The summer months serve as an excellent opportunity for our Law Buffs to dive into their areas of interest and take on summer jobs and internships that help them develop their legal skills. In this series, we are thrilled to highlight just a few of our rising 2L and 3L students and learn more about what they are up to this summer.  

In this post, we are highlighting Michael Farrington ‘26, who is working in the Aurora City Attorney’s office as a Legal Intern with the Development & Natural Resources Division.  

Why were you interested in this role? 

MF: I have a lot of interest in government work, land use, and local policy, how they are adjusted, and how both public and private stakeholders shape that. I think this role will really help me better understand the issue of local government and how it approaches zoning, land use, planning, and natural resources use and preservation. Also, the team was fantastic to interview with, brilliant, and very experienced in their areas and the areas I am interested in; I knew as soon as I finished the interview it was the right fit for me.  

What has your day-to-day been like in this job?   

MF: It involves a lot of research; I spend a lot of time on Lexis and Westlaw, looking at the law and what has changed but also looking at how some of the things apply to the unique circumstances in the city of Aurora.  

What has been your favorite part of the job so far? 

MF: My favorite part of my role is the team I work with; they are so amazing, supportive, and brilliant in their area of law.   

What do you hope to learn in this role?   

MF:  I am really excited to learn under such experienced attorneys what practicing law looks like in government and what it looks like to work in niche areas. I am also really excited to cut my teeth working in a role that will directly impact the local residents of Aurora and the Front Range.  

Can you share a little more about what you are up to this summer besides work?  

MF: This summer should be a lot of fun: taking a break and catching up on my reading list, doing some light traveling, and hanging out with my wife, Kassidy, and our dog, Zues.

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With the academic year quickly approaching, Colorado Law is looking forward to welcoming the incoming class of new students. Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of our incredible 1Ls through a series of brief profiles! First up, we have Charlotte Pardo (she/her). 

Born and raised in Denver, Charlotte holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and minors in Legal Studies and History from Colorado State University.  Since graduating, she has worked as a Patent & Trademark Assistant at Holzer Patel Drennan and as a Finance Assistant on a congressional campaign in Virginia. Charlotte is also involved in local politics and serves as the Vice President of the Denver Young Democrats.  

Meet the Class of 2027’s Charlotte Pardo! 

What inspired you to pursue a law degree?  

CP: Growing up with a disability set me apart, but learning about the Civil Rights movement made me feel included and showed me that laws can mend injustice. This passion drew me to the law and public service. I want to use the law to further the rights of Americans and forward their interests. 

What are your hobbies outside of work and school?  

CP: I love to travel and recently visited some museums in Washington D.C. I love podcasts. My favorites are "You're Wrong �鶹ӰԺ" and "If Books Could Kill." Growing up in Colorado, I also enjoy skiing and hiking. Recently, I re-picked up Skeeball, a fun throwback to my childhood. 

 Why did you choose Colorado law?  

CP: As a Coloradan, I am well-adapted to Colorado’s unique culture and spirit of adventure. Colorado Law shares my values of scholarship, diversity, and public service. I want to attend law school because I am eager to learn more about our legal system and see how it applies to advancing the prosperity of Americans. Obtaining my Juris Doctor from Colorado Law would be the best way I can make a difference.  

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming academic year?  

CP: I know it will be a challenging year ahead, but I'm excited to get to my peers at Colorado Law and welcome the year ahead together. I am also excited to hit the books and give my brain a workout!  

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Colorado Law is home to nearly 50 active student organizations. These organizations are a phenomenal way for law students to increase their knowledge, gain leadership experience, network and collaborate with the legal community, and build connections with classmates that will last through their careers and beyond.

In this series, we highlight some of the extraordinary organizations run by Colorado Law students.

Meet the Womxn of Color Collective (WoCC), which serves to support and promote those who identify as women of color at the University of Colorado Law School.

The WoCC’s mission is to create a fully inclusive and welcoming environment for all women of color. 

“The Womxn of Color Collective is a place that hears, discusses, and addresses the concerns of women of color. Our goal is to foster conversation and uplift the student body at CU Law,” reflects Natalie Mousa ’25.​

The WoCC tries to limit the number of “professionally” oriented events, placing more focus on fostering friendships and social interaction. The group hosts annual brunches, along with a WoCC dinners and several social lunches. Students can reach out to any of the Executive Board members, found on the Colorado Law Student Organization’s page. Membership is open for all students currently enrolled at the University of Colorado who demonstrate their commitment to women of color at the law school, in the greater community at large, and who agree to abide by the preamble listed in their constitution.

