start a nonprofit/law firm providing legal services to those who cannot afford them, offering legal advice, courses on interacting with law enforcement, and resources for first-generation college students.
Jasmine Jennings
Jasmine Jennings, Class of 2019, UNC School of Law, is a native of North Carolina and alumna of UNC Chapel Hill. Passionate about criminal justice reform, environmental justice, and civil rights law, Jasmine planned to work in the public sector serving impoverished and minority communities in North Carolina after graduation.
2014 Scholarship Recipients
Joseph Bishop
Joseph Bishop, Class of 2015, UNC School of Law, is a native of Fayetteville, NC and a Clemson University graduate (B.A. Political Science, 2011). He competed on UNC’s Broun National Trial Team and served as President of the Black Law Students Association. He used his summer stipend to intern at the Chatham County Public Defender’s Office.
Serenity Hargrove
Serenity Hargrove, Class of 2015, NCCU School of Law, was born in Raleigh and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She received her B.A. in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and was a member of the Black Law Students Association and Public Interest Law Organization. She interned with the Guardian ad Litem Services Division of the NC Administrative Office of Courts.