With the academic year quickly approaching, Colorado Law is looking forward to welcoming the incoming class of new students. Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting some of our incredible 1Ls through a series of brief profiles! Next up, we have Adam Lipsius (he/him).听听
Originally from DC, Adam is a former movie director, screenwriter and producer. Meet the Class of 2027鈥檚 Adam Lipsius!听
What inspired you to pursue a law degree?听听
AL: Not being dead yet, I still think I can help.听听听
I want to learn. To listen openly and communicate meaningfully, especially with folks I don鈥檛 know. Maybe absorbing precedents and parsing legal solutions will make me less defensive and more proactive? Or maybe pursuing this degree will just fill me with dread about the intractable state of Everything. Jury鈥檚 still out.听听
Either way, I want to tussle with real-world troubles and wrestle the system. I鈥檓 done spectating from the cheap seats.听听听
What are your hobbies outside of work and school?听听
AL: I鈥檝e been curling at Denver Curling Club (THAT one, by the car dealerships on 6th Avenue) for the last three years - and it鈥檚 maddening. The difference between success and sadness is measured in millimeters. You shoot out of the hack and huck a stone across so many frozen yards, occasionally falling and cracking something.听 More often failing鈥� by just鈥� a little.听
You have to be impossibly precise, and then you have to be that precise again. And again. And you look ridiculous doing it.听听听
I THINK we all know how silly it seems, but the pre- and post-game alcohol numbs your self-awareness quite a bit. Winners buy. Civility and sportsmanship are practices not just principles. There鈥檚 a culture of camaraderie around the game that entices me back - even when it gets more heated on the ice than you鈥檇 expect.听听
I also love my bike, though, it doesn鈥檛 always love me back.听
The same goes for my dog, Tilda (see slobber).听听听听听
Lastly, I hate writing almost as much as I hate NOT writing, so I try to put 鈥減en鈥� to 鈥減aper鈥� every day.听听听听听听听
What was your career before deciding to come to law school?听听
AL: I am a recovering movie director, screenwriter and producer. Between 2012 and 2021, I made 6 feature films. I wrote 3 of them, directed 4 of them and produced 4 of them (trust me, that adds up to 6).听听听
The first was a teen rom-com about tennis called 鈥�16-LOVE,鈥� that I directed and produced; and the last was a thriller called 鈥淐rime Story,鈥� that I wrote, produced and directed, LOOSELY based on my grandfather鈥檚 life and death. In between, I saved the world twice, dressed up as an inter-galactic villain once and spent a straight month sopping wet in Cardiff, Wales.听听
Why did you choose Colorado law?听听
AL: The vibe. It seems like a place where people pull for each other - like a real team with heart and soul, and that鈥檚 what I want.听听
Embarrassingly, the thought of Colorado Law makes me feel warm and gooey inside. I鈥檓 hoping for three years of a brownies-fresh-from-the-oven experience, though, I know that can鈥檛 be true鈥� can it?听听
Even if every day isn鈥檛 Sara Lee, it鈥檚 REALLY nice in Boulder, and I鈥檓 getting psyched.听听听
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming academic year?听听
AL: I want to discuss a tough, divisive issue with somebody I don鈥檛 agree with鈥� over beer.听 Hopefully, talking less and listening more. I鈥檇 love to be persuaded. See things from their point of view. Hear their story. Share mine. Then stumble home, grinning.听
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