Alum of the Month Jan. '17
As a child, Janet Drake dreamed of becoming a lawyer before fully understanding what it entailed. Now, as a senior assistant attorney general in the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Colorado Attorney General鈥檚 Office and immediate past president of the Denver Bar Association, Drake embodies success both in and out of the courtroom.
Growing up in Colorado鈥攂oth in Denver and Littleton鈥擠rake had quixotic notions of law as a profession and dreamed of becoming a lawyer.
鈥淲hen I was really young, I made this declaration that I was going to become a lawyer,鈥� Drake said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have any lawyers in my family. I didn鈥檛 really know what the job entailed. I think my idea was that of a prosecutor.鈥�
For a day, Drake shadowed a family friend who was an attorney. The family friend was a transactional lawyer who didn鈥檛 go to courtrooms. Drake considered the experience dull, as she craved courtroom action. Years later, her goal of being an attorney took a brief break, and she attended Colorado State University to pursue a career in music therapy. However, she quickly realized law was her passion, and she transferred to the University of Denver to prepare for law school.
Drake graduated from undergrad and entered the legal world, first as a victim鈥檚 advocate (which she had started while she was still at DU) then as an assistant division clerk to Chief Judge Ken Stewart in Arapahoe County. These jobs gave Drake a good idea of what the legal world was like, and assured her that she was on the right path.
鈥淭hese positions gave me insight into the justice system,鈥� Drake said. 鈥淚 felt like the criminal justice system was interesting to me, but I also recognized it had some flaws. I felt like I could make a positive influence if I got involved. Being a prosecutor made the most sense.鈥�
Choosing between DU and the University of Colorado Law School came down to a question of reputation back in the mid-90s. Drake liked Colorado Law鈥檚 teaching and learning style, and she decided to come to Boulder for law school.
Drake knew that prosecution was the path for her, so she focused on studies that would prepare her for that. Colorado Law turned out to be a congenial fit that prepared Drake to enter not only the prosecution world, but the firm world as well. When Drake graduated, she worked on Federal Employers鈥� Liability Act litigation, representing injured railroad employees at Rossi Cox Kiker & Inderwish PC. She progressed from being a contract lawyer to non-equity partner, an impressive rise for somebody who had made clear to her law school classmates that she was set on being a prosecutor.
鈥淭he whole thing was a comedic situation the way it developed, but it was a great experience. John Rossi and Jim Cox were tremendous mentors,鈥� Drake said. 鈥淭hey molded me into the lawyer I became.鈥�
After eight years at the firm and earning partner status, Drake moved on to Brownstein Hyatt & Farber (now Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP) for almost two years doing complex commercial litigation. Drake eventually realized that while firm life was great, she鈥檇 prefer to work as a prosecutor given the chance. That opportunity came in the form of a job with the Special Prosecutor鈥檚 Unit of the Colorado Attorney General鈥檚 Office, and Drake jumped to take it. In this role, she investigates and prosecutes multi-jurisdictional organized crimes in Colorado.
鈥淚鈥檝e done a lot of economic crime work, human trafficking, and drug trafficking鈥攁nything like that. My specialty area is human trafficking, and I do a lot of training in that area for the National Association of Attorneys General,鈥� Drake said.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked on interesting, big cases in my career, and they鈥檝e all been special to me because I鈥檝e been helping people,鈥� she continued. 鈥淪ome of the victories that stand out to me are the smallest cases. The work that鈥檚 the most meaningful for me is the work that has a direct influence on people. I鈥檓 more interested in working on a human trafficking case than a drug trafficking case. I remember cases that have people as victims because I鈥檓 helping individuals.鈥�
While Drake鈥檚 career outlines her success鈥攕he鈥檚 thrived in firms and the AG鈥檚 office alike鈥攕he stays humble about her accolades. She won鈥檛 list cases as being her biggest successes because she says the job is more about the people. From trying to ensure that victims get justice to ensuring that defendants are treated fairly and criminals get rehabilitated, Drake is working to make a difference. In fact, she has not only made a difference herself, she鈥檚 encouraged it from others.
鈥淢y presidential theme (at the Denver Bar Association) was 鈥楳ake a Difference,鈥欌�� Drake said. 鈥淭hat developed out of the interactions I had with law students. Universally, people said to me, 鈥業 want to make a difference.鈥� Most of us start law school with that in mind. Once we get into practice, we lose sight of that, or don鈥檛 know how to balance that with other demands.鈥�
Drake served as president of the Denver Bar Association from 2015-16. She鈥檚 also been president of the Colorado Women鈥檚 Bar Association, and is active in other groups within the bar associations. Drake advises young lawyers to join groups and be active within the law community.
鈥淲hether that鈥檚 taking a pro bono case, or making a contribution to a nonprofit, there are a number of ways,鈥� Drake said.
From having successes in the courtroom to being a leader in the legal community, Janet Drake is a strong example of a successful lawyer. But if you ask her, she鈥檒l just say she鈥檚 trying to make a difference.
What is your fondest memory of being a student at Colorado Law?
Meeting my husband, Todd Drake (鈥�96)! :-)
What do you know now that you wish you had known in law school?
Life is more political than you might think.聽
What advice would you give to current students as they鈥檙e preparing to graduate?聽
Don鈥檛 panic!聽
Who was the biggest influence on your career?聽
My parents鈥攖hey instilled a strong work ethic in me, and encouraged me to be genuine and professional.
Of what accomplishment are you most proud?
I鈥檓 not really a proud person. I鈥檓 grateful to have enjoyed the opportunities that have presented themselves to me, and look forward to continuing my rewarding career.