Ariel B. DeFazio
has been representing employees in state and federal litigation, unemployment insurance appeals, and administrative investigations of discrimination since she was admitted to the bar in 2011. She has also helped individuals navigate through Colorado's workers' compensation system and appeal the denial of private short-and long-term disability insurance claims.
Ms. DeFazio earned her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School where she received the 2010-2011 Excellence in Clinic Education Award for her commitment to the clients of the law school's American Indian Law Clinic, and the David M. Sutcliffe Student Bar Association Distinguished Service Award for her extensive involvement in student life. Over the course of her law school career, she accumulated over 800 hours of pro bono legal work for local non-profits and government agencies, including the GLBT Community Center of Colorado and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She continues to volunteer providing legal assistance to community members at monthly free legal nights sponsored by the Denver Bar Association, as well as consulting with Colorado non-profit associations as a member of the Colorado Non- Profit Pro Bono Legal Group.
Born and raised on Long Island, just outside New York City, Ariel earned her bachelors of science degree with distinction from Cornell University before moving to Colorado to serve with AmeriCorps. She continues to mentor and volunteer alongside AmeriCorps members and also sings with a community chorus and serves on the board of a Colorado non-profit that provides grants and scholarships to members of the state's LGBT community.
