Legal Services Overview in Colorado Springs
The legal landscape in Colorado Springs is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself. Home to numerous law firms and legal professionals, Colorado Springs provides comprehensive legal services to residents and local businesses alike. The range of legal support available includes both general legal assistance and niche specialty services. Among the most commonly sought legal support services are family law, criminal defense, personal injury, business law, and real estate.
Family law attorneys in Colorado Springs focus on a variety of issues, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and property division. Lawyers in this field often work to provide families with resolutions that are amicable and promote the best interests of all involved.
Criminal defense attorneys represent individuals accused of crimes, ranging from minor offenses to serious felonies. A common area of practice for criminal lawyers in the region is DUI representation, where they assist clients facing Driving Under the Influence or Driving While Ability Impaired charges. Representing clients at all stages of criminal proceedings, these attorneys also handle motions to suppress, plea negotiations , trial attorneys and sentencing advocacy.
Personal injury lawyers in Colorado Springs represent victims who have been injured due to the negligence of others. Their services include assessment of a case’s value, negotiation with insurance companies, and representation in court to secure compensation for their clients.
Business law attorneys support local entrepreneurs, assisting with a variety of legal menus such as business formation, contract negotiation, and intellectual property protection. The Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC and Small Business Development Center offer opportunities to interact with attorneys specializing in business law through member events and informational seminars.
Locally based real estate attorneys in Colorado Springs assist with the purchase, sale, or leasing of commercial or residential property. Their services include the review and negotiation of purchase agreements, mortgage documents, and lease agreements. Additionally, they often advise clients on zoning issues, property taxes, and the transfer of real estate titles.
The multitude of legal services offered through Colorado Springs firms seek to provide clients with expert assistance to navigate the implications of the laws that impact their lives and livelihood.
How to Search for Legal Help
When seeking legal assistance in Colorado Springs, it’s important for residents to identify the specific type of legal services they require. Different circumstances may warrant the need for different types of legal help. As such, the choice of law firms in Colorado Springs may be weighed against specific needs or preferences which are acceptable to the client.
For instance, personal legal matters, such as estate planning and family law services, can often be handled on a more personal one-on-one basis. As a result, clients may prioritize lawyers who provide ample one-on-one time to their clients in order to foster a closer working relationship and better understanding of their needs. Other areas of the law, such as business law and tax law, typically call for a collaborative effort between client and counsel, and thus may lead to the client in need of a law firm in Colorado Springs that can provide a team of skilled attorneys to work closely with them.
Additionally, different legal matters may require special attention from the client when seeking representation for their case. For example, a client in need of bankruptcy services may need to focus on finding an attorney with experience in this area of the law, and whether or not the attorney is in a position to offer personalized service. A client seeking representation in a criminal matter may also wish to know if their attorney will be accessible to answer questions about their case. In both instances, different clients may decide to prioritize different things as a result of their particular legal matters.
Going beyond the specifics of the matter that needs to be addressed, clients often benefit from picking a lawyer with whom they feel comfortable and confident, and with which they can easily communicate. Once a lawyer has been selected, a case strategy can be developed, and the experienced lawyers at The Law Firm of George H. Bredehorn can perform legal research, review evidence, and evaluate the facts of the case in order to develop a solid case strategy. From there, the client can be guided through the judicial process or negotiations as needed.
Pro Bono and Low Cost Legal Aid
Pro Bono and Low-Cost Legal Services in Colorado Springs
Fortunately for residents of Colorado Springs, there are ample opportunities for lower income individuals to obtain pro bono or low-cost legal services in the area. The Colorado Bar Association’s pro bono programs are available in every judicial district across the state. The Colorado Springs office is specifically responsible for providing assistance in District 4, which includes Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, and Teller County.
The El Paso County Bar Association also provides a thorough self-help resource page, which lists the best options for legal assistance in the region. Their resource guide includes links to pro bono providers by specific issue, such as Consumer Law.
A number of clinics in the Colorado Springs area provide legal services on a sliding fee basis. Catholic Charities Legal Services, for example, serves juvenile, family law, guardianship, immigration, consumer, landlord/tenant, and probate issues on a sliding scale based on income. La Puente Home Inc. offers help in family, immigration, mediation, criminal expungement, and landlord/tenant law for those making 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Other clinics in Colorado Springs include Project P.A.V.E., the Colorado Springs Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, Colorado Legal Services, El Paso County Department of Human Services, and Woodman Valley Chapel Ministries.
Legal Aid for Divorce or Family Law
In the realm of divorce and other family law matters, a handful of Colorado Springs legal aid agencies exist to assist the most dire cases of need. Indeed, keeping a roof over one’s head and food on the table comes first, and the current economic crisis has made it even more difficult to obtain legal help. Many of those with inadequate funds for private counsel still need legal assistance in child custody and support cases, order modification matters and divorce actions.
The Colorado Springs Love & Care Ministries organization frequently refers clients to a local family law attorney. Among other duties, the agency seeks to strengthen both individual and community resources to help families in need. Such efforts can, and often do, reduce the financial burden on taxpayers by ensuring that forms of government assistance are not needed.
Through its on-site legal clinics, the Colorado Springs Family Connections Center provides family law referrals as well as access to pro bono legal assistance. Individuals who meet financial eligibility guidelines may be matched with an attorney willing to provide pro bono legal services for at least 6 months. Although the organization does not offer legal representation directly, clinics are typically held regularly at the center. Pre-registration for a legal clinic is required.
