Program Overview
The Rural Justice Internships Year 1 provide students with an immersive opportunity to grow in their legal skills while living and working in a rural Colorado community.
Students take part in a combined judicial and private practice/public interest based internship in one of six sites across Colorado. Interns are placed in communities in pairs. In addition to the unique blend of time working in the courts and working with a community partner, interns also have Fridays off, to explore their community and the natural beauty of the surrounding areas!
Year 2 is an advanced program for students who have completed Year 1. The second year equips students with the practical skills and networks to help them launch their careers in rural Colorado. In 2026 we will be piloting Year 2 and plan to have it fully available in 2027.
Why Rural Colorado?
The first reason is the need. You can have an outsized impact on a community by living and working in a rural legal desert. 60% of Colorado counties are effectively legal deserts and another 15-20% are on the verge of becoming legal deserts. That means across most of the state there are few or no attorneys to help people find legal solutions to common but life-altering legal problems. Past interns have said they felt like rock stars in their communities during their internships because their presence was so universally appreciated.
The second reason is the opportunity. As a law student, you can build relationships with judges and other community leaders that would not normally be possible in larger communities. And life happens at a different pace in rural communities. In rural Colorado, it can be much easier to find a work-life balance that is more difficult to achieve in busier metro areas.
