Published: July 30, 2024

The summer months serve as an excellent opportunity for our Law Buffs to dive into their areas of interest and take on summer jobs and internships that help them develop their legal skills. In this series, we are thrilled to highlight just a few of our rising 2L and 3L students and learn more about what they are up to this summer.Ìý

This week, we are highlighting Julia O’Rourke ‘26, who is working as a Law Clerk at the Boulder County Attorney’s Office. Ìý

Why were you interested in working at the County Attorney’s Office?Ìý

JO: I became interested in this role when I learned about the wide range of civil matters the office's attorneys cover. I wanted a comprehensive overview of several practice areas during my 1L summer, and it has been exciting to be exposed to lots of areas including employment, family law, housing, and land use.ÌýÌýJulia

What has your day to day been like in this job? ÌýÌý

JO: I spend most of my days researching legal questions and drafting memos for my supervising attorneys. Sometimes I have the chance to sit in on hearings and client meetings as well. Much of my day is spent collaborating with my two co-clerks, who are both Colorado Law peers!Ìý

So far, a highlight has been better understanding the behind-the-scenes work that goes into helping Boulder County residents thrive. There are so many dedicated staff members around the county who are doing amazing work in public housing, parks and recreation, and so much more. I appreciate the chance to see how the Attorney's Office can help these departments achieve their goals.Ìý

Another fun moment was tubing to work with the County Attorney's Office team! Ìý

What do you hope to learn in this role?ÌýÌý

JO: I'm hoping to learn how to best support clients, especially because the County is an in-house model of sorts. So far, my supervising attorneys have offered helpful tips for how to guide clients through nuanced legal processes!Ìý

What are you up to this summer besides work?ÌýÌý

JO: I got married at the start of the summer which was a huge highlight! Now, I'm maximizing all that Boulder has to offer (gravel biking, trail running, swimming, hiking) alongside friends and training for a triathlon in August!Ìý

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