Careers

Class of 2017 Graduates in Full-Time, Law-Related Jobs Marks Ten-Year High

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:41:15 +0000

Class of 2017 Graduates in Full-Time, Law-Related Jobs Marks Ten-Year High Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/01/2018 - 13:41

In April, Colorado Law reported postgraduation employment data for the Class of 2017 10 months after graduation (March 15, 2018) to the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement. Of all graduates of the Class of 2017, 84 percent secured full-time, long-term, non-school-funded jobs for which bar passage was required or a JD degree was an advantage within 10 months of graduation—the most of any class during the past decade. Additionally, 76 percent of graduates reported a full-time, long-term, non-school-funded job for which bar passage was required—also the highest number in the past decade.

“The Class of 2017 was composed of remarkable students who fully engaged in the life of the law school and worked long hours developing their legal skills in a wide variety of settings. It is no surprise that they have raised the bar on postgraduate employment outcomes.”
Todd Rogers, assistant dean for career development

Class of 2017 employment:

35% law firms
18% government
18% judicial clerkships
15% business
9% public interest
3% postgrad fellowships*

*School-funded postgrad fellows working for judges, government, and public interest groups

2% academic and other

More graduates are working in full-time, long-term law or law-related jobs than any class during the past decade.

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Two Colorado Law Students Awarded Prestigious Peggy Browning Fellowships

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:56:24 +0000

Two Colorado Law Students Awarded Prestigious Peggy Browning Fellowships Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/20/2018 - 09:56

The Peggy Browning Fund has awarded 10-week summer fellowships to Rachel Calvert (’19) and Dominique DiNallo (’19) to pursue public interest labor law work. With more than 400 applicants and only around 80 fellowships awarded nationwide, the application process is highly competitive and speaks to the outstanding qualifications of both students.

Peggy Browning Fellows are distinguished students who have not only excelled in law school but who have also demonstrated their commitment to workers’ rights through their previous educational, work, volunteer, and personal experiences.

Calvert will be a Peggy Browning Fellow at the Laborers' International Union of North America in Washington, D.C. Originally from Oklahoma, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University. Her studies in government shaped her understanding of the history and politics driving the contemporary labor movement. She spent her first summer of law school at the Earthjustice Rocky Mountain office, working on community health, pollution, and public lands issues. She hopes to put her law degree toward a dynamic and empowering movement for justice.

DiNallo’s Peggy Browning Fellowship will be at United Auto Workers in Detroit, Michigan. DiNallo grew up in New Mexico where both of her parents were members of the National Education Association. Her father was a high school counselor and her mother was a special education/elementary teacher who advocated for disenfranchised populations in their community. Her father grew up in the Detroit area where unions played an important role in improving the lives of DiNallo’s relatives. Early on she learned the history and importance of the labor movement. Living in a town bordering an Indian reservation also gave DiNallo insight into racial and class tension and oppression. Seeing firsthand how people without representation were taken advantage of, DiNallo developed a passion for workers’ rights and fighting discrimination. Since starting law school, she has participated as an active member of the National Lawyers Guild and other human rights organizations.

“Domi and Rachel each have a demonstrated passion for working in pursuit of social justice and using their legal education for the greater good. Their selection for these fellowships from a highly competitive, nationwide field of candidates recognizes that strong work and commitment,” said Alexia McCaskill, director for government and public interest in the Colorado Law Career Development Office. “The Peggy Browning Fellowship allows both of these Colorado Law students to gain firsthand experience and mentorship in the legal departments of two well-respected labor unions, as each student pursues their interest in social and economic justice. We are extremely proud, but not surprised, that the Peggy Browning Fund selected them for this opportunity.”

Five Colorado Law students have been selected as Peggy Browning Fellows since 2015.

�� the Peggy Browning Fund

The Peggy Browning Fund is a not for-profit organization established in memory of Margaret A. Browning, a prominent union-side attorney who was a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from 1994 until 1997. Peggy Browning Fellowships provide law students with unique, diverse and challenging work experiences fighting for social and economic justice. These experiences encourage and inspire students to pursue careers in public interest labor law.

