The Colorado Lawyers Committee is a nonprofit group that represents law firms across Colorado and works on cases that benefit underrepresented groups, including children. Lawyers are not allowed to represent individuals in these cases; they instead work on cases that affect public policy and systemic change. About 800 attorneys volunteer their time to help. In addition to their legal expertise, the Committee seeks to increase public awareness of issues affecting underrepresented groups. Here are the most recent accomplishments of the Colorado Lawyers Committee.
The law firm of the year award
The Colorado Lawyers Committee holds an annual awards luncheon to recognize Colorado law firms and individuals that make a difference in the legal community. In 2016, the organization recognized the Law Firm of the Year – Harris Law Firm – as the recipient. Other nominees were Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Polsinelli PC, and Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP. Each firm is incredibly dedicated to its community, and the Colorado Lawyers Committee is proud to honor them.
Despite being a small firm, the Harris Law Firm has been recognized as a law firm of the year by the Colorado Lawyers Committee. The award is given to firms that demonstrate exemplary leadership and exceptional contributions to Colorado children and underprivileged communities. In addition, the law firm was recognized for its leadership in the Children’s Task Force. Throughout the year, the firm has been a key player in ensuring that the rights of children and disadvantaged communities are protected in the state.
Team of the year award
The Colorado Lawyers Committee is a nonpartisan consortium of 75 law firms in the state dedicated to increasing opportunities for children, the poor, and disadvantaged communities. Currently, the committee oversees 23 projects, including poverty, criminal law, and civil rights. The team has received several awards and accolades, including the Colorado Lawyers Committee Team of the Year Award. The award ceremony will be held on March 29 at the Rocky Mountain Club.
This year, Iris Eytan, who has led the litigation against “Jail Wait,” was selected as the recipient of the award. The team is the leading advocate of the “Jail Wait” litigation, which seeks to protect the rights of mentally ill people in Colorado jails. The attorneys, from Eytan Nielsen LLC, began investing in the case more than a decade ago. The Colorado Lawyers Committee team was awarded the highest honor in recognition of their work.
Nominees for the Pandemic Heroes Award
The CLC has announced its 2018 Pandemic Heroes Award nominations. This award honors individuals who have gone above and beyond to help those in need. The organization’s annual awards luncheon raises funds to support the Colorado Bar Foundation’s work with the poor, children, and disadvantaged communities. The 2018 recipients of the award include Peter Schwartz, partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs, who has provided leadership and support to the Colorado Lawyers Committee for two decades. His pro bono photography work with the CLC has earned him the award.
Denver attorneys appointed to the Colorado Lawyers Committee
The Colorado Lawyers Committee is a nonpartisan, 41-year-old consortium of over 80 law firms that work to increase opportunities for children, low-income people, and disadvantaged communities. It works through task-forces of volunteers in five main areas. Each task force focuses on one particular area and is led by a chairperson. Denver attorneys can volunteer their time to participate in one of these task forces or be appointed to a task force that is appropriate for their area of expertise.
Some of the recent Denver-area lawyers appointed to the Colorado Lawyers Committee include Edgar Barraza, of Fox Rothschild LLP, Christine M. Hernandez, and Arash Jahanian. Several other Denver attorneys have also been named to the Colorado Lawyers Committee, including Hans C. Meyer of The Meyer Law Office, Mark Silverstein of the ACLU of Colorado, and Pascal C. Schunk, of Schunk Law Office.