Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Colorado
How criminal defense lawyers in Colorado charge, your right to a court-appointed lawyer, how bail works, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Colorado: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Colorado's former contingent fee rules (C.R.C.P. Chapter 23.3) were repealed and reenacted in Colo. RPC 1.5(c), effective January 1, 2021. The terms of a contingent fee agreement must be communicated in writing before or within a reasonable time after the representation begins and must include, among other things: the names of lawyer and client; the claim and each event that triggers the lawyer's right to be paid; how the fee is figured, including the percentage or amounts on settlement, trial, appeal or other final disposition and whether it is computed before or after deducting costs and other amounts owed; what the lawyer may be paid if the representation ends early; an estimate of expenses, whether the lawyer may advance them and the client's obligation to pay expenses if there is no recovery; the possibility of court-awarded costs or fees against or in favor of the client; and the client's rights if the lawyer brings in associated counsel. Colorado's Rule 1.5(d) prohibits domestic relations fees contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for representing a criminal defendant. Repeal of C.R.C.P. 23.3: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Rule_Change_2020-31.pdf |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Colorado Bar Association's Legal Fee Arbitration Committee provides a service to help lawyers and clients resolve fee disputes, as referenced by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. Colorado Bar Association committee: http://www.cobar.org/For-Members/Committees/Legal-Fee-Arbitration-Committee |
| If a lawyer takes your money | Colorado's Attorneys' Fund for Client Protection may compensate clients who lost money or property because a Colorado-licensed attorney, acting as their lawyer or court-appointed fiduciary, received and converted it. Fee disputes, poor investments and malpractice are not covered. The limit is $50,000 per claim, with an aggregate maximum of $100,000 for all claims against a single attorney; no interest is paid. Claims must be filed within three years of when you knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. There is no filing fee; the claim form must be signed and notarized. Fund page: https://www.coloradolegalregulation.com/complaints/cpf/ |
Colorado rules to know first
| Getting a court-appointed lawyer | The Colorado State Public Defender represents, without charge (except the processing fee), indigent persons charged with felonies, and indigent persons charged with misdemeanors that carry a possible sentence of incarceration, among others. The public defender makes the determination of indigency, subject to court review, under fiscal standards set by the Colorado Supreme Court. The person must submit an application signed under oath and under penalty of perjury; a copy goes to the prosecutor, who may request a hearing on eligibility. The applicant shall pay a nonrefundable processing fee of twenty-five dollars if court-appointed counsel enters an appearance; the fee is assessed at sentencing or final disposition and may be waived if the court finds the person lacks the financial resources to pay. Juveniles and their parents or guardians do not pay the fee. Source: C.R.S. § 21-1-103 |
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| Bail and release before trial | All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties except for capital offenses when proof is evident or presumption is great, or when, after a hearing held within ninety-six hours of arrest, the court finds the proof is evident or the presumption great and that the public would be placed in significant peril if the accused were released, for listed charges (such as a crime of violence while on probation, parole or bail for a prior crime of violence, a crime of violence after prior felony convictions, and sexual assault offenses). At the first appearance of a person in custody, the court determines the type of bond and conditions of release, which must be sufficient to reasonably ensure appearance and protect the safety of any person or the community, taking into consideration the person's financial condition. The court must presume all persons are eligible for release on bond with the appropriate and least-restrictive conditions; a monetary condition of release must be reasonable. If a court uses a bond schedule, it must consider individualized risk and circumstances and not solely the level of offense; courts use an empirically developed risk assessment instrument where available. Bond types range from an unsecured personal recognizance bond to secured bonds. For offenses punishable by fine only, any monetary condition may not exceed the maximum fine. |
| Felony classes and sentences | For felonies committed on or after July 1, 2020, felonies are divided into six classes with these presumptive ranges (minimum / maximum / mandatory parole): Class 1: life imprisonment / no parole period. Class 2: eight years / twenty-four years / five years if a crime of violence, otherwise three years. Class 3: four years / twelve years / three years. Class 4: two years / six years / three years. Class 5: one year / three years / two years. Class 6: one year / eighteen months / one year. Fines (in addition to or instead of imprisonment): Class 1 no fine; Class 2 $5,000 to one million dollars; Class 3 $3,000 to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars; Class 4 $2,000 to five hundred thousand dollars; Classes 5 and 6 $1,000 to one hundred thousand dollars. Drug felonies are graded separately (levels 1-4) under § 18-1.3-401.5, and sentences can exceed the presumptive range for crimes of violence and aggravating circumstances. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Office of Legislative Legal Services printout). |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Colorado Bar Association does not give legal advice or run a referral line; it offers a Find a Lawyer directory of member attorneys searchable by legal matter, location or name, with a filter for attorneys accepting "alternative fee arrangements" for people with moderate incomes. CBA offices: 303-860-1115, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact page: https://www.cobar.org/contact |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, an independent office of the Colorado Supreme Court, runs the Attorney / LLP Search & Disciplinary History tool. Search by registration number or by first and last name to see a lawyer's (or licensed legal paraprofessional's) status and disciplinary history; a lawyer must have "active" status and be in good standing to practice in Colorado. Copies of Presiding Disciplinary Judge decisions and orders are linked as a courtesy. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints (requests for investigation) about Colorado lawyers go to the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel's central intake division, by phone at (303) 457-5800 or toll-free (877) 888-1370, or through its online complaint form. Unsolicited emails and anonymous complaints are not accepted. An intake attorney or investigator contacts you, on average within 7 to 14 days. Have ready your contact details, the lawyer's name and registration number, relevant dates, and any court case numbers. Disciplinary history appears in the office's attorney search. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Colorado Legal Services, the LSC-funded legal aid program for Colorado, gives free civil legal help to eligible low-income people in family, consumer/debt, housing, senior, government benefits, immigration and other civil matters (not every office handles every case type). Apply with the online intake form at coloradolegalservices.org or call your local office. The courts' local Self-Help Centers answer questions about court cases and forms. CBA page: https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/What-to-do-if-you-need-a-Lawyer |
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All legal help in Colorado · Background guide
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.