Duke Law Life: Meet Christopher L. Everett
Christopher L. Everett
CLASS OF 2027
Prior Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hometown: Clayton, North Carolina
Professional Interest: Intellectual Property and Administrative Law
My Duke Law Life
- Black Law Students Association (director of communications)
- Durham Immigrant and Refugee Project
- Mock Trial Board
- 2025 Twiggs-Beskind Cup winner and Twiggs-Beskind Cup coordinator
- North Carolina Club
- OutLaw
- LEAD Fellow
As a native North Carolinian, it was always my dream to come to Duke. I loved the university’s commitment to Durham, and I loved the fact that I could get a world class education right in my backyard. I also loved that a Duke Law degree could take me to any legal market and to any role I could dream of.
From a very young age, I saw how the law and public policy had the ability to shape and impact the lives of people around the country. I often saw others using the law as a tool for harming already-disenfranchised communities. Still, I had an unwavering belief that I could use the law as a means for doing good, and that going to law school was a crucial step that would enable me to serve the communities around me.
3 great things about living in Durham
- Durham offers a great mix of city and residential life, depending on what you’re looking for. If you want the busyness of downtown, you have that option. If you prefer more quiet things (like me), there are plenty of housing options in more residential communities.
- There’s a great mix of things to do. Whether you’re into bars, coffee shops, outdoor activities, Durham and the Triangle area offer something for everyone.
- Durham is pretty central in the state, so you’re a few hours from the mountain and the beach either direction. Great for a last-minute trip just to get away from the busyness of law school.
How to get the most out of law school
- Challenge yourself to do different things! I never planned on doing mock trial and was quite against it when I came into law school. But I opened myself up and decided to join the competition. Not only did I learn a lot about myself, but I won!
- Do pro bono/clinics. When doctrinal courses start feeling heavy, supplement your studies with a pro bono or clinic opportunity. This is a great way to get in some practical experience and remind you why you came to law school in the first place.
- Get to know your professors/classmates. The interesting thing about law school is that this isn’t just an academic program; it’s a profession. In a few short years, your professors and peers will be your colleagues in the legal community, so get to know them and learn about their backgrounds. You never know where a future opportunity will come from.
- Take care of your mental health! It doesn’t matter how much or how hard you study. If you don’t prioritize your mental well-being and constantly check in with yourself, all the work you do can go to the waste-side. You have to come first.
- Ask for help if you need it. Your professors genuinely care about your ability to succeed, and they want to hear from you. If you aren’t doing well or don’t understand a concept, always reach out for help.
- Rely on the people around you. Law school is challenging and can sometimes feel isolating. But the great thing is that everyone in law school knows exactly what you’re going through. Rely on that and build community with your peers.
- Don’t let law school become your entire life. Law school will take up as much space as you let it, so make sure you’re implementing good boundaries. Get good sleep at night, exercise, spend time with the people you love. These are the things that really matter.
My advice if you are thinking about law school
I would encourage prospective students to take off any limits they may be placing on themselves as they are considering law school. It is far too easy to discount yourself and to believe the lies that you can’t make it into law school and that you won’t be able to positively contribute to a law school community. And I know these lies because I believed them for a long time throughout my journey to Duke Law (and I still struggle with them sometimes today). But I am a firm believer that law school is an opportunity open to everyone. It just requires you to take off your personal limits and to really believe that you have what it takes to get in to law school and to succeed. If you want to go to law school, the right door will open. I promise!
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