Local And State Government Law Section

Carol Van Scoyoc Scholarship

2021 Award Winner

Catherine Larrabee

Catherine Larrabee is a 2L at New York University Law School. Catherine’s career interests lie in civil enforcement at the state and local government levels. This summer, she will intern at the New York City  Law Department. She will also extern this semester for New York City’s Fair Housing Litigation Unit. Previously, Catherine has interned at the New York and California AGs’ Offices, working on issues of civil rights and workers’ rights. She is a staff editor on NYU’s Moot Court Board and serves on the boards of the Public Interest Law Students Association and the Law & Government Society. Prior to law school, Catherine was a paralegal at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. She also did a year of service in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, working as a case manager at a nonprofit in the Bronx. Catherine received her BA in Theology from Boston College. She is originally from the Chicago area and currently lives in Brooklyn.

Donations to the Scholarship Fund may be made through the NY Bar Foundation Donation page by choosing under the available Funds/Select Funds, the “Restricted Funds: Local & State Gov. Van Scoyoc Fund” option from the drop down menu.

Carol Van Scoyoc was an extraordinarily gifted lawyer who dedicated her career to public service. An icon of the profession, Ms. Van Scoyoc represented the highest standards for excellence in the practice of law, ethical conduct and dedication to the public good that all lawyers aspire to. Ms. Van Scoyoc passed away in 2017 at the age of 56 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

Born in 1960, Ms. Van Scoyoc was a summa cum laude graduate of Manhattan College, where she served as the first woman president of the St. Thomas More Law Society, and received a JD from Pace University Law School. She began her legal career in the Westchester County Attorney’s Office, rising to the position of Assistant Chief Deputy County Attorney. During her ten year tenure, she served as counsel in over 150 reported cases, including In the Matter of Westchester County Medical Center (Mary O’Connor) 72 N.Y. 2d 517 (1988), a landmark Court of Appeals decision that resulted in major changes to New York’s health care proxy forms in order to protect the mentally incapacitated. In another highly significant matter, U.S. v. O’Rourke, 943 F.2d 180 (2d. Cir. 1991), Ms. Van Scoyoc saved Westchester County taxpayers $5,000,000 when she successfully argued that the County had complied with its agreement to close the Croton Landfill because of pollution to the Hudson River. Beginning in 1995, for 22 years until her death, Ms. Van Scoyoc served as the Chief Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of White Plains where her consummate research, drafting and litigation skills helped mold and shape the landscape of the City during a construction boom.

A leader and role model to the bar, in 2011 Ms. Van Scoyoc was elected as only the third woman President of the Westchester County Bar Association in its 115 year history. She also served as Chair of the Municipal Law Section of the Westchester County Bar Association and was the Editor in Chief of the Westchester County Bar Journal. At the time of her passing, Ms. Van Scoyoc was serving as Chair of the Local and State Government Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, having previously served for many years on the Section’s Executive Committee. In 2012, Ms. Van Scoyoc received the Award for Excellence in Public Service presented by the New York State Bar Association Committee on Attorneys in Public Service.

Committed to training the next generation of public officials, for 15 years Ms. Van Scoyoc served as an Adjunct Professor at the Pace Graduate School of Public Administration. Hundreds of graduate students benefitted from Ms. Van Scoyoc’s knowledge, passion, and unwavering commitment to public service.

Ms. Van Scoyoc’s passion for the law was matched only by her love of family. Her professional acumen and excellence were only surpassed by her dedication to loved ones and friends and her kindness to all people. A devoted daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunt, she lovingly cared for her parents and delighted in spending time with her extended family.

Blessed with a brilliant mind and beautiful spirit, Ms. Van Scoyoc touched, inspired, and enriched the lives of all who knew her. Her wisdom, integrity and perspective left an indelible mark on the governments and the people she served.