Insight into Boulder County’s Legal System
The Boulder County legal system is a multi-faceted network of courts, administrative bodies, support services, and practitioners that ensure the rule of law, the administration of justice, and the regulation of legal processes. Understanding this system helps parties involved in legal matters know where to turn for justice, counseling, representation, and more.
The Fourteenth Judicial District is Colorado’s smallest judicial district, comprising only Boulder and Broomfield Counties. With three district courts in Boulder, Broomfield, and Longmont, respectively, the 20th Judicial District covers the largest geographic area in Colorado with an expansive and diverse population of more than 300,000 people. The district courts handle serious criminal and civil cases, excluding those involving family law, juvenile delinquency, and dependency/neglect.
Boulder County has one of two combined county and district court buildings in the state, the Boulder Justice Center, which opened in 2003. District court officials and support staff are located on the ninth and tenth floors of the building. The courthouse includes five district courtrooms, a jury assembly room, and other conference and meeting rooms. As court officials prepare to celebrate the center’s 20th anniversary, plans are underway to build an adjacent annex in 2024.
The principle County Courts in Boulder and Louisville adjudicate less serious criminal and civil matters within the Boulder County District Court’s jurisdiction. A jurisdictional limit exists on civil cases, which are typically capped at $25,000. Family law and juvenile matters are handled by the Boulder County Family Court.
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal offenses across the twelve cities within Boulder County. Approximately 90 attorneys, as well as paralegals, victim advocates, investigators, and social workers, work in the office. Assisting in the prosecution of criminal matters, the office oversees several specialty units, such as:
In 1983, the Boulder County Public Defender’s Department was established to provide free legal representation to everyone, regardless of income , who faced criminal charges. The Public Defender’s Office consists of approximately 54 attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, and administrative staff, most of whom work in the main courthouse at the Boulder Justice Center in Boulder. In addition to evaluating and processing numerous cases, the office provides dedicated services to help address mental health and substance abuse issues, and problems with criminal justice system involvement.
The Boulder County Law Library serves a wide range of legal professionals, including private attorneys, public defenders, and judges. As a public library, it offers a variety of legal resources, including books, documents, and electronic resources, to anyone with a Boulder County address.
The Boulder County Bar Association has over 1,400 attorneys, judges, legal professionals, and others identified as legal professionals by the association. The Bar also offers a Lawyer Referral Service to help individuals, businesses, and organizations find an attorney based on their individual needs. For those unable to afford the services of a private attorney, the Bar has a pro bono program offering free legal services.
The Boulder County District Court is the primary trial court in Boulder County, responsible for adjudicating civil trials, felony criminal matters, and water court jurisdiction. The court employs approximately 80 employees, comprised of deputy clerks, case managers, probation officers, and judicial assistants, among others. With its five staff judges, the District Court is the principal trial court of the Fourteenth Judicial District of Colorado and operates out of the Denver County Justice Center.
The Boulder County Probate Court is a division of the District Court that handles issues related to estates after a death, including guardianships and conservatorships for persons and estates, and involuntary mental health matters.
The Boulder County Juvenile Court is the District Court’s third division, created to hear cases involving children between ages ten and seventeen who are involved in criminal or status matters including truancy, habitual misbehavior, and any offenses that may be committed by adults.
Services Offered in Boulder County
Boulder County presents a wide range of legal needs, and with that comes a variety of law firms and attorneys who are there to help those who reside and do business in the area. A few of the most commonly needed types of legal services in Boulder County include:
Family Law
The attorneys associated with family law in Boulder County have extensive experience handling a full spectrum of issues involving the breakdown of the marital relationship. Divorce, child support, child custody, child relocation, maintenance or alimony and even legal separation are often challenging to deal with without solid legal representation and a full understanding of the law and your rights.
When it comes to domestic issues, many people in Boulder feel that collaborative law is superior to litigation. Collaborative law is a unique approach to resolving family related legal matters through the use of collaborative law practices. The use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques like mediation, neutral financial experts and forensic accountants is common in family law cases in Boulder County.
Criminal Defense
There are a significant number of local criminal defense attorneys that deal with everything from DUI to drug charges to domestic violence. If you are facing any type of criminal charges in Boulder County, it is always recommended that you consult a qualified attorney that has experience handling cases similar to your own.
Personal Injury
If you have experienced personal injury, you may find it difficult to navigate the legal system without assistance from a reputable personal injury law firm. Fortunately, Boulder County residents have access to many personal injury lawyers who can represent you in a court of law, helping you to pursue monetary damages for lost wages plus medical expenses. These lawyers have successful case histories that involve physical and emotional injuries, including auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall, wrongful death and workers’ compensation.
Estate Planning & Elder Law
Estate planning is an essential element of preparing for the future, and Boulder County has some quality estate planning lawyers who can help you with living wills, insurance trusts, probate, power of attorney, long-term care planning, accounting concerns and business succession.
