Did you know that over 50% of Colorado’s counties are classified as rural legal deserts? While there isn't a standardized definition, the American Bar Association generally considers a county with fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents to be a legal desert. This growing issue has significant implications for access to legal representation in rural areas.

"Rural Legal Deserts are part of a much broader resource shortage in rural Colorado," says Jason Roberts, Director of Rural Legal Services at the Colorado Access to Justice Commission. "The lack of legal support adds to the difficulty of solving and dealing with life problems for many in these communities. Most rural Colorado residents, if they realize their problems have legal solutions, must navigate a difficult and confusing legal system on their own, with little or no assistance."

In fact, 60% of civil litigants and 87% of civil respondents in Colorado are unrepresented, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch. These statistics highlight the urgent need for more accessible legal services in rural areas.

Addressing this issue, the Colorado Access to Justice Commission runs the Greater Colorado Law Student Experience, an externship initiative that places summer interns from a national pool of candidates in rural Colorado. Now in its third year, the program was originally founded by Sumi Lee, then head of the Judicial Diversity Branch.

This summer, ten students participated, working in pairs at five different locations across the state. For example, students in Pueblo and Alamosa worked closely with Colorado Legal Services, providing legal aid to low-income residents. Nayley Gomez, a second-year law student at the University of Wyoming College of Law, worked with Colorado Legal Services in Northern Colorado. Reflecting on her experience, she said, "The lawyer I shadowed was incredibly knowledgeable and kind. I learned that working with CLS is a possible career choice that I am interested in."

Similarly, Mika Kamionka, a 2L at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, had the opportunity to contribute to the efforts of Colorado Legal Services at their Pueblo office, furthering the mission to bridge the legal gap in rural communities. Mika shared, "Working with Colorado Legal Services was an immeasurable experience. Gail, Steph, Margaret, Ben, and Rob were mentors who were very easy to approach with all my questions. I was able to observe and tackle different tasks for cases in the office and was provided tangible feedback almost immediately that I could apply to my next project. I learned vital skills for working in law like drafting court documents, interviewing clients, and finding community resources. I intend to continue volunteering my time to CLS in the future however I can be of use."

Through initiatives like the Colorado Law Services Experience Program, the state is taking crucial steps toward ensuring that even those in the most underserved areas have access to the legal support they need. Lydia Linke, a 2L at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and Colorado Access to Justice Commission Summer Intern, said, "It was exciting to see how much the interns were able to accomplish inside the program this summer, and the different ways they enjoyed their assigned districts. I look forward to seeing how the program grows, as well as how each community benefits from it in the future." 

Nelson Boyle joined the Paul Wilkinson Law Firm in March 2023. He is an expert in appellate law. Nelson earned his law degree in 2007 from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Nelson has practiced and fought for his clients in trial courts and on appeal in the Colorado District Courts, Colorado Supreme Court, Colorado Court of Appeals, United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Federal Claims, and United States Supreme Court. Nelson currently serves as Chair Emeritus for the Amicus Curiae Committee of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and also on their Board and Executive Committee, as well as the Colorado Bar Association Amicus Committee. He is excited to join the Legal Aid Foundation’s Board of Trustees because he believes that lawyers have a duty to help ensure that all Coloradans have access to adequate legal representation. Nelson says, “Justice and the rule of law demand that equal justice is accessible to everyone.”

The Legal Aid Foundation is excited to introduce Jessie Clark-Daugherty as our new Associate Director. Jessie joined the Foundation in February, just two weeks before the launch of the 2024 Associates Campaign. As a key player in the execution of the Associates Campaign, Jessie immediately jumped into her role, focusing on building relationships with the law firms that are pivotal in supporting legal aid work across Colorado. Reflecting on her early experience, Jessie described the campaign as the most enjoyable fundraising effort she has ever been part of. “The engagement and dedication of the Firm Representatives were inspiring. Their commitment to making a difference for the most vulnerable members of our community was truly remarkable,” she shared.

Jessie comes to us with a wealth of experience, having spent sixteen years as the Executive Director of the Denver Urban Debate League. The Denver Urban Debate League, housed at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, breaks barriers for students furthest from opportunity by providing life-changing speech and debate education to 6th-12th grade students in the Denver metro area, at no cost to their families. Prior to leading the Denver Urban Debate League, Jessie worked in urban debate programming in New York City, where she also coached intercollegiate competitive debate at New York University and at high schools in Brooklyn.

Throughout her career, Jessie has been guided by a passion for equity, access, and advocacy. “I am a big believer in effecting institutional change through individual actions,” she explained. “Every opportunity we have to create equal access for individuals brings us one step closer to dissolving the systemic barriers that perpetuate injustice.”

Jessie is thrilled to be a part of the Legal Aid Foundation team, as well as our partner organization, COLTAF. She expressed deep appreciation for the strong foundation laid by her predecessors, including Diana Poole, the former Executive Director, and Kelley Bossley, the previous Associate Director. Their exceptional work ensured a smooth leadership transition and continues to drive the Foundation's success.

As we move forward, we are confident that Jessie’s experience in non-profit management will drive the Legal Aid Foundation to new heights in our mission to provide equal access to justice for everyone in our state. “This is an exciting time to be part of the Legal Aid Foundation,” Jessie said. “It is a privilege to contribute to the profoundly important work that we do. I truly love my job and am grateful to be part of this incredible team.”

There’s no additional cost to you, just designate us as your Community Rewards nonprofit partner. When you do, you’ll provide hope & help to Coloradans experiencing domestic abuse, homelessness, or another crisis. To enroll, login to your King Soopers account. Click Community Rewards. Search for the Legal Aid Foundation. Click “Enroll”. And that’s it!

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