Major Changes in Landlord/ Tenant Law in Colorado Beginning September 1, 2008

HB - 1356, which represents a major change in the landlord/tenant relationship, was signed by Governor Ritter on June 2, 2008 and will be effective beginning September 1, 2008. For a short summary of the bill, click here. For a longer overview, click here.

Attention all Runners!

Will you be participating in this year's Denver Marathon on Sunday, October 19th? If so, you might consider using your marathon (or your half marathon or marathon relay) to open the courthouse door a little wider for those in need of civil justice. The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, which promotes equal access to justice by raising funds to provide civil legal services for low-income Coloradans, is one of the official charities of the Denver Marathon. By collecting pledges for the Legal Aid Foundation in support of your run, you can give new meaning to the term "swift justice." Please contact Diana Poole at the Legal Aid Foundation, 303-863-9544 or by clicking here for more information and a discount code for on-line registration. For more information about the Denver Marathon, click here.

1 in 33 Homeowners Projected to be in Foreclosure within the Next Two Years

One in 33 homeowners is projected to be in foreclosure primarily over the next two years, as a result of subprime loans made in 2005 and 2006, according to a new report released today by The Pew Charitable Trusts. In some states, the outlook is especially grim; for instance, nearly one in 11 homeowners in Nevada is projected to be in foreclosure and one in 18 Arizona homeowners may face the same circumstance over the next two years. Click here to read the story on pewtrusts.org, and scroll down on that page to access a fact sheet about Colorado foreclosures.

Second Season of Service - Retired or Inactive Attorneys to Provide Pro Bono Legal Services to the Poor

The Colorado Supreme Court adopted C.R.C.P. 223 "Pro Bono/Emeritus Attorney," which became effective July 1, 2007. The purpose of Rule 223 is to allow retired or inactive attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to the poor with the support of certain nonprofit entities. The CBA is forming a group to implement and promote this idea of "Second Season of Service," and is looking for retired or soon-to-be-retired attorneys to become involved. If you or someone you know is interested, please e-mail Kath Schoen at kschoen@cobar.org.

Monday, July 28 - "Job Fair" for Retired and Inactive Attorneys
Retired and inactive lawyers interested in volunteering to help low-income persons in need of legal representation are invited to a "job fair" to learn more at 9 a.m., July 28, at the CBA offices. Under new Colorado Supreme Court rules, retired and inactive lawyers can provide pro bono legal services through qualified nonprofits without paying registration fees. In cooperation with Colorado Legal Services, the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Access to Justice, the CBA also is waiving dues for such candidates. Contact John Gleason at john.gleason@csc.state.co.us.

Tornado Response Line
In conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Colorado Bar Association, a toll-free hotline, 877-222-9324, is now offering legal help to tornado victims in northern Colorado. Our neighbors need volunteer attorneys a.s.a.p., contact ehickey@geromeandhickey.com. Also, much needed cash/check donations can be sent to the Weld Food Bank, 1108 H Street, Greeley, Colo. 80631.

Connect Law Students and Faculty with the Research Needs of Advocates
ACS ResearchLink collects legal research topics submitted by practitioners for law students to explore in faculty-supervised writing projects for academic credit. Students will be working on an academic calendar. As a result, they will typically seek topics at the beginning of each semester - in August and September to be completed by December, and then again in January and February to be completed by May. Topic authors will receive a copy of the resulting student papers, which ACS will also post in a searchable online library. Click here for more information about the website project.

Updated Pro Bono Program Directory Available

If you are interested in doing some pro bono work to help Colorado's low-income population needing civil legal assistance, please refer to the updated Pro Bono Directory to learn where to contact a Pro Bono program in your area! Click here for a copy available through the Colorado Bar Association website.