Organization opened nearly 1,000 cases in July
Aug. 28, 2025 (GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.) – Colorado Legal Services, Colorado’s statewide legal aid nonprofit, opened 991 cases to provide legal aid to low-income Coloradans in July, according to its monthly report released today. To help the organization continue to meet the needs of its clients, some of those clients are being represented by Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals, a new category of law practitioners the Colorado Supreme Court created in 2023.
The new Licensed Legal Paraprofessional category licenses experienced paralegals to directly represent clients in family law cases in most, but not all, of the same ways as a lawyer.
This year, Aracely Gutierrez, a paralegal of nearly 10 years who has worked for 7 years at CLS, helped lead the organization in developing its LLP program. She achieved her LLP licensure, and in May became the first practicing legal aid LLP in the state. CLS’s Statewide Private Attorney Involvement Coordinator Gail Rodosevich is also now a licensed LLP.
Gutierrez said she is passionate about helping people in her home state, and particularly on the Western Slope where resources are limited.
“I’ve seen a tremendous relief from our clients when they know there’s someone they can rely on to assist with court documents, explain the legal process, and the law,” Gutierrez said. “In many cases, having an LLP helps move the process along faster because we’re familiar with the legal process. Our clients are already coming to us in perhaps one of the most difficult times of their lives. On top of that, it is overwhelming for them to see a huge packet of legal documents they’re required to fill out. Usually, they don’t know where to start and, in many instances, it’s so overwhelming they just give up.”
Matt Baca, executive director of Colorado Legal Services, said he is looking forward to the possible addition of more LLPs to the organization in the future.
“We are grateful for Aracely’s hard work and dedication to our clients,” said Baca. “The addition of LLPs is an exciting opportunity for paralegals working in family law to expand their legal work. I am excited to see how the addition of LLPs can allow us to continue meeting the needs of Coloradans in the years to come and expand our impact.”
The top concerns from Coloradans in July were housing (391), family and safety (213), and consumer (156) matters. Housing matters include defending against evictions; negotiating rent payment agreements with landlords to help people stay in their homes; and helping tenants learn their rights regarding security deposits and conditions impacting the habitability of their homes. Family law matters include representation of domestic violence survivors in divorce, custody, and protection order matters. Consumer law includes things like helping people defend against illegal debt collection, prevent foreclosure, and navigate bankruptcy.
While not every case that is opened will be closed by the end of the year, opened cases provide a snapshot of the legal issues Coloradans who are living at or below the applicable federal poverty line for free legal aid and seniors are facing.
Of those whom CLS opened cases for in July, 468 people (47%) reported they have a disability, 413 (42%) reported being a survivor of domestic violence, 265 (27%) are seniors, and 56 (6%) are veterans. Some people may fall under more than one of these demographic categories.
Quiénes somos
Colorado Legal Services es el programa estatal de ayuda legal sin ánimo de lucro de Colorado que proporciona asistencia legal civil -que no incluye asuntos penales o de tráfico- a personas de bajos ingresos y a personas mayores de Colorado en todo el estado. Sus 13 oficinas proporcionan asistencia jurídica gratuita en una amplia variedad de áreas legales, incluyendo defensa en caso de desahucio, protección del consumidor, servicios a supervivientes de delitos graves, representación de supervivientes de violencia doméstica y muchas otras.
Aproximadamente 1 de cada 8 habitantes de Colorado qualify financially for CLS’s services. CLS’s current staff of 90 attorneys and 56 paralegals is supplemented by a robust private attorney involvement program. Learn more at www.coloradolegalservices.org.
You can support Colorado Legal Services by donating to the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado at www.legalaidfoundation.org/donate or 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 701 Denver, Colorado 80203.
