Who We Are
The Director | The Clinic Fellow | Former Fellows | Student Attorneys | The Erik Bluemel International Environmental Law Scholar | Former Student Attorneys
The Director
Since 2008, the Director of the Environmental Law Clinic is Professor Michael Harris, whose career has focused exclusively on the practice of environmental law since 1995. Professor Harris’s faculty biography can be found here.
The Clinic Fellow
The Environmental Law Clinic offers post-J.D. clinical teaching fellowship. The three-year fellowship provides an opportunity to supervise and train law students representing clients. The fellow also teaches classes, attends workshops designed to train the fellow as a clinical teacher and pursues a scholarly agenda. During the first year, the fellow is given the opportunity to tailor the fellowship to his/her particular areas of interest within the Environmental Law Clinic. All clinic fellows (both environmental and civil rights) are integrated into the intellectual life of the law school and the larger University. Fellows are invited to attend faculty workshops at which works in progress will be presented, and to attend mentoring sessions for faculty.
The current fellow (through 2012) is Kevin Lynch. Kevin formerly worked with the Environmental Defense Fund in Boulder, Colorado. Kevin has experience working at the state and federal level on regulatory and permitting issues related to climate change, air quality, and energy policy, as well as litigation experience in state and federal courts. Kevin’s faculty biography can be found here.
Former Fellows
- Ashley Wilmes, currently in private practice in Boulder, Colorado.
- Kay Bond, currently a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center.
Student Attorneys
Each year the Clinic trains approximately 12 J.D. students to practice environmental law. The goal of the Environmental Law Clinic is to protect the environment while teaching students practical legal skills that will translate into any practice area. The current student attorneys for 2011-2012 are:
Amanda Becker
Chris Boeckx
Mason Brown
Kristen Butler
Casey Giltner
Mac Joyce
Keslie Kandt
Jillian Kysor
Chelsea Peterson
Justine Shepherd
Toby Weiner
Jessica Zaegel
The Erik Bluemel International Environmental Law Scholar
The Erik B. Bluemel International Environmental Law Scholar was created to celebrate the life and memory of University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professor Erik B. Bluemel, who passed away in May 2009. Erik strongly supported legal advocacy and research regarding the impact of human-induced environmental degradation on the lives of indigenous peoples around the world. The selected scholar will work directly with an international non-profit client and extensively study the effects of development activity on the environment and human rights. The specific project will be tailored to the needs of the client and the interest of the student, and may include consideration of the effects of hydroelectric development, fishery degradation, climate change, agriculture, human conflict, or resource extraction. By working with international environmental groups, such as EcoJustice or the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), the Bluemel Scholar will gain both practical and scholarly experience that will enrich their understanding of their chosen topic.
To learn more about life as a Bluemel Scholar, and how to apply for the upcoming academic year, please look here.
The current Bluemel Scholar is Andrew L. Seidel. Andrew graduated cum laude from Tulane University with a B.S. in neuroscience and environmental science and magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School where he was awarded the Haber J. McCarthy Award for excellence in environmental law. In addition, Andrew studied human rights and international law at the University of Amsterdam and environmental science on Semester at Sea. His essay on the role of religion in government and the founding of our nation placed second in the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s essay contest. Andrew’s work in the clinic focuses on the environmental and human rights impacts of mining on the indigenous people of British Columbia. This former Grand Canyon tour guide is recently engaged to Colorado Public Defender Elizabeth Cavell and enjoys photography, hiking, reading and playing with his new puppy, Moose.
Former Student Attorneys
2008-2009
Allison Eastley – 3L
Amelia Piggott – Enforcement Attorney for the EPA
Catherine Brady – Clerk for the Nevada Supreme Court
Christopher Hudson – White and Jankowski, LLP
David Mason – LLM Environmental and Natural Resources Law program at DU
Jake Schlesinger – Private Practice
Katherine Johnston – 3L
Ryan Malarkey – Clerk for the Fort Collins Superior Court
Sarah Aprils – 3L
Shawn Cumberlege – Private Practice
2009-2010
Craig Adams
Tony Basile
Christopher Brown
Sarah Coleman
Whitney Ferrell
Kate Finnigan
Alyson Gould
John McKee
April Sheperd
Allison Vetter
Alison Wali
Rob Westfall
Dan Vedra
2010-2011
Tara Buchalter: Tara is a Colorado native and spent her college years skiing, hiking and running at CU Boulder. Between ski days, Tara earned a B.A. in Economics and graduated Cum Laude. After extensive travelling in South Africa, Tara decided to return to the states to pursue a law degree. After so many years of playing in Colorado’s open spaces, environmental law was a natural choice for Tara. By her third year of law school, she was ready for some experience outside the classroom and got involved with the Environmental Law Clinic. Tara hopes to remain in Colorado practicing environmental and land use law after she graduates.