"We, the students of the University of Colorado Law School (CU), in an effort to support and promote those who identify as women of color at the law school, to encourage community among women of color at CU law school, and establish a place where the concerns of women of color are heard, discussed and addressed to foster conversation(s) and educate the student body at CU law hereby issue this Constitution."

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With the academic year quickly approaching, Colorado Law is looking forward to welcoming the incoming class of new students. Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of our incredible 1Ls through a series of brief profiles! First up, we have Hannah Cardozo (she/her).

Raised in Tampa, FL, Hannah graduated from the University of North Florida in 2021. While there, she was a member of the Women’s Soccer Team, and earned degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice.  

Meet the Class of 2026’s Hannah Cardozo! 

How have you been spending your time since you graduated in 2021? 

HC: After graduating, I stayed in Jacksonville until moving to Colorado in June. In Jax, I worked as a medical malpractice paralegal at a personal injury firm. I also went on volunteer trips to Nicaragua and Hawaii that were very encouraging and confirmed I was on the right path.   

Outside of work and school, what are some of your hobbies? 

HC: I really enjoy going to the gym and being active. Since moving, I have tried to get out and hike as often as possible! When I am home, I spend time reading and hanging out with my two cats.  Other hobbies of mine include traveling as much as possible and going to concerts. Hopefully, come winter, I will be adding snowboarding to this list, but I’ll definitely be needing some lessons.  

What inspired you to attend Colorado Law? 

HC: As far as my inspiration goes, I have always known that I wanted to help people. I realized after graduating that going to law school would provide me with the best means to help as many people as possible. I am currently torn between environmental law or civil rights law, but I know both would give me the opportunity to positively impact a lot of people.  

What are you most looking forward to this upcoming academic year? 

This year I am most looking forward to getting back into the academic environment! I have missed school so much and am incredibly excited to start this journey. I’m also excited to meet my classmates and professors. You hear a lot about the wonderful connections that people make in law school, so I am definitely looking forward to meeting some amazing people and mentors.  

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The University of Colorado American Indian Law Program (AILP) attended (EMRIP) at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, from July 17 to July 23. Indigenous Peoples, national representatives, and civil society gathered to engage in dialogue regarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples. EMRIP advises the United Nations Human Rights Council and helps States and Indigenous Peoples achieve the aims of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration).  

 The AILP attended the UN session in conjunction with (TIP), a joint initiative of Colorado Law and the (NARF) to advance education and advocacy regarding the Declaration in the United States.  TIP was represented by , Council Tree Professor of Law and director of the AILP; , Distinguished University Professor and Nicholas Doman Professor of International Law; Emiliano Salazar ‘23, AILP Fellow; and Sue Noe, Senior Staff Attorney at NARF.  

 “I graduated from Colorado Law in May, and as AILP Fellow, I have already taken a trip to Oklahoma to work with the Southern Arapaho, Shawnee Tribe, and Cherokee Nation, and to Geneva to take part in the UN Session.” Salazar said. “The experiential and community-focused aspects of Colorado Law’s approach to American Indian and Indigenous Peoples Law have been important parts of my experience as both a student and fellow.” 

A highlight for the AILP was supporting the (COLT) at the UN. COLT represents over one million American Indian people and 50 Indian tribes, collectively holding over 50 million acres of land in the U.S. Led by Councilwoman Lisa White Pipe of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, who also serves as COLT Treasurer, the delegation made official interventions from the floor, met with U.S. State Department representatives, and engaged with Indigenous leaders from around the world. COLT called for an EMRIP country engagement to acknowledge the losses of life, culture, and language caused by federal Indian boarding schools during their 100-year history in the U.S., and to begin to develop approaches to healing and recovery. COLT is represented by attorney Jennifer Weddle, who is an Adjunct Professor at Colorado Law. 

