Classical grad Bluefort finds time for a double life

LYNN – It is difficult to imagine anyone could be busier than Lynn resident Nicole Bluefort these days, but the Lynn Classical grad found time between courses at the Northeastern School of Law and public health courses at Tufts University last week to accept the 19th annual Black Judges Book Award at the John Adams Courthouse in Boston.Bluefort was one of nine award recipients, one from each of the state’s law schools.Each year, the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference awards stipends to deserving second-year law school students to assist them in covering the costs of their law books for the following year. Law schools nominate students based upon academic achievement, leadership qualities, potential trial skills, and need. The Book Award Committee selects the winners from the list of nominees.Bluefort is in her second year at the Northeastern Law program, which she began attending after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 2006. Although she is very involved with the program, and one of the top students in her class, she said she was shocked to find out that she would be receiving the award, even knowing that Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Bettye Freeman had nominated her.”It was totally unexpected because Northeastern has a really diverse group of people that study law,” she said. “But ever since I walked in to Northeastern I felt like I was really involved in the program.”Bluefort is heavily involved in the program, which also does volunteer work, including spending time at Cradles to Crayons in Quincy to help raise money for toys and books for their organization’s disadvantaged youth.While law school is usually more than enough for one student to handle, Bluefort somehow finds time during her week to attend classes at Tufts University, pursuing a master’s degree in public health.Commuting from her Sarrell Road home in Lynn every day, she is usually gone for 12 hours at a time attending classes, meetings and functions.Bluefort will graduate from both programs in 2009, and says she still isn’t sure what she wants to do. One thing that she has determined is that she wants to work to help the disadvantaged.”Overall, I don’t know specifically what I want to do, I am interested in helping those who are vulnerable, because I feel that it is important to represent that portion of society,” she said. “I know that I want to pursue my clerkship after graduation, so I can get the experience of working with a judge to advise them, write my own opinions and eventually have an opportunity to get published.”Bluefort has excelled at a trifecta of prestigious Boston schools, and credits much of her success to the education that she received while attending Lynn Public Schools.”Being from Lynn helped me a lot, especially Classical. There was a lot of support at Classical from teachers that were committed to making sure I reached my potential,” she said. “I also had a great chance to experience leadership positions that helped me to be confident and effective as an attorney.”