Patrick O'Rourke served as vice president, university counsel and secretary of the CU Board of Regents from 2012-2020, where he was responsible for coordinating the university’s legal affairs and assisting the Board of Regents in its governance role. He has been with the university since 2005 and previously was responsible for overseeing the university’s litigation. O’Rourke teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Law and the Colorado School of Public Health on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. He is a frequent lecturer on the subjects of health care law, professional liability, legal ethics, and appellate practice.

O'Rourke was one of three finalists for a vacancy on the Colorado Supreme Court, and has tried some of the University's highest-profile cases. He has represented clients in a broad range of lawsuits, including class actions, employment law, civil rights, professional liability and product liability.

O'Rourke received his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his law degree from The Georgetown University Law Center. He is active in the community and is a board member of the Denver School of Science and Technology, the Center for Legal Inclusiveness and the Colorado Judicial Institute.