Law Week Colorado is recognizing three Outstanding Legal Professionals who play an essential role in their teams’ success. This year’s honorees, all nominated by their colleagues, demonstrate the expertise, initiative and commitment that keep cases moving, support clients and help attorneys do their best work.
Forty-eight years into her career, Sharon Schell remains intrigued by her job. As a legal assistant at Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, Schell helps attorneys manage deadlines, filings and details that keep complex litigation moving. But when she started, most of the work involved answering client phone calls and typing as attorneys dictated.
“You never stop learning,” Schell said. “There’s always something new to learn, and it’s exciting.”
Schell began her legal career in November 1978, about six months after graduating from high school. After a brief stint at an insurance company, she joined Long & Jaudon, where she began working with attorney David Higgins. When Higgins helped found HHMR in October 2001, he persuaded Schell to come out of a short retirement and join the new firm. She has been there ever since.
“I love my job,” she said. “I love the work, and I love the people I work with.”
HHMR founding member David McLain said Schell’s knowledge of Colorado civil procedure and litigation deadlines has made her indispensable over the decades.
“I would not be the lawyer I am today, nor would HHMR be the firm it is, without her,” McLain wrote in his nomination.
Schell’s daily responsibilities include saving court pleadings, calendaring deadlines, sending reminders to attorneys, organizing documents, proofreading and drafting smaller pleadings and notices. Her tasks require close attention to detail and the ability to adapt, she said.
Her approach is straightforward: take pride in the work, take notes and ask questions. She sees her role as “making attorneys’ jobs easier” by ensuring important details are covered.
Schell’s reliability has made her a valued colleague and mentor. Jordan Kaplan, who has worked with her since 2021, said she keeps him on track with deadlines and pleadings. Her meticulousness, he said, has helped prevent mistakes.
Other colleagues emphasized her willingness to serve across the firm. Amanda Tynan said, “She keeps me sane and keeps our clients well taken care of.” Kyle Thompson said she gives generously of her time without seeking recognition. Olivia Barden noted that Schell is consistently on top of her responsibilities and supports everyone around her.
McLain said Schell also helps teach younger attorneys how to practice law the “HHMR Way,” which includes focusing on excellent skills, a team mentality and a strong work ethic.
For Schell, her satisfaction comes from doing the work well and seeing her colleagues succeed. She wants to be a person “others can rely on,” she said.
Away from the office, Schell enjoys camping in the mountains with her husband and spending time with relatives.