Daniel Kemp
Daniel Kemp ’67 is a member of the Ohio (1970) and North Carolina bars (2006) and has practiced environmental and safety and health law for four and a half decades.
“Today’s students, particularly seniors preparing to graduate, have many opportunities ahead, particularly if they choose the law. I encourage each to weigh their responsibility for service to the profession and to society, and I wish each success in their endeavors,” Kemp says.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Government from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1970.
He began his career at the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co. in 1970, responsible for real estate, nuclear licensing and environmental legal matters. In 1981 he joined Armco Inc. as Assistant Counsel responsible for environmental and health and safety issues. He subsequently became Associate and Corporate Counsel concluding his representation of Armco in 1991. He then was named Assistant General Counsel at American Electric Power Service Company responsible for EHS matters where he served from 1991 to 2002.
In 2004 he became Associate General Counsel for environmental and health and safety and homeland security matters at Progress Energy Service Co., serving until 2012 when Duke Energy merged with Progress. He retired from Duke Energy in 2016 and remains active in the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Kemp participated in the Center for Law, Justice & Culture’s Pre-Law Day program in November 2017.
What brought you to Ohio University?
Proximity, reputation and cost.
What is your current occupation? Explain what you do in a typical day.
I have practiced environmental and safety and health law in four different corporations for four and a half decades. Each experience was unique and enjoyable. I remain an active member of the Ohio and North Carolina bars.
How did you become interested in that field? Was there a particular topic or field of law that got you interested in it in the first place?
I arrived at my first job coincident with the adoption of the Clean Air Act Amendments. Since I was the new lawyer, I was anointed as the environmental expert.
What’s your favorite part of your position? What are you passionate about?
Resolving novel and complex problems. Facilitating assembly of diverse resources to meet a challenging need.
How did your Ohio University experience prepare you for law school and shape your career path?
It took me several years to arrive at a major that fit my aptitudes. Once there, I was assigned a faculty advisor (Alexander Prisley) who provided critical inputs regarding law school expectations.
What do you think were most important things you did as an undergrad to prepare you for law school?
Develop a constant improvement mentality and project it in the classroom and assignments. While it is difficult to anticipate all the challenges one will face in law school, perseverance and unwillingness to concede are critical.
Do you have any advice for students interested in law?
Given the amount of time to be invested in acquiring the degree and qualifying for the bar, the amount of money that will be expended and the difficulty in reversing course late in the game, obtain as much input as possible from trusted sources who know you well regarding the law as your life’s work. It is a great profession. If you choose it, commit to leave it better than you found it.
What is your favorite Ohio University memory?
No single memory. The campus in all seasons, the class settings, student interaction and athletics all play a part in fashioning fond memories.
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