University of Oklahoma College of Law
Political awakenings—and career choices—often stem from the unlikeliest of sources. For Bob Blakemore, a teenage obsession with socially conscious hip-hop music led to his ultimate career in Civil Rights law. “In the 80s, there was no internet or social media, and hip hop was ‘edutainment’,” says Blakemore. “The lyrics really opened my eyes to the civil rights issues of the day.”
Groups like Public Enemy addressed police brutality, governmental corruption and racial inequality—topics not typically discussed in Blakemore’s suburban Tulsa neighbourhood. “The hard-hitting beats combined with the political lyrics felt like something truly revolutionary,” says Blakemore.
A Day Dreamer Finds His Way
At his father’s urging, Blakemore enrolled in the University of Oklahoma Law School directly after finishing his undergraduate studies there. Being a bit of a day dreamer in his early years, it took some serious encouragement for Blakemore to consider a graduate degree. “I never really thought about law school until Dad mentioned it,” he says. “My dad knew that it was the right path for me before I did.”
Blakemore attended classes at Oxford University in the UK for a summer, a highlight of his graduate school tenure. “I loved every second of it,” he says of his studies at Oxford’s Queen’s College, founded in 1341. “Being in that historic environment every day gave me a new perspective on the structure and foundation of our legal system in the States.”
Passion and Grit Meet Work Ethic
Shortly after graduation, Blakemore found a job working for an established civil rights firm in Tulsa. He never looked back. With passion, determination and a tireless work ethic, he earned the reputation as a true expert in Section 1983 litigation.
In 2013, Smolen & Roytman hired Blakemore to help build its burgeoning civil rights practice. Together, they found a winning formula. The attorney often spends his days holed up in front of a laptop, researching and writing, sometimes pulling all-nighters. This behind-the-scenes setup suits Blakemore, who considers himself the perfect yin to Dan Smolen’s yang, just fine. “Dan is the trial lawyer and the talker and he likes being out front,” says Blakemore.“I prefer being behind the curtain doing the writing and putting the cases together. We complement each other well.”
Off the Clock
Taking the Midland Valley Trail through Tulsa's Gathering Place Place park (a daily activity for Blakemore), spending time in nature or going to a movie with his sons help mitigate the stress of long hours and covering cases that often involve serious injury or death. Weekends might find Blakemore and wife Lisa at a concert at Cain’s Ballroom, including the local institution’s 100th anniversary bash with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.
Full Circle
Blakemore’s lifelong passion for storytelling through music once led him to envision a career in the entertainment business. But Civil Rights law allows him to turn those inspiring lyrics into action. “I want to win just as badly as our clients,”says Blakemore. “It’s all about helping them on an individual level while pursuing the broader goal of exposing injustice.”
