Maria Carolina Crespo, 2010 LLM Graduate, Begins Work as Foreign Associate at Washington, D.C. Office of Crowell & Moring

Maria Carolina Crespo, a May 2010 LLM graduate from the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Graduate Program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has started an internship as a foreign associate at the firm of Crowell & Moring.

Ms. Crespo's position, which is at the firm's Washington, D.C., office, is part of the Visiting International Scholar Program (VISP). Each year the firm selects two foreign lawyers who have completed an LLM degree in the USA to be visiting scholars for a period of nine months.

She will be part of the firm's International Trade and Arbitration Department. As a member of the VISP, Ms. Crespo will have the opportunity to network and work with members of the firm, share ideas, and build a stronger relationship between Crowell Moring and Ms. Crespo's home firm of Estudio Beccar Varela in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Maria Carolina Crespo, LLM Student, Attends 40th ALI-ABA Environmental Law Course in Washington, D.C.

Maria Carolina Crespo, an LLM student from Argentina, recently attended the 40th ALI-ABA Environmental Law Course in Washington, D.C.

The advanced course of study provided a broad overview of the latest developments arising in each of the major areas of U.S. environmental law, thus providing attendees an understanding of the “big picture,” as well as an opportunity to learn about the changes in other intersecting facets of environmental law that may affect their practices.

The course featured over 16 hours of instruction, particularly looking at legislative initiatives, regulatory changes, and new presidential-related issues arising from the first year of the Obama administration.

The first day involved a series of introductory lectures on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Superfund, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. The second and third days involved presentations from more than 30 seasoned practitioners, federal government representatives (including the EPA, DOJ, State Department, etc), law professors and counsel and other professionals from advocacy organizations.

This year’s top-flight faculty included EPA’s General Counsel Scott Fulton and Assistant Administrator Steve Owens, as well as Counselor to the Secretary of Interior Steve Black.

"The course offered a very good overview about environmental law in an effective format," Ms. Crespo reports. "Also the course provided a good diversity in topics especially in water and air issues, climate change, and the challenges the Obama administration will face in the near future."

By the way, you have no doubt noticed the pictures of Ms. Crespo in front of the White House as well as the picture (just to the left) of one of the White House entrances. Her stay in Washington was prolonged a week longer than she had expected by the heavy snowfalls that the nation's capital experienced during the early days of her visit. So she had "extra" time to explore the city. But she was a good sport about it, and never mentioned to anyone that while the temperatures were cold and snowy in Washington, the weather in her home city -- Buenos Aires -- was sunny and hot!

DU LLM Student Carolina Crespo Wins Prestigious Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarship

Carolina (Caro) Crespo, an LLM student from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been awarded a 2010 Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students who have the "potential to make significant contributions to the field," according to the Foundation, which received a record number of applications this year.

The scholarships are particularly coveted by students since the Foundation is one of the world's mostly highly regarded groups of professionals working in the mineral law sector. In fact, there is no more highly acclaimed organization of its kind in the Western Hemisphere than the Foundation.

Ms. Crespo started the LLM program in August 2009 and intends to graduate in May 2010. She is an attorney with the highly respected Buenos Aires-based firm Estudio Beccar Varela.

In winning the scholarship, Ms. Crespo follows a significant line of recent DU LLM students who have won scholarships. Katia Castillo (LLM 2008), from Lima, Peru, and Marina Marti (LLM 2008), from Buenos Aires, won scholarships in 2008. And then earlier this year, Soudeh Mollasalehi (LLM 2010) from Tehran, Iran, won a scholarship.

To say that we are delighted with Carolina's recognition is an understatement. Indeed we are thrilled with her recognition and what it says about her future in the natural resources industry. Moreover, it is with great pride that we also call attention to Ms. Castillo, Ms. Marti, and Ms. Mollasalehi, since their achievements also point to the diversity and strength of our students.

Felicitaciones a Carolina! (Congratulations to Carolina!) And congratulations to Katia, Marina, and Soudeh!