Other non-profit legal services organizations may also refer clients to low-cost or pro bono legal aid for divorce and other family law concerns. With the help of the Colorado Bar Association and others, the Pro Bono Center in Colorado Springs provides slide-in legal services. A volunteer attorney will meet with less than wealthy clients who are experiencing family law concerns. Clients must contact the Pro Bono Center directly for an appointment, and a judge from the Colorado Springs area hears cases. Clients reside within the 10th Judicial District, which includes Bent, Crowley, El Paso, Huerfano, Otero, Park, Pueblo and Teller counties.
Low-income residents of Colorado Springs may be eligible for family law assistance from the Legal Aid Center of Southern Colorado. Assistance is available in areas of law including family law, contract law and housing law. The agency network encompasses ten locations in southern Colorado. Legal services are provided through many means, including an online portal, an attorney-toll free line, the Colorado Springs District Court self-help center and on-site family law clinics. Site visits are offered for services at the El Paso County District Courthouse and a local Probation Office. Caregivers are available for any children of clients under age 12 who accompany their parents to any legal center location.
The Colorado Poverty Law Project provides legal information, referrals to legal aid, advocacy and other services to low-income Coloradans. Personal support and guidance is offered to help Colorado residents control their legal problems. The nonprofit organization, established in 2007, offers a variety of legal services, including self-advocacy help, advice about numerous topics, such as guardianship and visitation rights, and referrals for full-service representation.
Legal Aid for Civil Rights Issues
Civil rights lawyers in Colorado Springs can help individuals protect and secure their rights when they have been violated. These cases can involve sex or gender discrimination in the workplace, wrongful termination; religious discrimination, wrongful death; age, race or sexual orientation discrimination, racism, harassment and hate crimes.
Common civil and employment law issues include:
People who are eligible for legal assistance should apply to see if they qualify. Certain government programs might have lower income requirements.
When applying for assistance as a domestic violence victim , survivors should be prepared to discuss their abuser’s actions. Often, women go through a series of events that result in violence before properly leaving and finding protection. Speaking openly and honestly to abuse service professionals can help speed up the process of getting a protective order.
Colorado Springs domestic violence victims, men and women who face legal problems due to mistreatment or discrimination, and other clients all find help each year through Colorado legal aid services.
Where to Find Help with Legal Aid
A number of resources are available to residents of Colorado Springs seeking legal help. Online directories, such as the one maintained by the Colorado Bar Association, can connect you with attorneys specializing in a variety of legal areas. The Colorado Bar Association offers an online lawyer directory that allows you to perform advanced searches by name, area of practice, billing method, and language proficiency. Even the most obscure type of attorney is likely included in this comprehensive resource.
Colorado Springs legal clinics also offer assistance to specific groups in the community. Many local nonprofits offer legal aid to low-income families or individuals. The Colorado Springs Senior Center provides free legal information and assistance to seniors through the Senior Law Day and Legal Access Free Clinic. The clinic offers a free consultation with attorneys to address basic questions and refer clients to more extensive services, if needed. The Colorado Springs Human Services offers free consultations to low-income individuals through the Colorado Rural Legal Services program. Colorado Rural Legal Services specializes in civil legal cases, including family and domestic violence law, consumer law, foreclosure issues and other civil areas of law.
The Colorado Springs Bar Association offers a number of resources to the public. Its Find Legal Help Links page connects the user with a variety of local and statewide legal resources, including nonprofit organizations and attorney referral services. The Bar also offers the Colorado Spring Volunteer Lawyers Program, which provides free legal assistance to eligible low-income residents of El Paso County. The program helps with issues such as family law and landlord-tenant cases and civil legal matters that affect general poverty or where legal help is otherwise difficult to obtain. Colorado Springs residents can also connect with attorneys through the El Paso County Young Lawyers LinkedIn group.
Navigating or Accessing the Judicial System in Colorado Springs
The legal system has its own language and procedures, leading to a sense of uncertainty for those attempting to navigate it for the first time. In Colorado Springs, as in any jurisdiction, certain generalizations can be made about the court processes, although each case may have its own specific requirements.
To start a case, a party must file a "meaningful" Case Management Statement or Stipulation that summarizes the case and sets forth a proposed case management plan. The Statement or Stipulation must comply with the instructions of the local Rules of Court. After the filing, the Clerk’s Office will assign an initial hearing. That initial hearing usually takes place from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Parties must arrange the hearing and prepare the Order Continuing Hearing and Notification of Rights on their own. The Judge will sign the Order. If the other party did not attend the hearing, or the attorney’s representation of the party is not noted on the Sheet, the Plan must be sent or delivered to the other party or his/her attorney within 7 days of the hearing. The party’s signature is not needed.
If the parties signed the Plan, it is reviewed by the assigned Judge and, if acceptable , the Plan with the Judge’s signature is mailed to the parties after the hearing. If the parties did not reach an agreement at the initial hearing, a hearing is scheduled before a different Judge. Cases involving children are usually scheduled for Wednesdays. On these Fridays, parties appear before the bench at the scheduled time. If the case settles, the Judge may refer it to another Judge for purposes of entry of the Decree or Final Order. The Judge will advise the parties as to whether the originals and one copy of the Decree or Final Order must be prepared and filed.
If the parties do not have a written agreement, they must appear at the next Court hearing and present the proposed and uncontested Decree or Final Order for the Judge’s signature.
If the other party fails to appear at a hearing, it is possible that the other party will not receive notice of future hearings. Except for the original filing of pleadings, the filing party must send a copy of all pleadings to the other party.
Whether a person is a chronically ill patient or a busy professional, he or she does not have to sacrifice the quality of legal representation in Colorado Springs to save time. An experienced attorney will make the entire process easier on a person at a great cost-to-time ratio.