The AILP, NARF, and COLT co-sponsored a side event on “Sacred Sites and Human Rights” featuring Indigenous leaders from Norway, Australia, and the U.S. The event addressed challenges both globally and close to home, including a copper mining proposal that threatens to destroy the site of Apache coming-of-age ceremonies at Oak Flat, Arizona. Panelists noted that Indigenous peoples’ sacred sites are being destroyed not only by traditional extractive industries but also activities associated with “green energy,” such as lithium mining for rechargeable car batteries or placement of windmills over tribal objections on traditional lands. Panelists, led by Professor Anaya, himself a former UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, discussed ways to use the Declaration’s articles in these cases. 

“The EMRIP session follows on the AILP’s attendance at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in April. Prof. brought a group of American Indian Law Clinic students - including Michele Manceaux ‘24, Chandler Spoon ‘23, and Spencer Garcia ‘24 -- who worked to help prepare tribes and Permanent Forum members for the session,” Carpenter said. “Representatives from the Shawnee, San Carlos Apache, Blackfeet, and Euchee tribal governments, as well as the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, attended the Permanent Forum Session. The AILC students were instrumental in helping to ensure tribal leaders’ access to UN, from reviewing draft reports to navigating the badge office.” 

This summer, Colorado Law students Taylor Courchaine ’25, Research Assistant at the AILP; and Charlotte Collingwood ’24, a clerk at NARF, are assisting with TIP’s research needs. 

Language rights were a strong theme of the session, and Carpenter made an intervention on behalf of the AILP during “Item 7: International Decade of Indigenous Languages.” She highlighted , a special issue of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal edited by Ariel Barbieri-Aghib ‘23 and a team of students.  The publication features tribal leaders, lawyers, linguists, and teachers assessing language revitalization as a matter of human rights. Carpenter noted the opportunity for the U.S. to prioritize Indigenous peoples’ language rights, sacred sites protection, and international repatriation as it rejoins the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) this year. 

Prof. Carpenter, who served on EMRIP from 2017-2021, was recognized at the Session for contributions to Indigenous Peoples’ struggles for international repatriation of cultural objects. Over several years, EMRIP assisted the Yaqui People, a cross-border Indigenous nation from the U.S. and Mexico, in their claim to repatriate a ceremonial deer head known as the Maaso Kova from Sweden. As EMRIP’s Chair, Carpenter facilitated dialogue among Sweden and the Yaqui leading to a 2020 agreement and the ultimate repatriation in 2023. The Yaqui-Sweden matter was hailed as a standard for EMRIP country engagements, which aim to give practical effect to the Declaration. 

Recourse to international diplomacy is often vital, especially when the U.S. and other countries violate tribal rights. As AILP faculty and students support Indigenous leaders’ access to international laws and venues, they help facilitate real world solutions to human rights challenges. 

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On February 22, �鶹ӰԺ head football coach Deion Sanders, Sr., affectionately known as "Coach Prime,” visited Colorado Law to speak with students in a Q&A style lunch event organized by the Student Bar Association.

Sanders has won two Super Bowl titles and made a World Series appearance, making him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Widely regarded as the greatest cornerback in NFL history, Coach Prime fielded student questions spanning a wide range of subjects. He discussed how he made Black history on multiple occasions—encouraging students be confident and consistent in pursuing their goals and making their own history.

“We are so happy Coach Prime was able to spend this time with us!” said SBA President Essence Duncan ’23. “His accomplishments as an athlete, coach, and advocate are inspiring and felt especially poignant in the context of Black History Month.”

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBvFdKX1F6A]

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By Evan Mahon

On January 26, 2023, over 100 Colorado Law students, staff, and faculty members flooded a classroom in the Wolf Law building to discuss one of the most prominent topics in today’s legal world: LGBTQ+ rights. The event was co-sponsored by OUTlaw and the Byron R. White Center for American Constitutional Law.

The conversation centered around Professor , who serves as special counsel as part of the Colorado Attorney General’s team in . Professor Norton is a University Distinguished Professor and the Rothgerber Chair in Constitutional Law. Her scholarly and teaching interests include constitutional law and civil rights law. Professor and 2L Evan Mahon moderated the discussion and student Q&A. Professor Skinner-Thompson is an Associate Professor whose research and teaching interests center around constitutional law, civil rights, and privacy law, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ and HIV issues. Mahon currently serves as President of the LGBTQ+ student group, OUTlaw.

