Greater Colorado
Law Student Experience
The Greater Colorado Law Student Experience is an internship/externship opportunity desigend to expose law students to legal practice in a rural Colorado community.
The Greater Colorado Law student expereince provides students with an immersive opportuntiy to grow in your legal skills while living and working in a rural Colroado community.
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Students take part in a combined Judicial and Private Practice/Public Interest based internship in one of six sites across Colorado. 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 Greater Colorado!
To Apply
Send your Resume & Cover Letter to
By February 14th
The first reason to explore a legal career in rural Colorado is the need. Twenty-six of Colorado's 64 counties meet the ABA's definition for a rural legal desert.* When you take into account the number of attorneys in rural communities who are judges, work for the government, or hold some other position that makes them unavailable to help address their community's civil legal needs, a full 60% of Colorado counties are effectively legal deserts and another 15-20% are on the verge of being legal deserts. That means that across most of the state, when people have life problems, there are not enough attorneys and other legal resources to help people find legal solutions to those problems. Attorneys are essential to helping people know how to navigate the legal system and understand what legal remedies exist to solve their problems. Attorneys also play a vital role in the economic health of a community, helping to establish small businesses and to plan for the seamless transfer of property from one generation to the next.
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The second reason to explore a legal career in rural Colorado is the opportunity. As a student you can begin to build relationships with judges and other community leaders that you might not have access to in larger communities. You can see the impact of your work, on individuals and in the community as a whole. Past interns have said they felt like "rock stars" in the community during their internship because their presence was so universally appreciated. 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.
The Details
Dates: June 2nd - July 25th (8 weeks)
Stipend: Interns receive a $5000 to help cover the cost of housing and living expenses.
Other Dates: In addition to the program dates, we ask all interns to participate in two pre-intership meetings and a post-internship wrap up.***
Sites
When you apply to the Greater Colorado Law Student Experience you apply to the program as a whole. after the interview process, interns are assigned to a site. We will take preferences and connections to sites into consideration, but we do not guarantee placement at any specific site. Each site brings unique opportunities to discover different parts of the state. In 2025 our sites are:
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Alamosa​ Central Mountains
Cortez Northern CO
Pueblo Southeastern CO
Other Information
Rural Justice Internships
Year 1
The Rural Justice Internships are designed to expose law students to legal practice in a rural Colorado community.
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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
Program Details - Year 1
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Internship Dates: June 1st - July 24th (8 weeks)
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Interviews begin in early January and positions will be filled on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until February 13th, 2026
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Stipends: Interns receive $5000 to help cover the cost of housing, transportation, and living expenses
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If you have any questions, email Jason Roberts at jroberts@coloradoaccesstojustice.org
Sites
When you apply to the Rural Justice Internships you apply to the program as a whole, not a specific site. Students who are offered positions in the program get to choose their site on a first come first serve basis, once they accept the offer. Each site brings unique opportunities to discover different parts of the state. In 2026 our sites are:
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Alamosa
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Cortez
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Pueblo
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Central Mountains
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Northern CO
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Southeastern CO
Other Information
Rural communities are often spread over a large geographical area. Our sites require interns to have reliable transportation to move between courthouses and around the judicial district. A car in good working order is required for this internship.
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Housing costs vary from site to site. We will help interns find housing in each placement. Interns are assigned to placements in pairs. In most circumstances, housing is more affordable if interns choose to share housing with the other intern assigned to the same site (not a requirement, just something to be aware of).