The economic climate has changed drastically since 2008, and more law students are interested in using their law degrees to pursue careers that do not involve the traditional practice of law.听 A law degree is extremely versatile and equips students with a fantastic skill set that will aid them in a variety of careers.

There are a growing number of careers in the public and private sector where law degrees are highly valued and are often a preferred credential.听Examples of such careers include:

Summer Employment

Representative Employers for the Class of 2020 (1L Summer)

  • Aloha Capital (Boulder, CO)
  • Biden Foundation (Washington, DC)
  • Cablelabs (Louisville, CO)
  • The Climate Reality Project (Boulder, CO)
  • Common Cause (Washington, DC)
  • Common Sense Today (Boulder, CO)
  • HealthTrio LLC (Denver, CO)
  • Social Justice Collaborative (Oakland, CA)
  • Quidel Corporation (San Diego, CA)
  • R2 Advisors (Denver, CO)
  • Rocky Mountain Wild (Denver, CO)
  • Triangle Project (Cape Town, South Africa)
  • Wilderness Workshop (Carbondale, CO)

Representative Employers for the Class of 2019 (2L Summer)

  • CTIA - The Wireless Association (Washington, DC)
  • The Denver Museum of Nature & Science (Denver, CO)
  • Fidelity National Title Group (Omaha, NE)
  • First American Title Insurance Company (Denver, CO)
  • GDA Real Estate Services, LLC (Greenwood Village, CO)
  • International Law Commission of the United Nations (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • RE/MAX International, Inc. (Denver, CO)
  • United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) (Detroit, MI)听
  • WildEarth Guardians (Denver, CO)

Post-graduate Careers

Our post-graduate employment statistics capture employment information for our graduates in their first job after law school. This includes full-time, part-time, short-term and long-term positions.听A Juris Doctor degree was strongly valued, but not required, by the employers below. Salaries for new graduates in alternative careers range dramatically because jobs occur in both the private and public sectors, and require different skills and experience.

Class of 2017

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 16/168 (10%)
  • Mean Salary: $73,888 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $57,480 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers:听 Cablelabs; CannaRegs; Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment; Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Securities; Kingsbery CPAs; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; University of Utah Technology & Venture Commercialization

Class of 2016

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 19/184 (10%)
  • Mean Salary: $55,498 (11 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $54,000 (11 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers:听Colorado Counties, Inc.; Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; International Association of Privacy Professionals; Kingsbery CPAs, Ping Identity, Rocky Mountain PBS, US Department of Labor, US Forest Services, University of Colorado Athletics鈥擮ffice of Compliance Services

Class of 2015

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 19/159 (11.95%)
  • Mean Salary: $58,904 (15 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $52,800 (15 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers:听BlackRock, Inc.; Children's Hospital Colorado; Colorado Department of Transportation; Marywood University; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification; U.S. Senate

Class of 2014

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 21/165 (12.73%)
  • Mean Salary: $66,191 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $57,000 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers:听California Coastal Commission; Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing; Colorado Department of Transportation; Goldman Sachs; National Conference for State Legislatures; New York State Assembly

Class of 2013

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 19/176 (10.7%)
  • Mean Salary: $50,462 (14 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $53,487 (14 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers:听Atlas Towers; Colorado State Bank & Trust; Ernst & Young; Purple Land Management; Smartlink, LLC; WILD Foundation

Class of 2012

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 30/175 (17.14%)
  • Mean Salary: $61,038 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $54,000 (13 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers: AMG National Trust Bank; Adams County Combined Courts; Colorado Office of the Child's Representative; Deloitte Tax; Denver Public School District

Class of 2011

  • Number of graduates who pursued an alternative career: 19/176 (10.8%)
  • Mean Salary: $49,083 (12 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Median Salary: $50,000 (12 full-time, long-term salaries reported)
  • Representative Employers: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing; National Wildlife Federation; Stephens, Inc.; University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office

Law School Programming

Career Perspectives Series (Fall semester):听This series brings in engaging and prominent speakers to talk about the various practices of law.听Panelists have included representatives from:

  • Colorado State Bank and Trust, Relationship Associate
  • CoreSite, Sales Enablement Manager
  • Conscience Bay Company, President
  • DISH Network, Licensing and Compliance Manager
  • Office of Colorado Senator Mike Johnston, Chief of Staff
  • University of Colorado Police Department, Officer
  • Zayo Group, Rotational Project Manager

Hot Jobs Series (Spring semester):听This series includes several panels highlighting new and emerging careers, such as contract drafting and negotiation, energy work, policy and advocacy, risk management and compliance. Recent speakers were from:

  • City of Boulder, Sustainability Specialist
  • Children's Hospital Colorado, Contract Specialist
  • Chipotle, Compliance Specialist
  • Crestone Capital, Wealth Management Advisor
  • Colorado Supreme Court Library, Law Librarian
  • Environmental Management & Planning Solutions, Inc., Environmental Planner
  • SRS Acquiom, Associate Director and Manager of Contract Compliance

JD Pathways: This annual, all-day career conference features over 70 employers. At our Seventh Annual JD Pathways event in January, 2018, alternative employers included:

  • American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, Research and Policy Associate
  • Boulder Housing Partners, Director of Real Estate Development
  • Bridge to Justice, Executive Director
  • Native American Rights Fund, Executive Director
  • Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Executive Director
  • Tesla, Senior Policy Advisor
  • U.S. Bank, Vice President
  • University of Colorado, Associate Ombuds

Wednesday Morning Coffee Series: This casual event series gives students the chance to chat with attorneys in a variety of fields to learn about different career paths and areas of law while enjoying free coffee and bagels. Recent alternative employers included:

  • Colorado Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Chair
  • KGNU Public Radio, Station Manager
  • NetApp Capital Solutions, Legal Department Director
  • Town听of Crested Butte, Mayor
  • U.S. Department of State, Diplomat-In-Residence for the Rocky Mountain听region
  • Western Area Power Administration, Chief of Staff