Stephanie Fairbanks: Stephanie is a 3L from Goodland, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Before coming to law school Stephanie worked for Audubon of Kansas, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to conservation and stewardship of natural ecosystems in Kansas and its surrounding states. Stephanie came to law school so that she would one day be able to help those who are not able to help themselves. She has a strong interest in public interest work, and has had the opportunity to intern with organizations such as the U.S. EPA and the Colorado State Public Defender. As a student attorney in the Environmental Law Clinic, she is able to represent environmental and wildlife organizations and gain practical experience in environmental litigation. After graduation, Stephanie hopes to either continue her work in environmental law or pursue a career in criminal defense.
Myra Gottl: Myra was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and like most Midwesterners, she longed to live in a state with better weather. She attended Creighton University and received a degree in Journalism. While in college, she helped start a women’s lacrosse team, was the assistant editor for the school newspaper, and worked the crowd as the school mascot, Billy Bluejay. After graduating, Myra knew she wanted to come to law school, but decided to take a year off. During her year off, she started her own web design business and also worked as a dog trainer. After she visited DU, Myra knew it was where she wanted to study law. The environmental law program and the clinical program sealed her decision. Myra wanted to work in the clinic to gain practical experience while she works on projects she’s passionate about. After graduation, she plans to continue doing environment and natural resources legal work, with a government agency, a non-profit organization, or in a firm. As an avid camper and snowboarder, she hopes to stay in Colorado so she and her four-legged best friend Margot can keep exploring the outdoors.
Tripp Hall: Originally from Mocksville, North Carolina, Tripp attended Appalachian State University where he received his B.S. in History and Secondary Education. After a brief stint teaching school, Tripp took a job as a legal assistant where he worked for two years before coming to law school. Tripp’s passion for nature and the outdoors was the driving force for his decision to come to law school, with hopes of practicing Environmental Law. The Rocky Mountains and awesome winters made the University of Denver an ideal location. He joined the Clinic to gain practical experience outside the classroom. After graduation, Tripp hopes to continue doing environmental legal work.
Todd Likman: Todd was born and raised in beautiful northern New Jersey. For college, he headed south to Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to study Political Science and Spanish. Todd’s most memorable college experiences include spending a week in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains with Outward Bound, and studying abroad for a semester at the University of Salamanca, Spain. After graduating from Wake in the midst of the recession of 2008, Todd went directly to law school to pursue his interest in environmental policy and law. Todd is a firm believer that the activities of human beings will eventually have no value, economic or otherwise, in the absence of sustainable environmental policies. Since law school began, Todd has volunteered for Colorado Environmental Coalition, a local environmental non-profit, and with the EPA’s Legal Counsel Division within the Office of Criminal Enforcement and Forensics Training at the Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado. Once he learned about the Environmental Law Clinic, Todd knew that participating, as a Student Attorney, would be a great way to fuel his passion and to learn how to become a successful environmental attorney. After law school, Todd endeavors to remain out west and practice in the field of environmental law.
Kelly Miller: Kelly is was born and raised in Hawaii and attended Santa Clara University in San Jose, California for undergrad where she received her degrees in Marketing and Spanish Studies. After college Kelly and her husband moved back to his home state of Colorado to take advantage of the great outdoors. She then spent a year working for a small Immigration law firm where she gained some insight into the legal world and saw the benefits of being the lawyer rather than the office assistant. During her first year of law school she discovered her passion for natural resources and environmental law, especially water law, which is so pertinent to both Hawaii and Colorado. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her husband and 3 dogs. Kelly hopes one day to continue in natural resource and water law, hopefully with the Fish and Wildlife Service or the Department of Land and Natural Resources in Hawaii.
