Elie Zwiebel

Prior to attending law school, Elie Zwiebel taught a variety of subjects and a diversity of students in the Detroit Area, Chicago, Portland, Shenzhen, and Nanjing. Through these experiences, Elie developed a passion for student and family advocacy. During law school, Elie engaged in experiential learning opportunities as often as possible: with movement and power-building nonprofit organizations, where he learned the importance of holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to legal advocacy; with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, where he gained experience and familiarity with special education law; and with the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, where he contributed to investigating police departments, prisons, and mental health facilities for patterns and practices of discrimination. 

While in the University of Denver Civil Rights Clinic, Elie successfully petitioned President Obama to grant clemency to two individuals serving life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. Elie was a member of the initial Homeless Advocacy Policy Project and has since acted as a Barton Teaching Fellow and Adjunct Professor in leading the class--including the publishing of several white papers advocating for the decriminalization of people who are unhoused. 

He also acts as Adjunct Professor for the Child Advocacy Externship Seminar course. After spending one year as a Judicial Law Clerk for Judge Norma A. Sierra in the 20th Judicial District, Elie is thrilled to zealously represent students and their families in Colorado schools and courts. Elie has represented students, parents, and guardians in educational and youth justice matters through his law firm since September 2017 and as a partner with Colorado Juvenile Defender Center and Transformative Justice Project of Colorado since September 2018. In these roles, Elie has supervised law student externs, collaborated with community organizers and partners in a variety of policy campaigns, and has built a variety of resources for folks to understand the law or self advocate. 

Elie has served on several school and nonprofit boards directly dealing with youth rights. He has published several articles on Education Law and holistic youth defense; and Elie regularly provides expert testimony in his specialty areas.