Aditi Kulkarni-Knight ('15), an associate in the trial department at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in Denver, decided to attend law school because she knew that a law degree would open up a wealth of professional opportunities. The Denver native has expanded her professional network by serving on boards, doing pro bono work, and volunteering—including serving on the Colorado Law Alumni Board.
Where are you from and why did you decide to attend law school?
I was born and raised in Denver. I decided to attend law school because I was an accounting major in college, and while I loved the idea of working for a large firm one day, I knew I didn’t want to practice accounting for the rest of my life. I chose law school because it gave me the option to still work at a firm while also opening other doors and providing endless professional opportunities.
Tell us a little about your work. What do you do, and what might a "typical" work day look like?
I practice commercial litigation at Davis Graham & Stubbs. A typical day varies significantly depending on how many cases I’m working on and which stages of litigation they are in. Many days are spent researching and writing. My favorite days, though, are outside of my office—at a mediation, deposition, or hearing, prepping for trial, meeting with clients and witnesses, or strategizing with my team members.
How did you find your job?
A former Davis Graham & Stubbs (DGS) partner who I trust and view as a mentor encouraged me to consider DGS when I was looking to make a lateral move from a large international firm. I reached out to the firm’s recruiting department, who was happy to chat with me and helped me see that DGS was a good fit.
What skills do you utilize on a daily basis and how did your experiences or courses at Colorado Law help you develop these skills?
I daily utilize research and writing skills that I improved during law school, especially through the Technology Law Journal and Legal Writing courses. I also regularly utilize the stand-up skills I learned in Colorado Law’s Trial Advocacy courses.
Please talk a little about "people skills" and relationship building. How have your professional acquaintances (and friends) made a difference in your career?
Networking and relationship building is a huge part of being an attorney, especially in Denver. I am grateful for the friendships and professional relationships I built in law school and I still turn to many of my classmates for support and advice as I navigate the legal profession. Networking doesn’t have to be a chore—I have viewed it as an opportunity to meet other attorneys who share my interests. Serving on boards, doing pro bono work, and volunteering are great ways to meet those like-minded people.
What advice would you give to current students with respect to finding a job?
Stay open-minded and be willing to explore avenues that you might not have expected for your career. A law degree opens so many doors—more than you can know as a law student! Also, take up every offer to have coffee or lunch with a practicing attorney. It is so valuable to hear about different attorneys’ paths to success. And you never know which connection will lead you to your next job.
If you were to recommend Colorado Law to a potential law student, what would you say?
Colorado Law will prepare you to be a successful attorney. It will also give you the chance to get real legal experience as a student, which will be so important when you start your career. And to top it all off, you will get to spend three years in a beautiful place with supportive and bright classmates, faculty, and staff.
Why did you choose Colorado Law?
As a Colorado native, I knew I wanted to come back to Colorado after college and practice in Denver. Colorado Law is the best law school in the region, so it was an easy choice!
See more in our Promising Starts series, which highlights recent Colorado Law alumni who have found satisfying, meaningful employment in their first five years after graduation.