Antonio Morales: Antonio was born in a suburb of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned a BA in Journalism & Media. During his time at OU, Antonio won a summer internship at the Sundance Film Institute—working in the documentary division. There, he worked with an array of socially conscious filmmakers who inspired his interest in advocacy. As a result, Antonio decided that the University of Denver’s law school provided the best path to becoming an effective advocate for legal and social causes. Particularly concerning to him are: energy policy, sustainable development and environmental justice. At DU, Antonio works as a staff editor on the Water Law Review and recently externed at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Antionio is especially excited about the clinic because it’s an opportunity to kick classroom hypotheticals to the curb and solve real, pressing, legal problems. Aside from school, Antonio likes to explore Denver’s eclectic urban neighborhoods using the city’s bike-sharing program. After law school, Antonio hopes to work in the renewable energy field.
Nicholas Murray: Born in Los Angeles, Nick quickly relocated at age two to South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Realizing that he could not make a living waterskiing, snow skiing, and trolling the streets of Reno, Nick moved to the grandest place on earth — Spokane, Washington. In Spokane, Nick spent his time as a student at Gonzaga University, a paralegal at a law firm, and a trail running goon. Needing some time away from the glitz and glamour of the Lilac City, Nick moved to Denver for law school. Nick came to law school because, as a kid, he always thought that using words to persuade others was truly impressive. And, Nick knew there was very little he could do with an undergraduate degree in political science and criminal justice. Nick chose to work in the Environmental Law Clinic because he wants to keep Colorado colorful. Nick now spends his time with his life partner Lou the Weimaraner, keeping United Airlines in business, watching the Dodgers beat the Rockies, and saving the environment one legal memo at a time.
Aaron O’Quinn: Aaron moved to Colorado from Louisiana where he majored in lighting design. He came to the University of Denver for law school after living on the western slope for a few years where he became interested in environmental issues and natural resource development. He is hoping to gain valuable research, writing, and litigation skills by participating in the clinic, as well as give a voice to people through the citizen suit provisions of the various environmental laws.
Patrick Spellman: Patrick grew up in Northern New Jersey and received a B.A. in political science from Temple University. After college, Patrick began teaching gymnastics and motor skills development classes to children in Philadelphia and later, in Chicago. In addition to working, Patrick devoted most of his spare time to playing guitar in a band while living in Philadelphia. Patrick decided to apply to law school because he saw the law as a unique vehicle for providing protection to interests that may be otherwise underrepresented in our country and around the world. Specifically, Patrick chose the University of Denver, in part, for its strong
environmental law program. Upon graduating from law school, Patrick plans to pursue a career in environmental law, a little closer to his family, in the northeast.
Daniel Valenzuela: Daniel is originally from Burbank, California. He went to San Diego State University and majored in Political Science. After college, Daniel played semi-professional soccer with the San Diego Gauchos and worked at a local law firm. Looking for a change of scenery, Daniel moved to Denver to pursue a Master’s in Natural Resources. The experience opened his eyes to the world of environmental law and its impact on poor and minority communities. Hoping to make a difference, Daniel attended law school and applied to the Environnmental Law Clinic. After law school, Daniel plans to pursue a career in environmental law specifically focused on air pollution issues in minority communities in Denver or Southern California.
Eric Wilson: Eric was born in Austin, Texas, but raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he earned his B.S. in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Natural Resources. It was during his undergraduate career that Eric began to explore the social geography of race and ethnicity in the U.S. through an environmental lens. Later, he studied the ways agricultural policy impacted sustainable development patterns in Africa through a series of educational modules called Sustainable Societies in Africa. After graduation, Eric worked for the city-county Health Department, where part of his role was to enforce safety, health, and environmental regulations at rental properties located in a predominately poor community of color. Most recently, his interests have turned toward natural resource management and development. Seeing the power and importance of the law in each of those areas propelled Eric toward law school and his experiences led him to the Environmental Law Clinic. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue a career in Environmental law, more specifically, Intellectual Property in Environmentally Sustainable Technologies.