Colorado Legal Assistance Developer for the Elderly

Under the Older Americans Act (OAA), every State Unit on Aging must have the capacity to undertake certain functions with respect to legal assistance. The OAA requires the State agency to provide assurance that each State will assign personnel (one of whom shall be known as the Colorado Legal Assistance Developer - CLAD) to provide State leadership in developing legal assistance programs for older individuals throughout the State.

The Legal Assistance Developer is required to play numerous roles and to have both broad and specialized knowledge of laws and policies affecting older Americans. At various times, the CLAD may be called upon to act as administrator, legislator, negotiator, diplomat, legal scholar, public speaker, writer, teacher, data-gatherer, head-hunter, reporter and in-person client referral service. The CLAD must stay abreast of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations affecting the delivery of legal services to older persons, as well as in the many substantive areas of law affecting them.

During fiscal year 2009, throughout Colorado, a total of 20 paid attorneys and over 100 pro bono attorneys provided legal services to 4,631 older persons through the 16 local Legal Assistance programs. Across Colorado, the Legal Assistance Developer Program served 4,631 older adults.

The Colorado Legal Assistance Developer provided technical assistance to 416 individuals:

• 245 calls from local legal services providers, AAA directors and local ombudsmen;
• 126 calls from other professionals; and
• 45 calls from consumers. 

	2009 Annual Report Read more about the 2009 accomplishments of the Ombudsman and Legal Assistance Developer Programs. (269 KB)