Oct. 17, 2024, DENVER—Going to court without an attorney may seem intimidating or overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be, thanks to free programs offered through the Colorado Judicial Department.
Recognizing that many Coloradans represent themselves in legal matters, the department and partners are providing free legal assistance and educational sessions in 12 locations around the state during the week of Oct. 21, 2024.
The Judicial Department is committed to equipping self-represented litigants with the information and education they need to be prepared to appear before a judge and answer questions about evictions, family law, sealing a criminal case, small claims or other legal matters. At Legal Resource Days events, volunteer lawyers and others offer free informational and educational sessions to those representing themselves.
Times and types of sessions vary by location. Spanish interpreters will be available, and all sessions are free. Registration is required for some sessions; please see each location’s web page for instructions and details.
- 1st Judicial District (Jeffco and Gilpin Counties): Free 15-minute Ask-An-Attorney sessions will be held on a first-come, first-served basis on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the atrium of the Jefferson County Courthouse (100 Jefferson County Pkwy, Golden) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Traffic, criminal, civil, family law and probate attorneys will be providing pro-bono assistance. Community service organizations will be hosting informational tables at the event.
- 2nd Judicial District (Denver County): Free 30-minute Ask-An-Attorney clinics are available to discuss issues concerning family law, probate and county court civil matters. Free classes will be held online, by phone, or in person at the Denver City and County Building (1437 Bannock Street, Room 281, Denver) on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class schedule is posted at coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/denver-probate. For more information, email denverdistrictselfhelp@judicial.state.co.us or call 303-606-2442. Registration is required for some sessions.
- 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties): Free 15-minute Meet-A-Lawyer sessions to receive free legal advice and in-person sessions on small claims, consumer rights, guardianships, and evictions will take place on Friday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the El Paso County Combined Courts (270 Tejon Street, Colorado Springs). For more information, visit www.justicecenterCOS.org/lrd or email 04selfhelp@judicial.state.co.us.
- 6th Judicial District (Archuleta, La Plata, and San Juan Counties): In-person sessions will be held at the La Plata County Combined Courts (1060 E. 2nd Avenue, Durango) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on topics including domestic relations cases (divorce/child custody, post-decree modifications) civil cases (FED, money, protection orders) and probate (guardianship, conservatorships, trust/estates, wills). For more information, call 970-385-6179.
- 7th Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties): In-person and virtual sessions will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 and Friday, Oct. 25, with in-person sessions at the Montrose County Justice Center (1200 N. Grand Avenue, Montrose). There will be pro bono attorney consultations, a parenting education workshop, free mediation, a FED workshop and a domestic relations workshop. For more information, call 970-252-4312 or email 7thjdlrd@gmail.com.
- 9th Judicial District (Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco Counties): In-person sessions will be held at the Garfield County Courthouse (109 8th St., Suite 104, Glenwood Springs) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required. For more information, email amy.davis@judicial.state.co.us or call 970-928-3061.
- 10th Judicial District (Pueblo County): Free in-person educational and 20-minute Ask-An-Attorney sessions will be held at the Dennis Maes Pueblo Judicial Building (501 N. Elizabeth Street, Pueblo) on Friday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the areas of family law, probate, civil money case, landlord/tenant, small claims and sealing records. For more information, email 10jdselfhelp@judicial.state.co.us or call 719-404-8752.
- 11th Judicial District: (Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and Park Counties: In-person sessions on civil cases, estate planning, evictions, criminal record sealing, and courtroom prep will be held at the Fremont County Courthouse (136 Justice Center Road, Canon City) on Friday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free 15-minute Ask-An-Attorney sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment. Registration is required. For more information, visit coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/chaffee-county.
- 12th Judicial District (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties): A warrant clearance event and community resource fair will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Alamosa County Justice Center (8955 Independence Way, Alamosa). To find out which warrants qualify, call 719-589-4996. Call 719-589-7621 for more information.
- 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties): Free 15-minute Ask-An-Attorney sessions will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, Self-Help Resource Center- Courthouse 2 (7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial). Community resource service organizations will also host information booths.
- 21st Judicial District (Mesa County): In-person sessions, Ask-An-Attorney sessions and community services will be available at the Grand Junction Central Library (443 N. 6th Street, Grand Junction) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22. For more information, call 970-257-3663.
- 22nd Judicial District (Dolores and Montezuma Counties): In-person sessions will be held at the Montezuma County Combined Courts (865 N. Park Street in Cortez) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To guarantee a spot for the classes or an Ask-An-Attorney session, call 970-565-1328. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome at the event.
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