Summer internships and fellowships give students a chance to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Colorado Law offers a range of opportunities for students to serve in paid summer positions across a variety of practice areas, and 97 percent of students work in substantive legal summer jobs. Below are some of their experiences.
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Silicon Flatirons D.C. Summer program
The D.C. Summer Program places students in technology-focused internships at private and public organizations and government agencies in Washington, D.C.
鈥淚 chose Colorado Law because of its telecommunications program, and knew that I wanted to intern at the FCC my first summer. My internship at the Telecommunications Access Policy Division (TAPD) in the Wireline Bureau allowed me to see how the FCC works internally. TAPD oversees programs that help extend telecommunications services to underserved, low-income, remote, and rural communities throughout the U.S. In the classroom you read cases and become familiar with administrative law, but via a D.C. Summer Program internship you get to see how administrative law shapes policymaking. As a public interest telecom advocate, my D.C. Summer Program experience was irreplaceable.鈥�
Edyael Casaperalta (鈥�18), two-time D.C. Summer Program participant: FCC Wireline Bureau and Telecom Management Group
鈥淚n D.C., you will meet people who can help you move into the sector where you want to work. The most important part is getting your foot in the door, meeting new people, and learning how policymaking is done. Working for Commissioner Terrell McSweeny at the Federal Trade Commission, I learned how agencies function from an administrative standpoint and how laws affect independent agencies, and I got a top-down view of how civil law enforcement is conducted. While participating in the FTC honors program, I was on staff for the Bureau of Consumer Protection, where I worked on a wide variety of cases ranging from deceptive marketing to unfair privacy practices. I received superb instruction in writing, litigation and law enforcement strategy, and depositions. I don鈥檛 think you could get that hands-on
experience anywhere else.鈥�
Parker Ragland (鈥�18), two-time D.C. Summer Program participant: Federal Trade Commission
U.S.-Based
鈥淢y experience at the Council on American-Islamic Relations of the San Francisco Bay Area was enriching, inspiring, and life-changing. I gained valuable experience writing memos, briefs, and demand
letters; conducting intakes, attending hearings, speaking at city council meetings, supporting policy endeavors, and coordinating with a variety of other nonprofit organizations, and maintaining levity
through the most trying times as I worked to support clients all over the Bay Area. I feel lucky to have had the chance to participate in such meaningful work with such a highly skilled, passionate, and kind
team of advocates.鈥�
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Moriah Arnold (鈥�19), The Council on American-Islamic Relations of the San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA)
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鈥淚 came to law school hoping to work for the public defender鈥檚 system. A 1L internship seemed like a great way to make sure that it was the career path I want to pursue long term. I sought out Grand Junction
specifically because of the different opportunities that an internship outside of the Denver/Boulder area provides. I was able to support a cause that I believe strongly in and support a community that is often
overlooked. I was able to build interview skills and competency in gathering a large amount of information and sorting it for use in cases. It confirmed my intention to seek out public defense professionally moving forward.鈥�
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Sydnie Teague (鈥�19), Grand Junction Public Defender鈥檚 Office
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International
鈥淒uring my summer work, I gained priceless insight into the challenges involved in working within the legal field of a developing nation. I learned valuable lessons in listening to the needs, worries, and solutions from the perspective of the local communities. The combination of these experiences and lessons has helped me discover many strengths and weaknesses along with insight into my future ambitions. Most importantly, I brought back new perspectives on how law can be used to protect people and the environment, and potential solutions to where it falls short.鈥�
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Jonathan 鈥淟J鈥� Kuhlman (鈥�19), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Nepal
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鈥淒uring my time in the 鈥榯rial shop,鈥� also known as the prosecution side, I worked directly with numerous Navy JAGs. Most of my work consisted of research and writing. The most important experience I gained was an insight into JAG. My goal was to test out what it鈥檚 like to be a Navy JAG, and this summer solidified my interest in applying for the JAG Corps. Everyone I worked with was professional, friendly, and service-minded, and I enjoyed every day. Additionally, I greatly improved my legal research and writing skills, and I was able to observe JAGs arguing in a courtroom. This summer was a success.鈥�
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John 鈥淛B鈥� Cannafax (鈥�18), U.S. Navy, Yokosuka, Japan
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Pictured: LJ Kuhlman (鈥�19) at Thorang-La Pass, the highest navigable pass in听 the world, located in the Anapurnas
