Meet NSGLC Summer Research Associate: Blakely Durham

The National Sea Grant Law Center is excited to welcome Summer Research Associate Blakely Durham, a 2L at the University of Oregon School of Law. Blakely will take part in the Community Engaged Legal Internship Program, working with NSGLC and our project partner, South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium.

1. Where are you from?

I am from Charlotte, North Carolina.

2. What was your first job?

Besides various babysitting and pet-sitting gigs, my first job was an internship with North Carolina Coastal Federation. My main project was researching the potential impacts of offshore wind in North Carolina.

3. What made you consider a career in law?

Both my parents are lawyers, so law was something that always surrounded me. I also remember spending a ridiculous amount of time researching California law while writing a paper in 12th grade, even though that research was, at best, tangentially related to my paper’s topic. I just found the topic so interesting that I kept digging for my own understanding. Then in college I took a couple of environmental law classes that reaffirmed that I wanted to be an environmental lawyer.

4. What are you most excited about doing this summer?

Coming out of my 1L year, I am excited to get to apply all the skills I have been practicing in law school to actual research projects and legal questions. It feels like the first big step towards the career I have been dreaming of for so long. I am also really excited for my placement week in Charleston, South Carolina. I am working remotely for the rest of the summer, so I am looking forward to in-person interaction.

5. Where’s your favorite beach?

My favorite beach (and overall favorite place) is Bald Head Island, a tiny little island off NC’s coast. I have been visiting Bald Head with my family every year since I was born, so I have lots of fond memories there. One of my most special memories was watching a loggerhead sea turtle nest hatch.

6. What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I like to read, bake, and watch baseball.

7. Do you have any hidden talents? What are they?

It’s not necessarily a hidden talent (especially if you were to ride in my car), but I can drive a stick shift.