Boulder Legal Nonprofit Up For American Bar Association Award

BOULDER, CO —Boulder-based Bridge To Justice, a nonprofit that provides civil legal services to low-income and moderate-income Coloradans, has been nominated for American Bar Association (ABA) Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access and the Brown Select Award, the ABA said.

According to the ABA, the Brown Award and Brown Select Award are presented to the program or project that advances access to legal services for those of moderate incomes in ways that are exemplary and replicable.

Bridge to Justice is one of four nominees for the Brown Award, which is chosen by a committee. However, the Select Award gives members of the public a chance to vote for the nominee they find most appealing. Details about the nominees and voting are available on the ABA website.

Voting for the award will close at 11 a.m. Mountain on Friday. Winners of the Brown Award and Brown Select Award will be notified that same day and be honored on Feb. 11 at the 2022 American Bar Association Midyear Meeting in Seattle, Washington.

According to its nomination, Bridge to Justice's services includes advice and representation in post-decree family law cases involving enforcement and modification of divorce decrees and child custody orders.

"The high-conflict and ongoing nature of these cases, combined with the fact that legal aid does not accept post-decree cases, creates a substantial, unmet need for affordable legal services. Bridge to Justice provides unbundled (limited scope) and full-scope representation at the trial level and on appeal," the organization said.

Eligibility for Bridge to Justice's services is based on the client's household income and assets per the Housing and Urban Development income guidelines, according to Bridge to Justice.

The other nominees for the Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access and the Brown Select Award are: Tennessee's Debt Relief Clinic, Dispatch Justice and Indianapolis-based Virtual Ask Lawyer Online Chat.