Business Law
If you are starting up a new business or moving your existing business to Boulder County, you may have legal concerns regarding acquisitions, business formation, shareholder agreements, business plans, joint ventures, securities, employer/employee relations and other areas of business law. Local Boulder County business law attorneys can assist you with these legal issues.
How to Find Legal Help
Locating the appropriate legal help may appear like a daunting undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. In Boulder County, there’s an array of paths to explore in your search for valuable legal assistance. Both individuals and businesses can rely on the wide range of legal services offered throughout the county. Whether you are seeking help with family law issues, personal injury claims, criminal defense, or business law, there’s a legal professional who can assist you with your needs. When it comes to selecting the right law office or attorney, research is key. Make sure to choose a lawyer who is experienced in the specific area of law that you require assistance with. Find out what other clients have said about law firms in the area by checking client reviews and ratings online, or by visiting review sites, such as Yelp, where law firms are rated based on customer feedback and reviews. Another strategy is to search for reputable law firms within your own network of family, friends, and business associates, who can provide you with the names of attorneys they’ve worked with in the past and would recommend to you.
Legal Aid and Free/Reduced Legal Services
Pro bono and low-cost legal resources are available in Boulder County for those who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. While this guide will not be able to provide advice for every legal issue, it does point you in the right direction toward finding help. Whether you need a lawyer for a family law issue, a small claims dispute, or help with a criminal case, legal aid exists at these various free and low-cost legal programs:
Boulder County Legal Services – The Boulder County Legal Services (BCLS) Program provides a Lawyer Referral Service, the senior legal assistance program, marriage dissolution assistance and bankruptcy assistance for Boulder County citizens in need. BCLS reviews all requests and can refer you to agencies that help to those that help with civil legal matters. Unfortunately, it does not provide representation in criminal matters. To eligible for the Lawyer Referral Service, a person must have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines .
Longmont Senior Center – The Longmont Senior Center offers free walk-in legal clinics with volunteer attorneys once a month from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., though schedules change.
The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) – This non-profit organization is made up of advocates from around the state and is dedicated to helping low-income immigrants receive legal representation. The advocacy teams are made up of pro bono lawyers who represent immigrant clients who need help with deportation hearings, asylee status, detention status, domestic violence, victimization of crimes, and more.
The Colorado Legal Services (CLS) – The CLS provides assistance to vulnerable attorneys residing in Colorado. The non-profit agency regularly helps low-income and elderly residents of Colorado who cannot afford to hire an attorney. It helps clients with housing issues, bankruptcy, foreclosure assistance, unemployment benefit appeals, Medicaid, and other many other areas. The CLS has helped over 12,000 people, in more than 36 states and five countries, obtain their legal needs.
Common Queries Concerning Boulder County Legal Services
What types of fees are typically charged for legal services in Boulder County?
Fees vary depending on the type of services rendered and the time necessary to complete a legal project. Most legal services are billed by the hour, although flat-fee arrangements are possible for some services. Residents can expect hourly rates to be consistent with market prices at major law firms in the area, and most lawyers will require a minimum retainer (or down payment) before performing any work on a legal case.
How can I find a lawyer in Boulder County?
The list of Boulder County legal services provided above can be a good source of potential legal representation in your case. It’s also possible to use the Colorado Bar Association (CBA) resource center to find a lawyer who specializes in the type of law that pertains to your case. There are several other websites (or "legal matching services") that can provide you with great leads if you don’t have the time to shop around for the right lawyer yourself.
What kind of consultations can I expect on my first visit?
If you’re looking for Boulder County legal services for the first time, here are a few things you should consider:
How do I know if I have a legal problem?
There are a few key questions that can help you determine whether or not you have a legal situation you need to consult a lawyer about:
A better way to determine whether you need to speak with a lawyer is to call one or more providers of Boulder County legal services and ask if they believe your case requires legal counsel. If they say you do, they may offer you an initial consultation or referral.
Keeping Yourself Informed and Legally Ready
An essential component of being legally empowered is staying informed about one’s rights and responsibilities, as well as being aware of changes in the law. The Boulder County Bar Association offers an array of events and resources tailored to these needs, ranging from educational seminars and practice groups to a bimonthly newsletter specifically covering the inner workings of Boulder County’s legal landscape. Another pertinent angle comes from the Colorado Bar Association’s CLE program which makes its way to Boulder on a regular basis. One of the best ways of staying on the legal pulse, however, is to simply search for what’s going on in local courtrooms by visiting this page provided by the Colorado Judicial Branch. This site provides up-to-date information on each court within the judicial district that encompasses Boulder County . Even the most efficient and organized of individuals might miss important dates or recent developments, so referring back to this resource proves useful for everyone. In addition, the Colorado Judicial Branch’s website provides access to the state’s official publications, including the Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. With these comprehensive legal documents at your fingertips, you can explore the letter of the law and better understand how judges interpret it. Some other commonly used and highly useful resources include state and local government websites, CanLII, FindLaw and the Colorado Bar Association’s resources page. All of these tools can help you better understand the important decisions that will impact your future and the protection of your rights.