Sarah Schielke: From Craigslist to Courtroom – A Colorado Attorney’s Unconventional Path to Civil Rights Advocacy

Sarah Schielke’s journey to becoming a prominent civil rights attorney in Colorado is as unconventional as inspiring. After graduating from Boston University School of Law in 2008, a series of life events led her to Colorado, seeking a fresh start. With no professional connections or experience in the state, Schielke took an unusual approach to kickstart her legal career: she posted an ad on Craigslist offering discount legal services.

“I can’t believe how many people look for lawyers on Craigslist because I got a ton of experience very quickly,” Schielke recalled. This bold move provided her with invaluable experience and laid the foundation for her future success.

In 2012, Schielke established the Life and Liberty Law Office, focusing on criminal defense and civil rights litigation—areas she had been passionate about since law school. Her decision never to work under another attorney allowed her to forge her path in the legal field, particularly in civil rights cases.

Schielke’s innovative approach to civil rights litigation has set her apart. She developed a unique strategy of sharing body camera footage from her clients’ cases with clients to draw attention to instances of police misconduct. This tactic has proven highly effective, bringing national media attention to her cases and resulting in substantially larger settlements than typical for similar situations.

One of her most high-profile cases involved Karen Garner, a woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police in June 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in April 2021 brought the case to light, prompting internal and external reviews of the incident and the police department. As a result, two officers faced criminal charges and were sentenced in 2022. The case settled for $3 million, far exceeding the typical settlement of less than $100,000 for similar cases.

Building on this success, Schielke secured another landmark victory in 2022 with a record-breaking $7 million settlement against the Idaho Springs Police Department for a brutal tasing incident. These cases have brought just clients but also have contraband conversations about police accountability and reform.

Schielke’s impact on the legal landscape continues to grow. Recently, she filed five lawsuits against Fort Collins Police Services for a series of alleged wrongful DUI arrests by a former officer. These cases demonstrate her commitment to holding law enforcement accountable and protecting citizens’ rights.

Despite her professional success, Schielke remains grounded and reflective. She acknowledges strong women’s challenges and emphasizes the importance of adapting without losing oneself. “Everybody’s path is different, but there has to be some degree of adaptability to strong women who are getting to where I’m at, or where other women have gotten to, that men don’t have to do,” she observed.

Schielke’s definition of courage involves the determination to right wrongs and make positive changes, even in the face of powerful opposition. “The brand of courage that I try to live by and teach to my kids is to try and execute, to have the determination to fix a wrong that you see, or make things better, even if people are telling you ‘no,’ or especially if the people who are telling you ‘no’ have a lot of power and are scary,” she explained.

Her approach to A compassionate understanding of human nature informs her approach to both her work and personal life; there are two types of people: There are good people, and there are good people in pain,” Schielke said. This perspective allows her to approach even the most challenging cases with empathy and understanding.

Schielke’s success has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was named one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, recognizing women who have significantly impacted their communities and across the country. This honor acknowledges her substantial contributions to civil rights law and her role as a champion for justice.

As she continues to make waves in the legal world, Sarah Schielke remains dedicated to learning, growing, and improving the justice system. Her journey from posting legal services on Craigslist to becoming a nationally recognized civil rights attorney inspires aspiring lawyers and advocates for justice everywhere. Through her innovative tactics, unwavering commitment to her clients, and compassionate approach to law, Schielke is winning cases and ape of civil rights litigation in Colorado and beyond.