Application for the Colorado Bar Association’s Appeals Programs

Program Information

The Colorado Bar Association has two programs that may help you get free assistance from a lawyer for your appeal:

• The Civil Appeals Clinic: Self-represented parties meet with volunteer lawyers for a confidential, one-hour meeting.  Meetings are free of charge and may be held by video call or in person.
• The Appellate Pro Bono Program: A committee selects a small number of cases in which a volunteer lawyer handles all remaining aspects of the appeal at no charge. 

Program Requirements

• Both programs only accept civil cases including family law cases.
  • The programs do not accept cases concerning post-conviction relief, prison discipline, habeas corpus, ballot title or elections.
  • The Civil Appeals Clinic does accept unemployment compensation case, but the Appellate Pro Bono Clinic does not.
  • If you have questions about whether the subject matter of your appeal qualifies for the programs, please email appellatepb@cobar.org with your question.
• You must either have a pending appeal or a final order that can be appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals or the Colorado Supreme Court. 
• You must be individual (not a company).
• There is no income limit for the Civil Appeal Clinic. However, your income must be under 200% of the federal poverty guideline to qualify financially for Appellate Pro Bono Program (full-referral program).
  • You can calculate your income here: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/federal-poverty-level-calculator.

Application and Materials

To apply for either program or both, please complete this application as soon as possible. In addition to this application, you must email the following items to Appellatepb@cobar.org:

☐  Order being appealed (required)

☐  Notice of Appeal (if filed)

☐  Form JDF 205 or Fee Waiver from the Trial Court (Instructions for JDF 205. This is required  for the Civil Appeals Pro Bono  Program. If you do not complete this you will not be considered for the full representation program.)

☐  Any transcript or recording of related court findings that were made orally

Additional Notifications

• Your application will not be considered for either program until it is complete, which includes submitting the additional required documents.
• You remain responsible for meeting all court deadlines in your case.
• Information provided on this application may be shared with court staff for the purpose of determining your eligibility for the Civil Appeals Clinic and/or Appellate Pro Bono Program.
• Program administrators may contact you or any lawyer who worked on your trial case.  These conversations are confidential and will be used only for the selection process or to prepare for meeting with you.  Program administrators may also discuss your case with their volunteer lawyers.
• If you have not filed your notice of appeal, please refer to this Notice of Appeal table to determine your deadline.
• please refer to this Notice of Appeal table to determine your deadline