Current Volunteer Opportunities

The following projects are accepting new volunteers. If you’re interested, please contact the task force chair(s) or send us an email. We look forward to working with you.

Election Task Force

The Election Task Force was formed in 2004 to monitor the election process and ensure protection of minority voting rights. The Task Force works closely with the Secretary of State’s office, the Republican and Democratic parties, the specialty bar associations and other key political constituencies. Anyone interested in election access issues is invited to participate. During 2010, 45 volunteers donated an estimated 300 hours on this Task Force.
The Task Force is co-chaired by Richard Westfall (Hale – Westfall, LLP) and Martha Tierney (Heizer Paul Grueskin LLP). Top.

Greeley Legal Night Clinics

This Task Force was formed in 2009 to collaborate with local service provider organizations in Weld County to examine allegations of mortgage and consumer fraud. In 2010, the task force created a Greeley Legal Night Clinic, modeled after the successful Denver program. Volunteers are needed to provide basic legal information and referrals to individuals and families living in Weld County. Issues addressed at Greeley Legal Night include consumer problems, immigration, employment, housing and family law. In 2010, over 40 volunteers donated an estimated 500 hours and served over 300 people. Greeley Legal Nights are held every other month at Our Lady of Peace Church in Greeley, from 5:45 – 8:30 P.M. For additional information on how to volunteer, click here. Michelle Berge (Reilly Pozner LLP) chairs this task force. Top.

Hate Violence Task Force

Since 1993, Colorado Lawyers Committee volunteers have presented trials based on a fictional case arising from a violation of Colorado’s hate/bias crimes statute (formerly the ethnic intimidation statute). At the conclusion of the trial, small discussion groups of students become "juries" to discuss the issues presented and, with the assistance of an adult facilitator, reach a verdict. The students become very engaged in discussing diversity in their community and the value of preventing the spread of racial slurs and hateful actions.  The program needs volunteers to serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys and facilitators. This is a great chance for lawyers to practice their advocacy skills in front of a live audience and for non-litigators and non-lawyers to be involved in a fun activity that makes a difference. In 2010, 40 volunteers donated approximately 580 hours and made presentations to more than 370 students. To see the script for the program, click here. This Task Force is co-chaired by Tarek Saad (Jin, Schauer & Saad LLC) and Lucia Padilla (CenturyLink Law Department). Top

Legal Night Clinics

This Task Force co-sponsors (with the Denver Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Denver Access to Justice Committee), two monthly legal clinics to provide legal information and referrals for individuals and families who can’t afford legal services. Legal Nights are held on the first Wednesday (at Centro San Juan Diego) and the third Tuesday (at Mi Casa Resource Center for Women) of every month from 5:00 to 7:30 P.M. Lawyers and Spanish-speaking interpreter volunteers are needed (no substantive expertise is required). During 2010, more than 135 volunteers donated over 1,200 hours to serve almost 1,500 clients. For additional information on how to volunteer, click here. Tim Macdonald (Arnold & Porter LLP) chairs this Task Force. Top.

Nonprofit Working Group

This Task Force was originally formed in 2002 to provide pro bono representation to community and other business organizations. In 2009 the Task Force partnered with the Colorado Nonprofit Association and other organizations to provide direct representation, seminars, clinics, and educational sessions for the nonprofit community in Colorado. During 2010 Task Force members donated more than 5 hours and provided transactional-type legal assistance to 45 nonprofits whose operating budgets don’t permit them to retain legal counsel. Real estate and transactional lawyers as well as other non-litigators are needed. Peter Schwartz (Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP) chairs this Task Force.Top

Project Homeless Connect

Since December 2005, the Colorado Lawyers Committee has coordinated the legal component for Project Homeless Connect, a one-day event sponsored by the City of Denver that connects homeless individuals to services including: public benefits, medical care, housing and employment opportunities and legal assistance. Volunteer attorneys, paralegals and law students provide legal information and referrals to homeless participants. Many volunteers also assist with the "Homeless Court" which is held as part of the event and allows individuals to resolve outstanding warrants for violations of Denver’s City Ordinance. The Colorado Lawyers Committee co-sponsors this effort with the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Attorneys, paralegals and law students are invited to participate. In 2010, 93 volunteers donated over 350 hours and served over 400 homeless individuals and families. The event is usually held twice each year. The co-chairs of this Task Force are Peter Schwartz (Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP), Tim Macdonald (Arnold & Porter LLP) and Marcela Mendoza (Qwest Law Department). To volunteer, contact Susan Cole at Arnold & Porter LLP.  Top