Resources for Diverse Law Students

Java with Judges

Java with Judges is a program that bring together Colorado’s judges and diverse law students together in a casual, “virtual coffeehouse” setting for networking and conversation. Java with Judges sessions are offered once a week, and each session is limited to 2 judges, 1 law clerk, and 6 law student participants to allow for close conversation and connection.

Since the program launched in January 2021, Java with Judges has linked over 107 law students with 48 state court judges and 12 law clerks in 24 one-hour sessions. The program also serves as one of the most effective programs to engage with judges outside of the Denver Metro area. Judges from 10 of the 22 judicial districts around the state—from Grand Junction to Fort Collins to Durango to Pueblo—have hosted Java with Judges sessions.

Java with Judges program is sponsored by the Judicial Diversity Outreach program, the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA) Committee of the Colorado Court of Appeals, and the members of the Colorado Supreme Court working group on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Students interested in attending can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4fa9ac2daaf5c52-java6?useFullSite=true#/

Justices, judges, and magistrates interested in signing up to host a Java with Judges session, please email Judge Jaclyn Brown.

Java with Judges founding group (from left to right): Matt Simonsen, Brittany Garza, Judge Jaclyn Brown, Sumi Lee, Megan Berry, Erin Scott, and Amber Paoloemilio

Apply Now! Greater Colorado Law Student Experience

Overview

Greater Colorado Law Student Experience is an immersive summer program for Colorado Law and Denver Law students designed to introduce students to the life and legal practice in Colorado’s rural communities. While completing a judicial externship is a part of this program, this program is much more than a typical judicial externship. Created with developing a sense of community and belonging in mind, this program provides law students with the experience of living and working a Greater Colorado community. Students will get an opportunity to meet and work with local community organizations to understand the community through a wider lens and network with attorneys and judges through the local bar associations to explore career opportunities. What are the strengths, challenges, and resources of the community in this region? What opportunities are possible in the legal profession? This program will give students an opportunity to explore these questions.

This program piloted in summer 2022 with four participating law students from Colorado Law and Denver Law. 

Judicial Externship Opportunities

• Program Focus: Various judicial externship and internship opportunities are available throughout the year for 1L/2L/3L/4Ls
• Colorado Supreme Court: Law Clerk Applicants 
• Colorado Court of Appeals: Law Clerk Applicants
•  District/County Courts: Contact your law school's Career Development Office for a list of available opportunities
• Law School Contact for Externships
  • CU: Emily Horowitz
  • DU: DU Externship Office
• Program Timeline:
  • Fall semester
    • Registration deadline typically in early August each year
  • Spring semester
    • Priority registration deadline last day of fall classes each year
    • Registrations accepted from 1st time externs until mid-December
    • Registrations accepted from repeat externships until early January
  • Summer semester
    • Priority registration deadline last day of spring classes, typically in April each year
    • Registrations accepted on a rolling-space available basis until 1 week before summer orientation, typically in May

Lorenzo Márquez Judicial Internship/Externship Program

• Program Focus: Spring semester judicial externship opportunities at the Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court for diverse 2L/3L/4Ls
• Court Contact: Sonya Stromberg
• Law School Contacts: 
  • CU: Dean Todd Rogers
  • DU: LaQunya Baker or Dean Alexi Freeman
• Program Timeline:
  • Applications due late October of 2L or 3L year
  • Meetings between students and externship faculty early November
  • Offers/acceptances made by mid-November
  • Externships begin following spring semester (mid January)

Colorado Pledge to Diversity Program (https://coloradopledge.com/)

• Program Focus: Paid* summer law clerkship opportunities at law firms, legal departments, and courts for 1Ls
  • *Note: Judicial summer clerkships through Pledge are unpaid positions
• Program Contact: Visit www.coloradopledge.com and click "Contact Us"
• Law School Contacts:
  • CU: Nicole Netkin-Collins
  • DU: Samantha Zandman
• Program Timeline:
  • Applications Available: Dec. 1 of 1L year
  • Applications Due: Jan. 15
  • First-round interviews and virtual networking reception: Feb. 11 (subject to change based on class schedule)
  • Second-round interviews: Feb. 22 – March 12
  • Students notified of placements: March 17

Judge Mix Public Interest Diversity Internship Program (MixDIP Program)

• Program Focus: Fall semester public sector externship opportunities for diverse 2Ls during the 2L fall semester, including placement in federal and state courts
• Program Contact: Magistrate Judge Kristin Mix
• Law School Contact:
  • CU: John McKee
  • DU: Dean Alexi Freeman
• Program Timeline:
  • Applications due early March of 1L year
  • Interview selection match late March
  • Rolling interviews and ranking deadline early April
  • Placements made mid-April
  • Externships begin the following fall (mid August)

Judge Quick 3L Law Clerk Program

• Program Focus: Judicial externship opportunities with district and county court judges for 3Ls
• Program Contact: Chief Judge Don Quick
• Law School Contact:
  • CU: Dean Todd Rogers
  • DU: Dean Alexi Freeman
• Program Timeline:
  • Students apply by mid-November of 3L year
  • Acceptances/offers made by late November
  • Externships begin following spring semester (mid January)