Colorado Law’s centers have earned national prominence for their research, publications, and leading conferences that debate legal and policy issues, foster practical solutions and innovative ideas, facilitate networking, and produce scholarship. Students are an integral part of the centers. Students may work as volunteers, externs, or research assistants on research projects, reports, newsletters, and events. In addition, students will have unique access to national and local policymakers, researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and legal practitioners in many areas of the law.
Named in honor of the retired Supreme Court Justice and CU alumnus, the center was founded in 1990 to enhance the study and teaching of Constitutional law and stimulate public debate and understanding of our Constitutional system. Each year, the center gathers politicians, academics, and practitioners for the Ira C. Rothgerber, Jr. Conference. Recent topics have included home rule, reapportioning Colorado, state initiatives, academic freedom, and conscience and the free exercise of religion.
As a nonpartisan forum, this center develops innovative ideas dealing with energy and environmental security issues through interdisciplinary research and policy. It moves beyond research to create practical real-world strategies and solutions that address local, state, national, and international issues. Major projects include EnergyPledges (a global watchdog for international sustainable energy commitments), President’s Climate Action Plan, Colorado Energy Profile, Energy Justice Fuel for Life addressing indoor pollution from burning biomass for cooking and heating and new technologies, and Capital Solutions for a Sustainable Future, which is an interactive legal information website to facilitate clean-energy technology exchange between the United States and India.
Founded in 1982, the center promotes intellectual discourse over critical natural resources law and policy problems to foster practical and effective solutions. Research projects bring an academic focus to real-life issues and typically lead to publications that inform and influence policy-makers to promote better decisions. Major projects include The Western Water Policy Program to assure adequate water supplies, The Red Lodge Clearinghouse website for information to solve natural resources law and policy problems, The Public Comment Project that has students draft comments and participate in public meetings and hearings, and Best Management Practices for Oil and Gas Surface Use.
The center is nationally recognized as a telecommunications law powerhouse. It hosts leading technology policy conferences with legal, technical, regulatory, and business experts to elevate the debate around technology policy issues, facilitate networking, and develop “human capital” in the Colorado technology community. Students assist on major research projects including the Software Regulation Clearing House and help organize 15–20 events a year on topics such as digital broadband migration, entrepreneurial law and startups, new technology, business plan competition, private equity, software patents, and regulatory law and economics.