Sarah Schielke’s path to becoming a leading civil rights attorney in Colorado is a tale of determination, innovation, and unwavering commitment to justice. After graduating magna cum laude from Middlebury College with a B.A. in Psychology, Schielke attended Boston University School of Law on a full academic merit scholarship, where she served as the Managing Editor of the Boston University Law Review.
Upon graduating from law school in 2008, Schielke’s life turned unexpectedly. A series of what she describes as “bad life decisions” in her 20s led her to Colorado for a fresh start. With no legal connections or work experience in the state, Schielke took a bold and unconventional step: she posted an ad on Craigslist offering discount legal services. Her pitch was honest and straightforward – she would provide legal assistance for free or at minimal cost, with the caveat that clients understood she was learning and doing her best.
This unorthodox approach proved surprisingly effective. “I can’t believe how many people look for lawyers on Craigslist because I got a ton of experience very quickly,” Schielke recalls. This experience laid the foundation for her to open the Life and Liberty Law Office in 2012, specializing in criminal defense and civil rights litigation – areas she had been passionate about since law school.
Schielke’s career has been marked by a willingness to challenge the status quo and take on powerful institutions. Her unique strategy of publicly sharing body camera footage from her clients’ cases has been particularly effective in bringing attention to incidents of police misconduct. This approach has resulted in settlements exceeding typical amounts in civil rights cases.
One of her most high-profile cases involved Karen Garner, a woman with dementia who was injured during a 2020 arrest by Loveland police. 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 police department. The case resulted in criminal charges against two officers and a $3 million settlement for the Garner family – significantly higher than the usual sub-$100,000 settlements for similar cases.
Building on this success, Schielke secured an even more substantial victory in 2022. She settled a case against the Idaho Springs Police Department for a record-breaking $7 million, related to what she described as a “brutal tasing attack” on her client in his own home.
Schielke’s impact on civil rights law has earned her numerous accolades. 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 has also been repeatedly named a Rising Stars SuperLawyer for DUI Defense and received the DUI Defense Lawyers Association’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.
Despite her successes, Schielke remains grounded and committed to continuous learning. She regularly lectures across the country on marijuana, alcohol, and drug DUI defense strategies, and her material on Winning Marijuana DUIs has been published in the Texas DWI Manual. She also serves as the National DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA) president.
Schielke’s personal experiences have profoundly shaped her approach to law and life. The loss of her father to cancer early in her legal career prompted a profound reframing of her perspective, instilling in her a sense of gratitude, positivity, and forgiveness. This experience has influenced both her professional practice and personal outlook.
In her own words, Schielke defines courage as “trusting yourself, loving other people no matter what, and trying to leave the world a little better than you found it.” This philosophy is evident in her work, where she consistently challenges powerful institutions and fights for her clients’ rights.
Sarah Schielke’s journey from a novice lawyer advertising on Craigslist to a nationally recognized civil rights attorney is a testament to her resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to justice. Her unique approach to legal practice and courage in challenging the status quo has benefited her clients and contributed to broader discussions about police accountability and civil rights in America.