Pictured (L-R): Rachel Calvert and Dominique DiNallo

The Peggy Browning Fund has awarded 10-week summer fellowships to Rachel Calvert (’19) and Dominique DiNallo (’19) to pursue public interest labor law work. With more than 400 applicants and only around 80 fellowships awarded nationwide, the application process is highly competitive and speaks to the outstanding qualifications of both students.

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Class of 2017 Graduates in Full-Time, Law-Related Jobs Marks Ten-Year High

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 15:46:03 +0000

Class of 2017 Graduates in Full-Time, Law-Related Jobs Marks Ten-Year High Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/06/2018 - 09:46

The University of Colorado Law School is pleased to announce that the number of 2017 graduates employed in full-time, long-term law or law-related jobs 10 months after graduation is the highest of any class over the last decade.

Earlier this month, Colorado Law reported post-graduation employment data for the Class of 2017 as of 10 months after graduation (March 15, 2018) to the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement. Of all graduates of the Class of 2017, 85 percent (142/168) secured full-time, long-term jobs for which bar passage was required or a JD degree was an advantage within 10 months of graduation.

Additionally, 77 percent (129/168) of graduates reported accepting a full-time, long-term job for which bar passage was required—also the highest number in the last decade.

Overall employment for the Class of 2017 10 months after graduation was 91 percent. Ninety-nine percent (152/153) of employed graduates reported a salary. The private practice (law firm) median salary was $98,500, the private sector median salary was $90,000, and the public sector median salary was $55,000.

“The Class of 2017 was comprised of remarkable students who fully engaged in the life of the law school and worked long hours developing their legal skills in a wide variety of settings. It is no surprise that they have raised the bar on post-graduate employment outcomes,” said Assistant Dean for Career Development Todd Rogers.

“The numbers speak for themselves, showing the high quality of our students and the high value that a wide range of employers place on a Colorado Law education,” said Dean S. James Anaya.

2017 graduates entered into positions in Colorado and across the nation. A breakdown of where employed graduates are working is as follows:

35% law firms
18% government
18% judicial clerkships, including federal, state appellate, and state trial court
15% business, including Cisco Systems, DISH Network, Equinix, KeyBank, and Otter Products
9% public interest, including six graduates working for public defender offices
3% law school-funded fellowships, which include government and public interest organizations
2% education

A full summary of the Class of 2017 employment data is available here.

The number of 2017 graduates employed in full-time, long-term law or law-related jobs 10 months after graduation is the highest of any class over the last decade.

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JD Pathways Connects Students to Employers

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:34:53 +0000

JD Pathways Connects Students to Employers Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/17/2018 - 09:34

The 7th Annual JD Pathways career conference took place Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the University of Colorado Law School. JD Pathways is a daylong event designed to educate and inspire Colorado Law students about their career options by meeting attorneys at panel discussions, mock interviews, a networking lunch, and a reception honoring employers. Typically held the Friday before spring classes begin, JD Pathways serves as an informal kickoff of the spring semester.

This year’s event concluded with the first-ever Colorado Legal Community Resource Fair, which featured representatives from 30 different organizations in the Colorado legal community. Students had the opportunity to meet and interact with practicing attorneys from these various legal organizations and learn about ways to get involved with each. A list of participating organizations is below.

Participating Organizations:

Adams/Broomfield Bar Association
Arapahoe County Bar Association
Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Aurora Bar Association
Boulder County Bar Association
CBA - Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
CBA - Business Law Section, New Lawyer Subsection
CBA - Civil Rights Law Section
CBA - Environmental Law Section
CBA - Government Counsel Section
CBA - Intellectual Property Section
CBA - Juvenile Law Section
CBA - Litigation Section
CBA - Natural Resources & Energy Section
CBA - Real Estate Section
CBA - Solo Small Firm Practice Section
CBA - Trusts and Estates Section
CBA - Water Law Section
CBA - Young Lawyers Division
Colorado Attorney General’s Office
Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program
Colorado Bar Association (CBA)
Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
Colorado Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program
Colorado Lawyer's Committee
Colorado Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Bar Association
Colorado Women's Bar Association
Doyle Inn of Court
Faculty of Federal Advocates
Rhone Brackett Inn of Court
Sam Cary Bar Association
Sotomayor Inn of Court
South Asian Bar Association of Colorado
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

JD Pathways is hosted by the Career Development Office at Colorado Law.

