Sarah Schielke, a magna cum laude graduate of Middlebury College and Boston University School of Law, has carved out a remarkable career as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney in Colorado. Her journey began unconventionally in 2010 when she posted an ad on Craigslist offering discount legal services to gain experience. This bold move led to establishing her practice, the Life and Liberty Law Office, in 2012.
Schielke’s approach to civil rights cases has been groundbreaking. She employs a unique strategy of sharing body camera footage from her client’s cases with the public, drawing significant attention and achieving unprecedented success. This tactic has resulted in substantially larger settlements for her clients than typical outcomes in similar cases.
One of Schielke’s most high-profile cases involved Karen Garner, a woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police officers in June 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in April 2021 brought national media attention to the case, prompting internal and external reviews of the incident and the department. As a result, two officers faced criminal charges and were subsequently sentenced. The case settled for $3 million, far exceeding the usual settlement amount for similar cases.
In 2022, Schielke secured another landmark victory, settling a case against the Idaho Springs Department for a record-breaking $7 million. This case involved a brutal tasing attack on her client in his own home. These successes have solidified Schielke’s reputation as a formidable advocate for civil rights.
Schielke’s dedication to justice extends beyond individual cases. She has filed multiple lawsuits against the Fort Collins Police Services for alleged wrongful DUI arrests by a former officer. These suits claim that the officer in question had wrongfully arrested more than 17 people in one year, with blood tests consistently showing no alcohol present in the arrestees’ systems.
The impact of Schielke’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, recognizing “strong and resilient women who have been champions of change across the country.” She also received the DUIDLA’s “Badass Award” in 2021 for her work on two United States Supreme Court case amicus briefs and her impact on the civil rights and DUI defense fields.
Schielke’s approach to law is characterized by continuous learning and adaptability. She emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself and loving others, even in adversity. Her guiding principle is the belief that there are two types of people: good people and good people in pain. This perspective informs her approach to her clients and those she opposes in court.
Despite facing challenges and opposition, Schielke remains committed to improving the justice system. She views courage as the determination to fix wrongs and improve things, even when faced with powerful opposition. Her success in the legal field is complemented by her personal life, where she credits her husband, a stay-at-home dad, for supporting her career.
Sarah Schielke’s journey from a novice lawyer advertising on Craigslist to a nationally recognized civil rights attorney is a testament to her resilience, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment to justice. Her work continues challenging the status quo in law enforcement and criminal justice, setting new standards for accountability and compensation in civil rights cases.
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Sarah Schielke, a magna cum laude graduate of Middlebury College and Boston University School of Law, has carved out a remarkable career as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney in Colorado. Her journey began unconventionally in 2010 when she posted an ad on Craigslist offering discount legal services to gain experience. This bold move led to establishing her practice, the Life and Liberty Law Office, in 2012.
Schielke’s approach to civil rights cases has been groundbreaking. She employs a unique strategy of sharing body camera footage from her client’s cases with the public, drawing significant attention and achieving unprecedented success. This tactic has resulted in substantially larger settlements for her clients than typical outcomes in similar cases.
One of Schielke’s most high-profile cases involved Karen Garner, a woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police officers in June 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in April 2021 brought national media attention to the case, prompting internal and external reviews of the incident and the department. As a result, two officers faced criminal charges and were subsequently sentenced. The case settled for $3 million, far exceeding the usual settlement amount for similar cases.
In 2022, Schielke secured another landmark victory, settling a case against the Idaho Springs Department for a record-breaking $7 million. This case involved a brutal tasing attack on her client in his own home. These successes have solidified Schielke’s reputation as a formidable advocate for civil rights.
Schielke’s dedication to justice extends beyond individual cases. She has filed multiple lawsuits against the Fort Collins Police Services for alleged wrongful DUI arrests by a former officer. These suits claim that the officer in question had wrongfully arrested more than 17 people in one year, with blood tests consistently showing no alcohol present in the arrestees’ systems.
The impact of Schielke’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, recognizing “strong and resilient women who have been champions of change across the country.” She also received the DUIDLA’s “Badass Award” in 2021 for her work on two United States Supreme Court case amicus briefs and her impact on the civil rights and DUI defense fields.
Schielke’s approach to law is characterized by continuous learning and adaptability. She emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself and loving others, even in adversity. Her guiding principle is the belief that there are two types of people: good people and good people in pain. This perspective informs her approach to her clients and those she opposes in court.
Despite facing challenges and opposition, Schielke remains committed to improving the justice system. She views courage as the determination to fix wrongs and improve things, even when faced with powerful opposition. Her success in the legal field is complemented by her personal life, where she credits her husband, a stay-at-home dad, for supporting her career.
Sarah Schielke’s journey from a novice lawyer advertising on Craigslist to a nationally recognized civil rights attorney is a testament to her resilience, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment to justice. Her work continues challenging the status quo in law enforcement and criminal justice, setting new standards for accountability and compensation in civil rights cases.