303 Creative is a case centered around a Colorado-based website design company claiming that state antidiscrimination law would violate its free speech rights if it were required to make wedding websites for same-sex marriages if it makes wedding websites for opposite-sex marriages. The website designer challenged Colorado anti-discrimination state laws which prevent public businesses from discriminating against gay people, as well as making statements in that same realm. The State of Colorado argued for the constitutionality of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and prevailed at both the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the Tenth Circuit. were held at the U.S. Supreme Court on December 5, 2022 with a decision expected around mid-June 2023. 

Over 100 individuals took part in the discussion with Professor Norton, Professor Scott Skinner-Thompson, and Mahon about the far-reaching implications of a ruling in favor of the website designer. When asked about what impact this decision could have on anti-discrimination laws, Professor Norton replied, “Well, the title of this event, LGBTQ Rights at the Supreme Court, is almost too narrow. The outer limits of this decision are unknown. It can potentially impact other matters covered under anti-discrimination laws.” In response to the attendants’ great interest, Professor Norton also shared about her experience litigating and sitting at the counsel table in the highest court in the United States.

During the Q&A, students asked how this decision intersects with privacy laws, about SCOTUS precedent established prior to the case, the Colorado law in question, and the implications of this decision on a local and national level.

When asked about the importance of events such as these, Mahon responded that,

“It is through educating one another about crucial social issues and finding unity in fighting these fights that we can build community and camaraderie. We must be conscious of the footprints we leave behind, as well as the steps that have been paved by those before us.”

OUTlaw provides professional, social, and academic support for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) law students and their straight/cisgender allies.

The work of the Byron R. White Center is premised on the belief that an informed and engaged community is essential to Constitutional democracy. The mission of the Byron R. White Center is to: support excellence in Constitutional legal scholarship; offer opportunities for Colorado Law students to promote justice; and expand public knowledge and informed discussion about the Constitution. The Byron R. White Center is ran under the guidance of Professor Suzette Malveaux (Moses Lasky Professor of Law and Director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado Law School)

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Colorado Law is home to nearly 50 active student organizations. These organizations empower law students to increase their knowledge, gain leadership experience, network, and collaborate with the legal community—all while building connections with classmates that will last throughout their careers and beyond.

In this series, we are highlighting extraordinary organizations run by Colorado Law students.

Meet the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) here at the University of Colorado Law School.

BLSA's mission is to foster a community for people of African descent to acclimate to the law school environment through the exchange of various cultural experiences and perspectives.

“Our goal is to engender a supportive, diverse environment while providing opportunities for networking and professional advancement,” explains co-president Michele Manceaux '24.

BLSA at Colorado Law is much more than a club: it’s a community. The organization provides both professional and academic support to its members and is open to all Colorado Law students, regardless of race or ethnicity, and encourages all to attend and participate in their meetings and programs.

Through their extensive Black alumni circle, BLSA forges connections among current students, graduates, and members of the greater legal community. They often collaborate with organizations like the Sam Cary Bar Association (SCBA) to bring people together and host events throughout the year. For example, the SCBA hosts an annual BBQ in Denver the first week of classes. Students from CU and DU are invited to meet and network with a diverse Black legal community.

SCBA also invites students to attend the annual SCBA Gala in November. At the 2022 SCBA Gala, Kiki Council ’17 received the 2022 Warrior for Justice Award and the 2020 Billy Lewis Young Lawyer Award; Representative Joe Neguse ’09 was named the 2020 Warrior for Justice; Jon J. Olafson, a member of the law school's adjunct faculty received the 2022 Ben Aisenberg Diversity Leadership Award; and Zach Levi ’23 was given the Sam Cary Scholarship from the Endowment Fund.

 Past activities include:

• Holiday Jazz Concert (featuring an 18-piece jazz band performing Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite)
• International Book Drive (raised over 300 books towards the creation of a library at the Harare Institute of Technology)
• 40thAnnual Sam Cary Scholarship Gala (three BLSA students received Sam Cary Scholarships)
• Voter Registration FAC (co-sponsored by LLSA, OUTLaw, and APALSA)
• Welcome Back Barbecue
• Welcome Back Retreat at Lucky Strike

Being part of the BLSA E-Board is their biggest leadership opportunity for rising 2L Black students. Each year, they hold elections for President(s), Vice-President, Treasurer, and Event Coordinator. 

To get involved, students can visit BLSA’s booth during 1L orientation or by emailing co-presidents Michele Manceaux at Michele.Manceaux@colorado.edu or Michaela Calhoun at Michaela.calhoun@colorado.edu.

