Emma Blakley

Emma Blakley

Law Clerk

Emma Blakley joined Collins Family & Elder Law Group in 2023 and is based in the Firm’s Columbia, South Carolina Office. She also visits our Firm’s Fort Mill office for collaboration. Emma was raised in a military family and has lived all over the United States. Her parents and extended family have settled down around the small town of Abbeville, South Carolina.

Emma currently holds the position of Law Clerk and hopes to transition into an Attorney role at the Firm upon being accepted and admitted to the South Carolina Bar in Fall 2023. Her goal is to assist the other attorneys and paralegals in their work, while also honing the skills needed to take on her own clients in the future, including communication, document drafting and editing, and legal research.

Education & Experience

Emma graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2023. She also attended the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree where she graduated Cum Laude with a major in English and minor in Criminal Justice. During law school, Emma was on the Pro Bono Board, held the position of President of the Family Law Society, volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem, actively participated in and held the position of Justice for the University of SC Law Moot Court Bar, externed for a Lexington Family Court Judge, and clerked for a Family Law Practitioner in the Columbia area. Throughout college and law school, Emma was confident in her path toward practicing in Family Court.

Emma is currently an active Associate member of the South Carolina Family Law Inn of Court. She also received the CALI Distinction for her legal research paper on “False Abuse Allegations and Parental Alienation” during law school in the course Advanced Family Law.

Personal Interests

When she’s not working, Emma loves spending time with her family, friends, and her two dogs. She enjoys walks with her dogs by the riverwalk and listening to true crime podcasts.

Personal Philosophy

During her time as an extern, she was able to receive sound advice from many of the Honorable Judges of South Carolina Family Court. While simplistic, the statement that “Family Court is the most important Court in our judicial system” is what stuck with her. She was advised that Family Court is something that touches all our lives in some way and at some point, in all our lives. It is vital to have passionate advocates who are driven to keep Family Court an equitable, ethical, and just place while practicing.

Education

• J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law
• B.A., English, with a minor in Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina