The State Services Section provides legal counsel to executive branch agencies and their boards, state elected officials, the judicial department, and Colorado’s institutions of higher education. State Services attorneys represent these clients in litigation in federal, state, and administrative courts, provide general counsel advice and assist with rulemaking. The State Services Section covers a wide variety of subject matters and frequently litigates constitutional and civil rights cases.

Interns in the State Services Section will provide legal research and writing to support litigation and to answer clients’ legal questions and may also collaborate on cases that involve legal questions of first impression and public policy matters of statewide or national importance. They may draft motions, pleadings, legal advice memoranda, and briefs, and participate in various aspects of discovery. Opportunities frequently arise to participate in moot panels for and to observe oral arguments, to attend and observe board meetings, to participate in client meetings, and to work on projects involving other services to the client such as preparing trainings and policy manuals. Some projects may result in a writing sample or in the opportunity for qualified interns with Student Practice Act certification to appear in court. State Services interns receive projects from each of the different units in order to gain exposure to a wide variety of legal practice modes and subject matter but may request to work on projects that are of particular interest or may choose to concentrate their time on work for a specific unit.

The Criminal Justice Section investigates and prosecutes crimes throughout the state through both original jurisdiction and in partnership with or at the request of state and federal prosecutors and law enforcement. The section consists of the four units: Special Prosecutions, Financial Fraud, and Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training ("POST"). Case matters include, but are not limited to, environmental violations, human trafficking, drug trafficking, securities fraud, insurance fraud, peace officer certification and training, and multi-jurisdictional organized crime.

We are seeking interns with a passion for litigation and pursuing justice, as well as the ability to analyze complex cases. Interns will work closely with attorneys, paralegals, and investigators to learn about what goes into preparing major cases for presentation to the statewide grand jury and trial. Interns will research and draft motions on unique legal questions. Interns will also have the opportunity to observe pre- and post-trial hearings and may have the opportunity to observe trial itself.

The Criminal Appeals section represents law enforcement interests and the people of Colorado when criminal defendants challenge their felony convictions in state and federal appellate courts. Attorneys in the Criminal Appeals section are among the most experienced appellate advocates in Colorado, and they handle criminal cases ranging from relatively minor sentencing and postconviction appeals to appeals involving complex white-collar crime, homicide, child abuse, and sexual assault.

Interns with the Criminal Appeals section will have the opportunity to write their own appellate briefs under the supervision of 2-3 section attorneys.  Interns will read the defendant’s opening brief, review the trial court record, research the legal issues raised, and draft an answer brief to be filed in the Colorado Court of Appeals.  Criminal Appeals interns also participate in brainstorming and moot court sessions to help section attorneys prepare for oral argument and observe those oral arguments in the Colorado Supreme Court and Colorado Court of Appeals.

The Consumer Protection Section is dedicated to protecting Colorado consumers and businesses by upholding state and federal laws designed to maintain a fair and competitive business environment while protecting consumers from being targets of fraud. Whether combating scammers attempting to concoct elaborate investment schemes, bait-and-switch advertising, unscrupulous lenders, or fraud on older Coloradans, the Consumer Protection Section is devoted to keeping Coloradans safe. We have seven legal units, plus a unit of investigators:  Consumer Fraud,  Consumer Credit, Consumer Credit Enforcement, Antitrust, Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate,  Opioid, and  Data Privacy & Security.

Consumer Protection interns are very hands on and work directly with the attorneys in all of our units. From observing depositions, attending court hearings, drafting memos, conducting interviews, or doing legal research, our interns perform a variety of tasks and are offered lots of different opportunities. Interns serve a critical role in supporting investigatory matters as well as active litigation. As an intern in Consumer Protection, you can expect to be integrated into multi-member case teams with responsibility for challenging and substantive work product.

The Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section provides general counsel support and representation to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Public Safety, the Division of Risk Management, the Division of Workers’ Compensation Special Funds Unit, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and provides general employment advice to all state agencies.  The section defends all state agencies, institutions of higher education (except the University of Colorado), and employees sued for money damages in state and federal court. This section litigates a wide variety of cases, including cases involving allegations of personal injuries, property damage, employment discrimination, and constitutional violations. The section also represents state agencies and institutions of higher education before the State Personnel Board, the Office of Administrative Courts, and appellate courts, and brings administrative cases against private parties on behalf of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

As an intern in the Civil Litigation and Employment Law Section, you may have the opportunity to observe trials, hearings, and depositions. You will develop your legal writing and research skills by assisting the section with researching complex legal issues and drafting legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, and briefs. You will have the opportunity to observe and assist with all stages of litigation, including answering complaints, interviewing witnesses, assisting with discovery, collaborating on case strategy, and observing court appearances.

We are looking for interns who have a strong desire to litigate in a public law setting.

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (“R&R”) is comprised of ten separate units that provide litigation and general counsel support to a variety of state regulatory agencies, boards and commissions, including the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), which licenses multiple professions, occupations and businesses in Colorado. The agencies include: Department of Revenue’s Specialized Business Group (Auto Industry, Firearms Dealers, Gaming, Liquor & Tobacco, Marijuana & Natural Medicine, and Racing; the Trial Staff of the Public Utilities Commission within the Department of Regulatory Agencies, the Property Tax Administrator and Property Tax Division within the Department of Local Affairs, statewide clients regarding bankruptcy matters; the Division of Professions and Occupations (doctors, nurses, dentists, plumbers, accountants, chiropractors, massage therapists, barbers and cosmetology, etc.); Division of Banking; Division of Financial Services; Division of Insurance; Division of Real Estate; Conservation Division, and Division of Securities.

As an intern in this section, you have will the opportunity to develop your litigation and general counsel skills including: assisting attorneys with cutting-edge research and writing assignments impacting new and existing regulatory frameworks, learning about the administrative process, observing attorneys advising their clients on litigation and policy issues, learning how agencies respond to legislative changes and implement new regulatory rules through the rule-making process, participating in enforcement actions before the Department of Revenue’s Hearing Division and administrative cases before the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts and before the Public Utilities Commission, assisting with litigation matters in state and federal courts, including drafting pleadings, motions, assisting with discovery, and collaborating on pretrial issues. In helping represent various client agencies, interns in R&R will serve the people of Colorado and help ensure consumer protection and fair agency oversight of licensees. If certified under the Student Practice Act, an intern may act as first chair in administrative hearing proceedings under the supervision of an attorney. In addition to developing a wide substantive skill set, an internship with R&R provides multiple networking and professional development opportunities.

The Natural Resources and Environment Section (“NRE”) works to protect and defend the interests of the state of Colorado and its citizens in all areas of natural resources law and environmental law.  The section is made up of nine units that represent and advise state agencies and boards that regulate and oversee the development, use and conservation of Colorado’s natural resources and the quality of Colorado’s environment. Those units are the: Air Quality Unit; Water Quality Unit; Hazardous and Solid Waste/CERCLA Litigation Unit; Water Resources Unit; Water Conservation Unit; Federal and Interstate Water Unit; Resource Conservation Unit; Parks, Wildlife and Trust Lands Unit, and the Energy Unit.

NRE interns are not assigned to a particular Unit. They work directly with assigning attorneys on projects ranging from research and memo drafting to assisting with discovery, trial preparation and other litigation related matters. In addition, NRE interns attend client and board meetings and court appearances before administrative law judges and state and federal courts. NRE interns also meet regularly with their assigned supervisor to discuss experiences during the internship.

The Office of the Attorney General ("OAG") section includes the Attorney General, Chief Deputy, Associate Chief Deputy, Solicitor General, and professionals who oversee the department’s intergovernmental affairs, legal policy, and communications functions. The section also includes the department’s administrative and operations teams and works closely with the Community Engagement Division. The team will assign research and writing projects on a range of topics related to section and department priorities. Projects will include a mix of traditional legal research and more policy-focused projects. OAG interns may draft research memoranda on the department’s legal authority, and on constitutional topics or policy analysis related to the department’s advice to clients, and conduct research for potential litigation. OAG interns may also conduct research and analysis to inform OAG engagement.

Civil Litigation and Employment Law

CLEL practices in both state and federal appellate courts. CLEL attorneys litigate appellate matters at all levels of state and federal courts. Interns can assist attorneys with drafting appellate briefs, attend mock oral arguments, and attend oral arguments at the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court.

Consumer Protection

CP interns may have the opportunity to assist in appellate work depending on our case docket. They would work on appellate briefing, legal research, and be able to observe oral argument. We have had matters be appealed all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Criminal Appeals

Criminal Appeals interns draft answer briefs to be filed in the Colorado Court of Appeals for felony criminal cases from throughout Colorado.  Interns also help section attorneys prepare for oral arguments and observe oral arguments.

Criminal Justice

Interns may be asked to assist attorneys prepare arguments related to appeals of CJS cases, in conjunction with the Criminal Appeals Section. Interns will be encouraged to observe any moot arguments and oral arguments related to these cases.

Natural Resources and Environment

NRE attorneys frequently work on appellate level cases in state court and occasionally before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. NRE’s water attorneys in particular have active appellate practices under Colorado’s unique water court system where appeals of designated water judges’ decisions go directly to the Colorado Supreme Court. Interns assist with researching and drafting appellate briefs as well as participating in moot courts with attorneys preparing for oral arguments.

Office of the Attorney General

OAG interns may research and outline substantive arguments for briefs, research constitutional topics relevant to pending appeals, draft memoranda to provide context into current litigation landscape.

Revenue & Regulatory Law

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (“R&R”) represents numerous state regulatory agencies, boards, commissions, and ombudsmen, including those within the Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Regulatory Agencies in a variety of venues including appeals before administrative agencies, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to assist accomplished appellate advocates in drafting briefs and preparing for oral argument. This may include analysis of the issues presented, record review, legal research, and citation checking. Often, the cases on appeal handled by R&R attorneys involve issues that define the scope of agency authority and address novel constitutional issues arising from state statutes.

State Services

Interns in State Services regularly research and draft portions of appellate briefs. They may also attend moots in advance of oral argument.

Civil Litigation and Employment Law

CLEL’s Department of Public Safety Unit, Employment/Personnel Unit, and Workers Compensation Unit provide general counsel advice to their client agencies. Interns draft memorandums analyzing client agency questions and may have the opportunity to present their research directly to the client. Interns can attend client meetings and assist attorneys with advising clients on legal and policy issues.

Consumer Protection

The consumer credit group regularly advises the Administrator, provide advice in client meetings, memoranda, and regular communications.

Natural Resources and Environment

NRE attorneys frequently provide advice to clients on matters unique to government entities, including requests for information under Colorado’s Open Records Act and obtaining access to conduct regulatory inspections. Interns assist with background research and take an active role in meetings with clients in recommending a particular position or course of action.

Office of the Attorney General

OAG interns may support the staff of the OAG in their work to advise department leadership on policy positions and legal postures. OAG interns also may also contribute to departmental priorities and special projects.

Revenue & Regulatory Law

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section represents client agencies most of which are housed within the Department of Revenue, Department of Regulatory Agencies, and Department of Agriculture, which license and regulate various businesses and professionals. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work with experienced attorneys on a broad spectrum of general counsel matters and to develop your client communication skills. You will prepare for and attend client meetings, prepare legal research memoranda, assist in drafting agency position statements, learn skills and techniques in articulating the legal impact of agency policy decisions, participate in advising clients regarding the legislative and rulemaking process, and provide litigation risk analysis.

State Services

Nearly all of State Services’ units provide general counsel services to state agencies, ranging from the state’s institutions of higher education to the Secretary of State and from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance. Interns often attend client meetings and may assist attorneys in advising clients.

Civil Litigation and Employment Law

CLEL provides numerous opportunities to interns to develop litigation skills. CLEL attorneys routinely litigate in state, federal, and administrative courts. Interns have the opportunit to assist attorneys in all stages of litigation: preparing complaints or charging documents, drafting dispositive motions (motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, etc), preparing for and attending depositions, witness preparation meetings, and trial strategy meetings, and attending court hearings and trials. Interns may apply to practice under the Student Practice Act and, if approved, may appear in court on certain matters.

Consumer Protection

Interns assist the section in litigating pending matters in federal, state, and administrative courts. As case team members, interns assist attorneys in, among other things, preparing for depositions, motion practice, and legal research. In preparation for litigation, interns assist with drafting litigation or strategy memos, conducting witness interviews, and analyzing documents. Interns can also assist in trial preparation.

Criminal Appeals

Criminal Appeals interns participate in brainstorming and moot court sessions to help section attorneys prepare for oral argument before the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.  In reviewing the appellate record, interns also gain exposure to a variety of litigation techniques and strategies, such as motions practice, evidentiary objections and issues, and voir dire strategies.

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Section investigates and prosecutes complex criminal cases across the state, including financial fraud, environmental crimes, human trafficking, violent crimes, and auto theft. Interns will work with attorneys from the investigative phase through post-trial matters. Interns work closely with attorneys and investigators in developing cases for charging and presentation before the Statewide Grand Jury. Interns will also be asked to research and draft trial motions, respond to defense motions, and assist in trial preparation, from witness preparation to exhibit review to researching anticipated legal issues. Interns can attend hearings and trials in various jurisdictions across Colorado.

Natural Resources and Environment

The Natural Resources and Environment Section represents various programs within Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources and Department of Public Health and Environment. NRE attorneys litigate on behalf of these clients in state and federal courts as well as the state’s Office of Administrative Courts. Interns assist NRE attorneys with: drafting pleadings and motions; conducting written discovery and depositions; and preparing for trials and hearings. While first chair litigation experience is rare, interns have ample opportunities to observe NRE attorneys in action conducting litigation-related client meetings, depositions, and courtroom appearances.

Office of the Attorney General

OAG interns may conduct research and policy analysis to advise in the department’s decision to participate in multistate litigation matters, amicus briefs, or comment letters; they may write or review legal briefs and conduct legal research.

Revenue & Regulatory Law

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (“R&R”) attorneys litigate in administrative, state, and federal courts, which offers interns a great opportunity to work with and observe experienced trial attorneys to develop their own trial advocacy skills. R&R interns participate in all aspects of trial preparation by reviewing documents, researching, drafting pleadings, and engaging in discovery. They also assist with witness and trial preparation, such as preparing direct and cross examinations, opening statements, and closing arguments. R&R interns frequently observe hearings and trials. Interns that meet the requirements of the Colorado Student Practice Act may have the opportunity to handle cases from inception to final disposition, including acting as a first or second chair at an administrative hearing.

State Services

State Services’ interns assist the section’s eight units in preparing for litigation in state and federal court, as well as administrative court. This may take the form of preparing for and attending depositions and witness prep or drafting pleadings. Interns who are 3Ls can become Student Practice Act-certified and may appear in court under an attorney’s supervision.

Civil Litigation and Employment Law

CLEL’s assists its government agency clients with rulemaking procedures and advises these clients regarding matters before the General Assembly during the legislative session. The Department of Public Safety Unit, Workers Compensation Unit, and Employment/Personnel Unit litigate administrative proceedings and advise clients regarding compliance with their regulatory schemes.

Consumer Protection

The consumer credit unit engages in rulemaking under various statutes, and has authority to pursue matters against licensees through the administrative courts. The data privacy group also recently participated in extensive rule making implementing the Colorado Privacy Act.

Criminal Justice

Interns may be asked to research pending or new legislation related to criminal law and analyze the potential impacts of such legislation on criminal prosecution.

Natural Resources and Environment

NRE’s client agencies house various boards and commissions conducting hearings and rulemakings under Colorado’s Administrative Procedures Act. NRE attorneys advise these boards and commissions as well as represent client agencies’ programs in proposing (or opposing) new regulations or in enforcement matters. Interns also assist in drafting and supporting legislation at the state and federal level on behalf of client agencies and the AGO.

Office of the Attorney General

OAG interns may support the department’s Intergovernmental Affairs team on policy research, staffing or preparation for the department’s hearing participation or stakeholder meeting(s), preparing for and staffing rulemaking events or supporting review of public comment.

Revenue & Regulatory Law

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (“R&R”) assists a variety of state regulatory agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Agriculture, and Department of Regulatory Agencies, which licenses various professions, occupations, and businesses in the state of Colorado. R&R offers interns the unique ability through hands on experience to learn about Regulatory Enforcement and the Colorado Administrative Procedures Act. You will learn the procedure to handle an administrative case from initial pleading through the administrative hearing and exceptions process. You will work closely with attorneys who advise their clients on the rulemaking process, observe industry working groups, and assist with research and drafting of agency rules in response to legislative changes for a variety of clients.

State Services

State Service’s Department of Human Services Unit litigates administrative matters. K-12 Education and the Higher Education Units also advise their clients regarding relevant matters before the General Assembly.

State Services’ interns may assist attorneys in guiding clients’ rulemaking, researching policies, and other administrative work.

Civil Litigation and Employment Law

CLEL interns engage in numerous research and writing projects throughout their internship experience. Interns research topics related to client agency legal/policy questions, trial issues, statutory interpretation and case law trends. Attorneys incorporate intern research projects into briefs, motions, and client memos. Interns may have the opportunity to present their research to client agencies and trial teams.

Consumer Protection

Interns play an important role conducting case team research. Past legal research opportunities have focused on substantive legal issues such as remedies, statutory interpretation, and procedural questions. Interns are regularly engaged in written assignments including research memoranda, motion practice, and internal strategy recommendations.

Criminal Appeals

Criminal Appeals interns research each legal issue raised in a criminal defendant’s appeal and draft a responsive answer brief. Interns may also assist attorneys with discrete research projects as needed.

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice interns have amble opportunity to research complex and unique legal issues related to criminal prosecution. This may come in the form of questions regarding the viability of charges, admissibility of evidence, and other constitutional issues. Interns typically provide their analysis to attorneys in the form of memorandums but may be asked to draft motions or responses for filing. Interns are also frequently tasked with analyzing new statutes, rules, and court opinions for the purposes of advising attorneys on how cases will be impacted. Interns should come away with a writing sample that demonstrates thoughtful analysis of difficult legal questions.

Natural Resources and Environment 

NRE interns are often assigned legal research and memo drafting projects on a wide variety of topics ranging from substantive areas of law relevant to natural resources management (water law, oil and gas, hardrock mining, state lands and wildlife) and environmental enforcement (air quality, water quality, and hazardous and solid waste) to procedural laws pertaining to litigation and administrative actions. Research memo assignments often stem from an NRE attorney’s motions practice and provide opportunities for interns to author portions of or entire court filings.

Office of the Attorney General

OAG interns may conduct research and discovery for potential litigation, draft research memoranda on the department’s legal authority, and on constitutional topics or policy analysis related to the department’s advice to clients. OAG interns may also do policy research and related writing to inform OAG priority items, speeches delivered by department leadership, and other policy related projects.

Revenue & Regulatory Law

The Revenue and Regulatory Law Section (“R&R”) offers research and writing assignments on diverse and novel legal and regulatory issues impacting its clients (i.e., state agencies, boards, commissions, and ombudsmen). R&R interns develop research plans to address the question presented, practice statutory and rule interpretation, and provide written analysis that assists attorneys with making recommendations to the clients impacting litigation and policy decisions. Our attorneys redline the drafts prepared by the interns and provide detailed feedback on the work product to assist interns in developing the tools necessary to provide concise written analysis and persuasive motions and briefs. Most interns can use their work product as writing samples.

State Services

Virtually all of State Services’ interns’ projects involve substantive legal research and writing. This may take the form of an informal memo to an attorney, a formal memo to a client, or a draft pleading. Supervising attorneys give substantive and stylistic feedback on interns’ writing. We strive to equip interns with a writing sample by the end of their internships.