Courtney graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2014 with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Following law school, she worked for a Wildlife Law nonprofit in Colorado for four years, focusing primarily on wild horses and endangered and threatened species. During her time with the nonprofit, Courtney traveled to several herd management areas in the western United States to visit and observe wild horses in the areas designated for their protection. During her travels, Courtney learned the value of a hands-on approach to law – the importance of understanding who and what you are fighting for – and found a whole new perspective. “It’s one thing to sit in my office and describe the issues species are facing, and quite another to look them in the eye, observe their habitat, and learn from the stakeholders in the community.”
Courtney decided to enroll in the Animal Law LLM Program so she could become a more effective advocate for all nonhuman animals, including wildlife. She hopes to expand her practice to include aquatic and international animal law and looks forward to learning from some of the top Animal Law experts as well as students from around the world.
Courtney lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband, Jullien, and her two cats, Obi Wan and Isis.