DOJ Seeking Comments on Federal Regulation Concerning Complaints about DOJ Attorneys
The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has proposed changes to its internal process for addressing complaints regarding attorneys who work for DOJ. The proposed changes would allow DOJ to request state disciplinary authorities to delay investigating DOJ attorneys pending an internal DOJ review, and the proposed changes state that if a disciplinary agency refuses DOJ’s request, “the Department shall take appropriate action to enforce this regulation or to prevent the bar disciplinary authorities from interfering with the Attorney General’s review of the allegations.” Comments on the proposal can be submitted by April 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT through this link.
Demographic Survey
The deadline to respond to the demographic survey is Tuesday, March 31. If you did not complete this voluntary and anonymous survey through the attorney registration process, there’s still time to take the survey. Please do so by March 31, 2026. Higher participation allows us to better understand and monitor shifts in the demographics of the Colorado bar. To complete the survey, click on this link to the online demographic survey
The results of the survey, along with information regarding the work of the office in 2025, will be included in OARC’s 2025 Annual Report, which will be issued later this spring.
Amendments to Admissions Rules Applicable to Lawyers Stationed in Colorado Through Military Orders
On March 12, 2026, the Colorado Supreme Court adopted amendments to the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law 204.3 and 204.4, concerning the ability of military Judge Advocates and lawyer spouses in military families to quickly obtain certification to practice law when stationed in Colorado pursuant to military orders. Colorado’s admissions rules already provided such authority, and the recent rule amendments implement recent federal law changes. The adopted amendments can be found here.
CBA NOW OFFERING INDIVIDUAL AND SOLO HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MEMBERS
For more information regarding this new offering, head to the Colorado Bar Association’s website: The Colorado Bar > Insurance Benefits > CBA Health Insurance
BREAKING THE STRESS CYCLE
When stress results in physical symptoms, we may be inclined to catastrophize what those symptoms mean, usually resulting in more feelings of stress and anxiety. In the linked article, Ben Gaibel, Clinical Coordinator for the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program, explains how to break the worry loop and regain a sense of calm.
APEX OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW WELL-BEING LEADERSHIP
As we head into spring, APEX has two new offerings to develop and grow your leadership around well-being. The first is Well-Being By Design: Creating Legal Workplaces Where Everyone Can Thrive. This half-day CLE focuses on what actually makes well-being initiatives effective, inclusive, and sustainable (April 14, CBA CLE Classroom). The second is the Well-Being Leadership Cohort: a six-month program beginning in May where organizational leaders will learn how to make well-being a core value in their organization. Program descriptions and registration information are available in Springing Into Well-Being.
PRO BONO CO LAUNCHES WEBSITE
This month Pro Bono CO went live and is ready for you to participate! Created by the Colorado Access to Justice Commission, Pro Bono CO is an online clearinghouse of pro bono opportunities designed for legal professionals who are looking for a way to serve the community, amplify access to justice, and provide legal expertise for people in need. This free, searchable site has opportunities that fit a variety of skills.
Attorneys often think that in light of their busy schedules, they can’t offer any pro bono work that would make a difference. But consider this: if all of Colorado’s active, licensed attorneys (about 29,922 at the end of 2025) provided just one hour a month of pro bono work (far less than the 50 hours referenced in Colo. RPC 6.1), in one year, the profession would provide 359,064 hours of pro bono work. A small contribution could make a big difference. Check out Pro Bono CO to identify ways to get involved!
