Valerie Bayham serves as a staff attorney at the Institute for Justice.  She litigates economic liberty, First Amendment, property rights and other constitutional cases in both federal and state courts.

In her most recent victory, Valerie ensured that all Missourians—not just licensed funeral directors—have the right to sell caskets.  She also successfully untangled hairbraiders from cosmetology restrictions in Mississippi and authored A Dream Deferred: Legal Barriers to African Hairbraiding Nationwide. Her work on behalf of braiders has been featured in numerous newspaper, television and radio broadcasts. 

Valerie currently serves as lead attorney in a free speech challenge to New Hampshire’s real estate licensing laws.  She is also defending the free speech rights of Coloradoans in the wake of unconstitutional campaign finance laws that restrict not merely campaign contributions but also the fundamental right to speak freely on political issues.

Valerie received her law degree from the University of Chicago in 2004, where she served as the copy editor for the Chicago Journal of International Law.  In addition, she earned the Donald E. Egan Scholar Award for service and leadership at the Law School.  She received her B.A. with honors from Agnes Scott College in 1998.