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On Tuesday, August 16, Colorado Law’s newest students got together in person for the very first time. The Class of 2025, made up of 12 LLMs, 11 MSLs, and 165 JD students, had the opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry at the Rayback Collective in beautiful �鶹ӰԺ. The next day, Orientation 2022 began in earnest.

View the from August 16's Orientation Kickoff at the Rayback Collective.

Colorado Law’s 2022 orientation opened with breakfast in the courtyard and special programming in the Wittemyer Courtroom. First, Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss welcomed the new students to their first year at Colorado Law saying how proud we are to have each and every one of them. “You have worked hard in a context that so many people did not experience in prior years—civic protests, COVID-19, mass shootings, war, political insurrections, and challenges to what we thought were established bodies of law,” she reflected. “You are here, and we salute you.”

Dean Inniss went on to offer a special salute to those who are first generation law students, referring to her own experiences as a fellow first-generation college and law school graduate. She spoke about compassion, the feeling of empathy and concern for problems and, even more than that, a desire and an actual willingness to do something about those problems.

“I’m urging you today to do something we don’t do often enough, in my opinion, and that is to have compassion for ourselves,” she implored. “Law School can be (to put it kindly and mildly) challenging, I think for that reason I’m going to ask you to be particularly compassionate to yourself. That means, rest, eat well, engage in the kinds of relaxation you may have enjoyed before coming to law school.”

The Dean then shared advice that her mother used to give her whenever she faced a new challenge. She would say, “Don’t go there and get new. Do not go getting new.” Dean Inniss explained that this is a colloquial expression drawn directly from the heart of the Black U.S. experience.

“What it basically means, in the plainest terms, is do not forget your best self. Don’t forget who you are, and what you are, and from whence you came. For me this is the heart of self-compassion. You are amazing people, that’s why you’re here. You are amazing people and that’s why you’re going to succeed here.”

Marci Fulton ‘04, Assistant Dean for Employer Relations and Outreach, also greeted the new class. She said this is her favorite day of the year because, “You guys show up with such incredible energy, whether it be in the form of enthusiasm, excitement, good humor or sheer terror, you bring it all in with you and by doing so you really renew this place each year.”

Fulton then welcomed the Honorable Richard L. Gabriel, Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, to the podium to speak about what it means to become a lawyer and to administer the Oath of Professionalism.

Justice Gabriel said, “You’re embarking on a journey as part of what I, with all my heart, believe has always been and remains a noble and truly wonderful profession.” He reminded the audience that, “Taking the high road is not always easy, but it’s always right. And that’s what you want to aspire to do.” He concluded his remarks by expressing that as lawyers, graduates will have an amazing gift, because they can change the world.

Throughout the rest of the week, students took part in informational sessions, group lunches, introductions to law school classes and the Career Development Office, and so much more. Most importantly, they got to know their community of faculty, staff, and fellow students who will be their teachers and friends as they pursue their legal education.

View the from August 19's Orientation Reception at the Wolf Law Building.

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On March 9, 2022, Chief Judge Timothy Tymkovich of the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit joined the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies Colorado Law student group to discuss the role of judges and their clerks and to share his experience representing the United States in USAID programs at Kiev and Yalta in Ukraine.

In 1982—as a third-year law student—Judge Tymkovich founded the Federalist Student Chapter at Colorado Law to increase the diversity of speakers at the school. A few short decades later, he returned to campus to share his passion and inspire the next generation of Colorado Law students considering careers in public service.

In front of a classroom full of attentive law students, Judge Tymkovich shared how he got his start as a clerk and went on to join the Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton as the State’s Solicitor General. When Norton became Secretary of the Interior, the Judge’s work with her in the capital led to his eventual nomination and confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. 

In addition to Judge Tymkovich’s discussion of clerkships—he has had over 100 clerks and hosts a yearly reunion with them in Breckenridge— he discussed his experience as a U.S. judicial representative in Ukraine. He shared photos from his travels in the region and spoke about the government officials he met with and what they are doing now during the Russian invasion. He shared that some wear fatigues and fight with the country’s defense forces; others, like the judge’s former interpreter, have taken shelter with their families.

Judge Tymkovich himself is of Ukrainian descent. His great-grandparents immigrated to the United States in 1913 and settled in Pueblo, CO where they ran a cattle business. 

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