Profile

Darina Koleva is a 2L at the University of Houston Law Center. She is distinguished as a Dean's Scholarship Recipient and earned a place in the competitive Moot Court team at the Law Center.

Being a second year student has allowed Darina to be an active member of the student body. She was elected and currently holds positions as President of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators Student Chapter at University of Houston Law Center, Vice President of the Corporate and Tax Society, and a Director of the Negotiation and Mediation Competition sponsored and organized by the Advocates.

Prior to her legal study, Darina worked in the legal industry both abroad and in the U.S. She was a Legal Intern at the Commercial National Forestry Department in Bulgaria where she assisted a transactional team by translating recently adopted European Union timber regulations from English into Bulgarian, analyzing the European Union timber regulations in light of existing Bulgarian regulations, and drafting reports recommending amendments to the regulations. Darina also served as a legal clerk and was mentored by the head partner of the criminal practice of Bires Schaffer & DeBorde in Houston, Texas. She prepared case briefs, drafted summaries of pre-trial discovery media and federal investigation reports, and observed multiple client meetings as well as state and federal criminal proceedings.

Darina earned her undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas (summa cum laude) in Communications with a concentration in Business. She is fluent in Bulgarian, intermediate in German and Russian, and a beginner in Spanish.

As a first generation immigrant, Darina is a strong advocate for diversity in the workforce and the community. She is one of the founding members of the Bulgarian non-profit organization in Houston, dedicated to promoting cultural education and building the local community through the preservation and sharing of the Bulgarian Culture. Darina enjoys dance and is a show case dance certified choreographer and a judge, currently performing Bulgarian and Brazilian folk dances. dedicated to providing cultural education and building community through the preservation and sharing of Brazilian culture dedicated to providing cultural education and building community through the preservation and sharing of Brazilian culture dedicated to providing cultural education and building community through the preservation and sharing of Brazilian culture