Lydia Genson
by Lydia Genson
The Nebraska Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship program (NPILF) provides stipends to University of Nebraska College of Law students who secure unpaid public interest positions for the summer.
2L Lydia Genson, a 2026 NPILF recipient, worked with Colorado Legal Services in Fort Collins, CO.
Can you describe the work or mission of your host organization?
Colorado Legal Services (CLS) provides free civil legal representation for low-income Coloradans. CLS works in housing law, consumer rights, and family law, and has an ID project, a farm workers’ rights division, and a low-income tax clinic. The goal is to provide civil legal representation and advice to as many low-income Coloradans as possible, helping those facing housing instability, families, consumers, migrant farmworkers, those in need of identification documents, foreign survivors of crime, those facing tax challenges, and those having problems with government benefits.
What were your main responsibilities? How did you spend your time?
This summer I worked as a legal intern in the Fort Collins office. After an orientation with interns in other offices throughout the state, I was able to work in a variety of CLS’s divisions. I spent this summer conducting legal research in bankruptcy and consumer rights law, family and divorce issues, and eviction defenses. I also drafted memos relating to attorneys’ ongoing cases, worked through public benefits issues, and assisted with intake interviews.
Throughout the program, CLS also organized day trips for interns statewide, including a trip to the Pueblo Judicial Center, a visit with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, and a visit to the Colorado Supreme Court with Justice Blanco. These opportunities gave a glimpse into the other forces working towards justice in Colorado and helped me to continue building a legal network.
What drew you to this type of work and how did you find/secure this particular opportunity?
My passion for expanding access to justice and focus on public interest law led me to consider civil legal aid. I was inspired by CLS’s broad reach across the state and hoped to contribute to efforts that supported basic human needs like housing and safety.
Because I knew I wanted to focus my job search in Colorado, I requested reciprocity from the University of Denver through our Career Development Office and the Colorado Legal Services job postings were in that database.
What did you most enjoy about the experience?
This experience gave me the chance to engage in many different types of law, which I was grateful for. I was able to research and write about issues that were new to me, and I left feeling like I found an area of law I’d like to focus on. Also, I appreciated the variety in types of assignments I was given. I was able to attend mediation, do legal research and writing, correspond with clients, attend training and lectures, and more.
What was the biggest challenge you faced as a summer fellow?
This summer did not provide me with many challenges, but the learning curve of working with many different attorneys was new to me. It was challenging and rewarding to work with a variety of styles, on a variety of projects, and learn from the experience of each staff member.
How has your summer experience impacted you or your view of public interest work/the legal system?
This experience reaffirmed my interest in public interest law. Even as a legal intern this summer, I could see the impact and importance of my work, and I was even further inspired by working with attorneys who have dedicated their careers to ensuring access to justice.
Do you have a favorite anecdote or project from your summer work?
My favorite project this summer was helping to research and draft a section in a Colorado Kinship Guide written by Colorado Legal Services. A senior attorney who knew I was interested in child welfare passed this assignment along, which involved researching a consumer issue for kinship guardians in Colorado. My research and memo will contribute to the newest version of the Kinship Guide, which is a handbook of general legal advice given to all kinship guardians in the state. This was my favorite project because I was excited to research something in my area of interest. It was a difficult issue that forced me to be creative, and I was able to contribute to a helpful resource shared across the state.
Would you recommend this placement to others? Why or why not?
Yes! Colorado Legal Services structured their summer legal intern program in a way that ensured I got what I was looking for. I had the chance to do real legal work, observe court and mediation, and connect with many people committed to public interest law. Overall, I learned so much and I was happy to work with staff who provided feedback and support.
What would you say to those who have donated to the NPILF fund?
If NPILF did not exist, I would not have been able to work with Colorado Legal Services this past summer. This funding supports so many law students working in public interest jobs, allowing us to work in areas where we are passionate, that are otherwise unpaid. Personally, I am extremely grateful that I was able to work in civil legal aid this summer helping to expand access to justice because of NPILF funding.
What do you hope to do with your law degree?
I hope to work in family and child welfare law. I remain committed to expanding access to justice, and I would like to engage with more organizations that provide legal services to low-income families.
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