2017 marks the tenth year for the Anti-Defamation League Summer Associate Research Program in Denver, which provides law firm summer associates the opportunity to complete pro bono legal research projects on cutting edge civil rights issues while furthering ADL’s mission:  “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”

Seventeen summer associates from seven prominent law firms in Denver participated in the program this year.  Under the direction of a supervising attorney and working individually, in pairs or in groups, each summer associate researched an assigned topic and provided a memorandum to ADL.  All of the issues researched are of utmost importance to ADL as we encounter them in our daily work of serving the community.

Topics researched in Colorado this summer involved issues of hate crimes and domestic terrorism, boycotts, immigration and refugee rights, free speech, discrimination, separate of church of state, privacy and technology and online harassment. The memos prepared by the summer associates are being entered into a memo competition, and the winners will be honored as part of ADL’s Civil Rights Awards event on February 7, 2018.

ADL was fortunate to have two tremendous speakers for the opening and closing receptions of the program. Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman was the keynote speaker at the opening reception hosted at the law firm of Hogan Lovells LLP. General Coffman led the group in a discussion about the many paths to a legal career, as well as the obligation of pro bono work.

Colorado Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alan Loeb served as the keynote speaker for the program’s closing reception, hosted at the offices of Dentons US LLP. Chief Judge Loeb spoke about his career in private practice and his current position at the Court of Appeals, and shared his own guidance regarding the appeals process, including the importance of writing clear, cogent and brief arguments, with the participants. The summer associates also had the opportunity to offer brief presentations of their research topics.

ADL thanks this year’s Summer Associate Research Program co-chairs, ADL Regional Board Members David Brody and David Seserman, and appreciates the participation of the following law firms this year:

• Ballard Spahr LLP
• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP
• Dentons US LLP
• Dorsey & Whitney LLP
• Faegre Baker Daniels
• Hogan Lovells LLP
• Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti LP

For more information or to sign up to participate next summer, please call 303-830-7177 or email sparkergerson@adl.org.