The 7th Annual JD Pathways career conference, held Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, is designed to educate and inspire Colorado Law students about their career options and help refine their interests.

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Spotlight on Employment Outcomes

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 15:49:33 +0000

Spotlight on Employment Outcomes Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/13/2016 - 09:49

In May, Colorado Law reported its post-graduation employment outcomes for the class of 2015 based on data reported to the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). Of the 159 graduates in the Colorado Law class of 2015, 96 percent (152 graduates) reported employment 10 months after graduation, which ranks Colorado Law 16th nationally.

Additionally, more 2015 graduates are employed in full-time, long-term jobs for which bar placement was required or a JD was an advantage (84 percent) than in previous years, placing Colorado Law at 31st in the nation.

Four of the class of 2015 graduates who were seeking permanent employment 10 months after graduation (March 15, 2015) secured full-time, long-term positions by May 2, 2016, raising the percentage of those employed in full-time law or law-related jobs lasting one year or more to 86 percent. Overall employment remains at 96 percent.

With a diverse range of career paths, graduates of the class of 2015 entered into positions in Colorado and across the nation.

Business

Fourteen percent (21/152) of employed 2015 graduates accepted positions with businesses other than law firms, including Ball Corporation, BlackRock, DaVita, DISH Network, Molson Coors, Shareholder Representative Services, ShipCompliant, Webroot, and Woodward Inc. This group includes graduates working for in-house legal teams.

Amy Moore (’15) pursued business law because she wanted to combine her legal training and finance background while putting a human face to legal transactions. As relationship manager in the index and data solutions team at BlackRock in New York City, Moore spends most days balancing working with market data vendors and collaborating with colleagues.

“I enjoy the transactional nature of the work because, while the contract terms are always important, it is really about relationships at the end of the day,” she said. “The dynamic and personal nature of the work is what I enjoy most.”

Public Interest and Government

Fourteen percent (21/152) of 2015 graduates are working in government, and another 14 percent (21/152) are in public interest positions, including public defender offices and nonprofit organizations.

As a presidential management fellow at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., Misam Ali (’15) works on public interest matters like immigration and employment law.

“The support I received from the Career Development Office, Dean Weiser, and my professors helped me feel confident venturing outside of Colorado to pursue a competitive and prestigious fellowship,” Ali said.

Summer jobs at the State Department in Geneva, Switzerland; the Denver Office of Economic Development; and the Colorado League of Charter Schools further cemented her interest in government work. She also found advocates in the Colorado Law alumni network in D.C., as well as alumni who were previous presidential management fellows.

“Working in government, you’re working for the greater good. It’s the most gratifying feeling to know that what you’re doing is helping people and affecting the laws that are being put into place,” Ali said.

Paul José (’15) is also devoting his career to the public sector. After working in several public interest and nonprofit organizations before law school, he knew that he wanted to be an immigration lawyer or a public defender to help others through tough legal situations. During law school, he completed two semesters of Professor Ann England’s Criminal Defense Clinic, where he was able to put theory into practice before spending his 2L summer working at the Jefferson County Public Defender Office. In August 2015, he began his position as a public defender in Pueblo.

“Ann England’s Criminal Defense Clinic was one of the most impactful things I did during law school,” José said. “Taking the clinic for two semesters really gave me a leg up for my 2L summer job because I had the opportunity to work closely with clients and practice things like negotiating and arguing bond conditions, which is a huge part of my job now.”

“I can’t really see myself doing anything else,” he said. “I love what I’m doing and hope to grow in my role.”

Clerkships

The number of employed students who accepted judicial clerkships rose from 12 percent of the class of 2014 graduates to 20 percent (32/152) of 2015 graduates, placing Colorado Law at 18th in the nation for the percentage of graduates accepting full-time clerkships lasting one year or more with federal, state, and local judges.

