▁on ▁June ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 6 4 , ▁in ▁Colorado ▁Spr ings , ▁Colorado . ▁She ▁received ▁a ▁Bach elor ▁of ▁Business ▁Administration ▁degree , ▁cum ▁la ude , ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Texas ▁at ▁Austin . ▁Prior ▁to ▁att ending ▁law ▁school , ▁she ▁worked ▁at ▁Ernst ▁& ▁Wh in ney ▁( now ▁Ernst ▁& ▁Young ) ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 9 . ▁Cop eland ▁received ▁a ▁Jur is ▁Doctor ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Texas ▁School ▁of ▁Law . ▁While ▁att ending ▁law ▁school , ▁she ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁law ▁cl erk ▁to ▁Justice ▁Eug ene ▁Cook ▁of ▁the ▁Supreme ▁Court ▁of ▁Texas . ▁She ▁began ▁her ▁legal ▁career ▁as ▁an ▁att orney ▁advis er ▁to ▁Judge ▁Mary ▁Ann ▁C ohen ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Tax ▁Court , ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 3 . ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 2 , ▁she ▁pract iced ▁law ▁with ▁the ▁firm ▁of ▁O ppen heimer , ▁Bl end , ▁Harrison ▁& ▁T ate , ▁Inc ., ▁becoming ▁a ▁share holder ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁She ▁pract iced ▁law ▁with ▁the ▁firm ▁of ▁Str as burger ▁& ▁Price , ▁L LP , ▁in ▁San ▁Antonio , ▁Texas , ▁from ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁when ▁she ▁became ▁a ▁judge . ▁She