TESS R. clouse
ABOUT TESS:
Tess Clouse, formerly Tess Peterson, joined Law of the Rockies in 2024 as a Law Clerk while she completed her final year of law school at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law. Upon passing the Uniform Bar Exam and being admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2025, Tess became a full-time Associate at the Firm. Tess practices in a variety of interconnected areas, including: estate planning and probate, real estate, land use planning, HOA and nonprofit advising, and civil litigation. Prior to law school, Tess attended Gunnison's very own Western Colorado University.
Tess leads the Firm's estate planning & probate practice, advising clients on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and other estate planning and elder law topics. Clients come to Tess for estate planning documents, guidance through probate, and more.
When not practicing law, you can find Tess out on the beautiful trails in the Gunnison Valley, likely backpacking or trail running. She also enjoys reading, sewing, and spending time with her loved ones.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
Law of the Rockies, LLC
Associate, 2025-present
Law Clerk, 2024-2025
Gunnison, Colorado
Holland & Hart LLP
Summer Associate, 2024
Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office
Law Clerk, 2023
Salt Lake City, Utah
RECENT EVENTS & PRESENTATIONS:
ICELab Coffee With Coworkers: When to Call Your Lawyer
September 2025
Annual Gunnison Senior Center Estate Planning and Elder Law Workshop
October 2025
September 2026
Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable, Ask the Advisors: The Other Side of Planned Giving
October 2026
Tess Clouse, formerly Tess Peterson, joined Law of the Rockies in 2024 as a Law Clerk while she completed her final year of law school at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law. Upon passing the Uniform Bar Exam and being admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2025, Tess became a full-time Associate at the Firm. Tess practices in a variety of interconnected areas, including: estate planning and probate, real estate, land use planning, HOA and nonprofit advising, and civil litigation. Prior to law school, Tess attended Gunnison's very own Western Colorado University.
Tess leads the Firm's estate planning & probate practice, advising clients on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, and other estate planning and elder law topics. Clients come to Tess for estate planning documents, guidance through probate, and more.
When not practicing law, you can find Tess out on the beautiful trails in the Gunnison Valley, likely backpacking or trail running. She also enjoys reading, sewing, and spending time with her loved ones.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
Law of the Rockies, LLC
Associate, 2025-present
Law Clerk, 2024-2025
Gunnison, Colorado
Holland & Hart LLP
Summer Associate, 2024
Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office
Law Clerk, 2023
Salt Lake City, Utah
RECENT EVENTS & PRESENTATIONS:
ICELab Coffee With Coworkers: When to Call Your Lawyer
September 2025
Annual Gunnison Senior Center Estate Planning and Elder Law Workshop
October 2025
September 2026
Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable, Ask the Advisors: The Other Side of Planned Giving
October 2026
PRACTICE AREAS:
Estate Planning
Probate & Elder Law
Real Estate
Land Use Planning
HOA & Nonprofit Advising
Civil Litigation
EDUCATION:
S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah
Juris Doctor, May 2025
Certificate in Environmental & Natural Resources Law
Western Colorado University
Bachelor of Arts, Environment & Sustainability, May 2022
Summa Cum Laude
HONORS, AWARDS, & ACTIVITIES:
S.J. Quinney College of Law
Chief of Staff, Student Bar Association
Vice President, Trail Club
Member, Women's Law Caucus
Recipient of various scholarships, including from the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law
Western Colorado University
Team Captain, Mock Trial
Senator, Student Government Association
Sustainability Coordinator, LEAD Sustainability
