Bertagnolli Earns Top UW College of Law Scholarship

Building connections and promoting inclusivity in the University of Wyoming College of Law are hallmarks of excellence for 2023-24 Brimmer Scholar Amari Bertagnolli, of Laramie.

Established in 2011, the Brimmer Scholarship -- the UW College of Law’s top scholarship -- honors the career and service of Clarence Brimmer, a former U.S. District Court judge for Wyoming. The Brimmer Scholarship ensures that Brimmer’s legacy serves as an inspiration to new generations of legal professionals.

Brimmer practiced law in Rawlins before serving as Wyoming attorney general from 1971-74 and U.S. attorney for the District of Wyoming in 1975. President Gerald Ford appointed Brimmer to the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming in 1975. He served as chief judge from 1986-1992 and stepped into senior status in 2006. He continued serving until his death in 2014.

In addition to Bertagnolli, scholarship finalists were James Bell, of Cody; Heather Bradford, from Sheridan; Amber Ferguson, of Laramie; and Nathan Wise, from Fort Collins, Colo.

The title of Brimmer Scholar comes with the expectation that recipients commit to excellence and service.

During her first year at the College of Law, Bertagnolli served as the student representative for the John Burman Student Government. In that role, she was the liaison with College of Law faculty and administration. She helped address student concerns and foster connections through events and programs.

“I especially focused on ensuring fellow students with children had access to resources and were not isolated,” she says.

Being a mom of three kids and struggling financially added to the challenges she faced entering law school, Bertagnolli says.

“Ultimately, my husband and children have inspired me and made me a better student and aspiring lawyer,” she says. “I think I performed well academically my first year out of sheer terror. I couldn’t handle the thought of disappointing them or myself.”

Bertagnolli also credits her job at Ark Regional Services.

“I’ve had to work out of necessity, but it has been such a valuable experience,” she says.

At Ark, she assists and supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The resolve to build trusting relationships with Ark clients and advocate for their interests and wishes carries over to her work in the College of Law Defender Aid Clinic.

“A key metric of excellence in the legal field should be the way attorneys relate to clients,” Bertagnolli says. “One of the most important things I have learned in the clinic, and in law school more generally, is the importance of humanizing clients and enabling their stories to be told.”

Reflecting further on the Defender Aid Clinic, she says, “There have been some amazing triumphs, but also some devastating defeats. That’s hard to come to terms with, especially when there aren’t many other options for a client you know deserves better. I suppose it’s good that I’m having to reckon with that before it blindsides me in practice.”

Bertagnolli also served as a mentor to first-year law students.

“My mentors supported me and helped me find my footing in law school,” she says. “They and other classmates gave emotional support and shared their wisdom. I believe that kind of collaborative environment is super important. We all do better when we take care of one another.”

Bertagnolli served an internship with Legal Aid of Wyoming this past summer, even as she continued with the Defender Aid Clinic. She honed her courtroom skills in August at the two-week Summer Trial Institute sponsored by the UW College of Law. She is now serving as a teaching assistant for legal writing.

A native of Rock Springs, Bertagnolli says she wants to become a public defender or pursue nonprofit advocacy.

“I hope to work where I’m most needed while also remaining close to family in Wyoming,” she says.