Mike Bohan (’15) began his clerkship with Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica Márquez last August. He was drawn to clerking for the intellectual challenge and the opportunity to explore a range of legal issues, he said. After his clerkship, he will head to Fennemore Craig, P.C., where he hopes to continue working at the appellate level.

“The best thing about an appellate judicial clerkship is that you are exposed to a wide variety of interesting and challenging legal issues,” he said. “Colorado Law's diverse and challenging curriculum coupled with its experienced and multi-talented staff has prepared me to tackle these issues with confidence.”

Private Practice

Private practice remains the single most popular employer for 2015 graduates, with 30 percent of employed 2015 graduates (44/152) working for law firms in private practice 10 months after graduation. Of those employed in private practice, 93 percent are in full-time, long-term positions. Thirteen graduates reported employment at a law firm recognized as one of the nation’s largest 350 firms by the National Law Journal (NLJ). An additional six graduates will join NLJ350 or NLJ250 firms at the conclusion of their judicial clerkships, which usually last one year.

Kari Henning (’15) points to the diversity of the work as a reason why she wanted to join the firm Hoskin, Farina & Kampf in Grand Junction, Colorado. After interning with the firm for two summers during law school, she had the opportunity to work on a wide range of cases dealing with everything from water law, land use issues, and real estate transactions to construction defect and other commercial litigation. Now, as an associate attorney there, she enjoys growing her career in a smaller community without the crowds of the Front Range.

“It's really something new and challenging every day, and it's been great to help people and businesses in a variety of situations,” Henning said.

"For three years, the members of the class of 2015 took ownership of their careers," said Todd Rogers, assistant dean for career development. "They embraced the academic challenges of law school and worked hard to blend in meaningful work experience. We are very proud of their successes."

Colorado remains the top choice for graduates, with 83 percent of employed graduates working in the state. Most graduates (87 percent) remain in the Mountain region, which includes Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

View a complete report of the class of 2015’s employment data, including a list of employers.

A look at some of the career paths taken by members of the class of 2015, whose overall employment outcomes placed Colorado Law at #16 in the nation.

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Colorado Law 16th in Nation for Employment

Anonymous — Wed, 11 May 2016 18:15:25 +0000

Colorado Law 16th in Nation for Employment Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/11/2016 - 12:15

The employment rate of University of Colorado Law School graduates is at a seven-year high, with 96 percent of 2015 graduates employed 10 months after graduation, which ranks 16th in the nation.

Of the 159 class of 2015 graduates, 152 reported employment 10 months after graduation (March 15, 2016) in full- or part-time, long- (at least one year) or short-term jobs.

Additionally, 84 percent of graduates reported full-time, long-term employment for which bar passage was required or a JD was an advantage, ranking Colorado Law 31st in the nation. The national average for this measure of post-graduate employment for the class of 2015 is 70 percent, as reported by the American Bar Association.

“Beginning at 1L orientation, Colorado Law faculty, staff, and the Career Development Office encourage our students to take a purposeful and creative approach to planning their careers,” said Dean Phil Weiser. “The CDO works with a range of employers and offers resources, programming, and networking events to help students pursue opportunities, and continues to support our alumni even after they’ve graduated.”

Of the other law schools ranked in the top 16 for employment outcomes, Colorado Law’s resident tuition is the third lowest and nonresident tuition is the second lowest.

As the cost of legal education continues to rise, Colorado Law has held tuition constant for the past four years while increasing scholarships 101 percent. In June 2015, Business Insider reported that Colorado Law ranked in the top five best law schools for its financial aid and in the top 10 best law schools for networking, according to a poll of more than 10,000 former and current law school students.

UPDATE: Four of the class of 2015 graduates who were seeking permanent employment as of March 15, 2016 secured full-time, long-term positions by May 2, 2016, bringing the percentage of those employed in full-time law or law-related jobs lasting one more or more to 86 percent. Overall employment remains at 96 percent.

The employment rate of University of Colorado Law School graduates is at a seven-year high, with 96 percent of 2015 graduates employed 10 months after graduation, which ranks 16th in the nation.

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