Hank Brown turned down a job offer from Norm Brownstein and Steve Farber in 1968.

When an opportunity at their law firm arose again — 40 years later — he couldn’t say no.

Brown, who stepped down as University of Colorado president in March, is set to begin a new chapter as a lawyer at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

The three have known each other since the 1960s when they received their bachelor’s and law degrees at the University of Colorado. Brown also recruited Brownstein and Farber to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

After law school, Brown went to work for Monfort of Colorado in 1969 and ended up in politics, eventually becoming a U.S. senator. He was president of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and he also served as CEO of the Daniels Fund before heading to the university.

Brown, 68, plans to stay involved at the school in Boulder, coordinating leadership programs and teaching in the political science department.

“I’ve been so lucky over the years to do a variety of things and right now, being allowed to teach a little and to have time to practice law seems just perfect,” Brown said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

Brown will start at the firm in June and will focus on several areas, including banking, water, natural resources and public affairs. His new title is senior counsel, but he called it a part-time role that allows him to keep his close connection to the school.

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