Mission Statement
Today, the Colorado Lawyers Committee consists of 59 Colorado law firms with almost 1,400 attorneys who volunteer their time to find solutions to significant problems that impact children and the underprivileged. This past year, 750 volunteers donated more than $3.7 million worth of time to Colorado Lawyers Committee projects.
Info for Volunteers
The Colorado Lawyers Committee currently has more than 20 Task Forces working on projects in the areas of civil rights, education, immigration, community development, criminal law, and poverty and public benefits. A number of these task forces need additional volunteers. Sign up today!
Join Our Law Firms
We invite law firms to join us in making a difference in our community. Your firm can become a Contributing Law Firm of the Colorado Lawyers Committee for an annual contribution of $130 per lawyer. The Lawyers Committee is a 501c(3) organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar v. Hickenlooper Dismissed
In 2010, the Sixth Amendment Task Force filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Colorado statute that required individuals with a misdemeanor to meet with a prosecutor before counsel was appointed. The lawsuit caught the attention of legislators, who sponsored House Bill 13-1210 to repeal the statute. During the 2013 regular legislative session, both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees approved the bill. In May 2013, Governor Hickenlooper signed the bill, officially removing the requirement that misdemeanor defendants confer with a prosecutor before legal counsel is appointed. This resolved all the claims in the lawsuit and on May 30, 2013, the case was dismissed. Congratulations to all the volunteers who contributed to this case over the years—your efforts were instrumental in bringing this constitutional matter to the legislative table! For more details, click here.
Lawyers Committee Presents 35th Anniversary Report
The Colorado Lawyers Committee’s 35th Anniversary Report is here! The report takes a comprehensive look at the major projects the Lawyers Committee has undertaken since 1978. It includes brief project descriptions, photographs of numerous volunteers, and interesting historical information about the organization. To read it online, click here.
President of Legal Services Corporation Gives Keynote Address
Jim Sandman Gives Keynote Address (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
The President of the the Legal Services Corporation, Jim Sandman, gave an inspiring speech about the value of pro bono work at the 35th Anniversary Awards Luncheon. Thank you, Jim! Click here to watch it online.
Craig Stewart Receives Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award
Kenzo Kawanabe presents the Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award to Craig Stewart (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
Congratulations to Craig Stewart (Holland & Hart LLP), who received the Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award at the 35th Anniversary Awards Luncheon. Thank you, Craig, for your longstanding support and extensive contributions to the Colorado Lawyers Committee! Click here to see the video honoring Craig’s work.
Two Firms Receive Law Firm of the Year Award
Law Firm of the Year Award Recipient, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC) Law Firm of the Year Award Recipient, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
For the first time in Colorado Lawyers Committee history, the Board of Directors selected two Law Firm of the Year recipients at its Awards Luncheon: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. Congratulations to both firms and thank you for your significant contributions in 2012!
Lobato Appellate Team Leaders Receive Individual of the Year Award
Individual of the Year Award Recipients, Lobato Appellate Team Leaders (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
Special Recognition Awards Presented
Congratulations to the recipients of the two Special Recognition Awards that were presented at the 35th Anniversary Awards Luncheon:
- For assuring humane treatment for individuals with mental health problems through the Jail Wait Litigation (Center for Legal Advocacy v. Bicha):
- Iris Eytan (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Farrell A. Carfield (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Sean Connelly (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Caleb Durling (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Kari W. Goodnight (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Marcus J. Lock (Wilderson Lock & Hill, LLC)
- Ellie Lockwood (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Jason M. Lynch (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- Lindsay A. Unruh (Reilly Pozner LLP)
- For helping secure food stamp benefits for Denver residents:
- Byeongsook Seo (Gordon & Rees LLP)
- Adela C. Flores-Brennan (CO Health Benefit Exchange; formerly Colorado Center on Law and Policy)
Jail Wait Litigation Team Accepts Special Recognition Award (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
Byeongsook Seo and Adela Flores-Brennan Accept Special Recognition Award (Photo courtesy of Hartmannphoto, LLC)
Thank you for your extraordinary work on these projects!
Lawyers Committee Welcomes Summer Associate
The Colorado Lawyers Committee is delighted to introduce its 2013 Summer Associate, Eden Rolland. Eden just completed her first year of law school at the University of Colorado Law School; she earned her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Arizona State University in 2003. Before law school, Eden was a nonpartisan research analyst at the Arizona state legislature, serving as Lead Analyst for the Senate Health Committee as well as the House of Representatives Human Services Committee. Eden brings enthusiasm and a wide skill set to the Lawyers Committee. We are thrilled she has joined us for the summer—Welcome, Eden!
Clinic in a Box Serves 20 Small Nonprofits
Thank you to all the participants of Clinic in a Box, a legal auditing event for small nonprofits held on January 31. In all, 49 volunteer attorneys assisted 20 nonprofits at the event. It was co-sponsored by the Colorado Lawyers Committee, Pro Bono Institute at Georgetown University Law Center, Association for Corporate Counsel—Colorado Chapter, Colorado Nonprofit Association and Community Resource Center. Holland & Hart LLP also was a sponsor, providing food, travel costs, and a CLE training on legal issues effecting nonprofits, which 6 of its attorneys presented. Many thanks to all of the volunteers and sponsors for making Clinic in a Box such a wonderful success!
Hate Crimes Education Task Force to co-sponsor Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project
The Hate Crimes Education Task Force is pleased to announce that it will be a Community Partner in Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project, a contemporary ballet and Holocaust education partnership that promotes the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate through arts, education, and public dialogue. Over 85 Community Partners will lead events/initiatives throughout this three-month project, which launches on January 15, 2013. Please join us in supporting Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project by volunteering for a Hate Crimes Education Task Force presentation. To sign up, click here. To learn more about Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project, click here.
