Karey James

Karey L. James joins the faculty as a full-time associate professor of the practice of law, bringing with her more than a decade of legal practice and teaching experience. She is a licensed attorney in Colorado and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with a diverse legal background that includes solo practice in civil litigation, property law, and bankruptcy. She has also served as a law clerk for judges in the Arapahoe and Denver District Courts and worked in the Appellate Division of the Adams County District Attorney’s Office. Her legal career spans courtroom advocacy, drafting appellate briefs, negotiating plea agreements, and managing litigation from pre-trial to resolution.

Before joining the law school full-time, Professor James served as department chair and full professor of paralegal and criminal justice programs at the Community College of Denver, where she designed curriculum, led state and national legal education initiatives, and mentored students from historically marginalized backgrounds into the legal profession. She serves on the Colorado Supreme Court’s LLP Education Working Group, is a hearing board member for the Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, and was the past president of the Thompson G. and Lucy Marsh Inn of Court. She also served in several positions in the Colorado Women's Bar Association. 

Professor James is committed to student success, equity in legal education, and service to the profession. Her teaching blends doctrinal depth with practical skills to prepare students for meaningful, ethical, and impactful legal careers.