Meet NSGLC Summer Research Associate: Ilinca Johnson

The National Sea Grant Law Center is excited to welcome Summer Research Associate Ilinca Johnson, a 3L at Vermont Law School. Ilinca will be in the Community Engaged Legal Internship Program, working with NSGLC and our project partners, Maine Sea Grant and The Nature Conservancy.

1. Where are you from?

I grew up in Storrs, Connecticut. I live in rural Vermont now.

2. What was your first job?

My first real job was with the Connecticut Institute of Resilience and Climate Adaptation, where I got to design a state climate action case studies based on active municipal plans and write facts sheets and white papers about effecting municipal climate resiliency.

3. Who inspires you?

I feel fortunate to draw inspiration from many different people who succeeded by pursuing what they care about creatively. Paul Hawken’s “Regeneration” and Dr. Ayana Johnson’s books on climate change go straight to that kind of exciting synergy for sparking new ways of living and thriving. Ocean photographers and divers have also been key for inspiring me to pursue ocean science and later environmental law too. Living next to a bubbling brook when I grew up helped me develop a relationship of curiosity and awe with the outdoors and animals.

4. What made you consider a career in law?

A family friend and professor at UPenn urged me to take Climate Law with the UConn School of Law during my junior year of undergraduate at UConn. I could test that way if I would enjoy environmental law versus pursuing science. By then, I already had experience working in a fisheries lab. I was working on a Bachelor of Science degree in marine sciences, along with another degree in human rights. I emailed the professor for three weeks at the start of term, then started emailing people all around the UConn law school to try to get into the course. Finally, they let me in. At the end of the semester, the professor gave me a CALI award, a class wide distinction for excellent performance. I really liked Climate Law, and it happened to go better than I expected. So, I was on a law track after that.

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

With NSGLC, I am excited about expanding my depth of understanding about coastal and ocean law. Outside of work, I am excited to travel a few times this summer and finish some long-term projects.

6. Where’s your favorite beach? OR What is your favorite beach memory?

A core favorite beach memory is playing in these amazing waves on a remote beach on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands with my sister on our last day there when we were kids. But beaches along the New England coast have really caught my heart, especially in Rhode Island, and the National Seashore in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

7. What do you do in your free time?

Right now, I am writing a lot in my free time. But I really like to read, hike, swim, adventure, and go to concerts when I am not chasing down a dream project.

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

I am a certified scuba diver! I did enough dives to get a master’s license but haven’t officially recorded most of the dives. I also learned and forgotten three other languages in my lifetime! All I am left with is English. I can make sushi from scratch.