By James John
Sarah Schielke’s journey to becoming one of Colorado’s most impactful civil rights attorneys began with an unconventional start: a 2010 Craigslist ad offering discount legal services. After graduating from Boston University School of Law and seeking a fresh start in Colorado, she built her practice from scratch, learning and adapting.
2012, Schielke established the Life and Liberty Law Office, focusing on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Her innovative approach to civil rights cases sets her apart, particularly her strategy of publicly releasing body camera footage from her clients’ cases. This transparency-focused method has proven remarkably effective, resulting in settlements exceeding typical amounts in similar cases.
Her work gained national attention through the Karen Garner case, where she represented a woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police officers in June 2020. By releasing the body camera footage in April 2021, Schielke brought unprecedented attention to the case, leading to criminal charges against two officers. The case resulted in a $3 million settlement, dramatically higher than the usual settlement amount of less than $100,000 for similar cases.
Building on this success, Schielke secured an even more substantial victory in 2022 with a record-breaking $7 million settlement against the Idaho Springs Department for a brutal tasing incident involving her client in his own home. These achievements led to her recognition as USA TODAY’s Women of the Year honoree for Colorado.
Schielke’s approach to law is deeply influenced by personal experience, including losing her father early in her career. This tragedy shaped her perspective, leading her to embrace gratitude, positivity, and forgiveness in her personal and professional life. Her guiding principle is the belief that there are two types of people: “good people and good people in pain.”
Her courage is defined by her determination to fix wrongs, even when faced with powerful opposition. She maintains that true courage involves trusting oneself and working to improve the world, regardless of obstacles. This philosophy has proven effective in her recent work, including filing five lawsuits against Fort Collins Police Services for alleged wrongful DUI arrests by a former officer.
Schielke’s background includes graduating magna cum laude from Middlebury College with a psychology degree before attending law school on a full academic merit scholarship. Her achievements include managing the Boston University Law Review and receiving multiple professional recognitions, including being named a Rising Stars SuperLawyer for DUI Defense.
What makes Schielke’s story particularly compelling is her commitment to challenging traditional power structures while maintaining her authenticity. She acknowledges that women in her position must often adapt differently than their male counterparts but emphasizes the importance of doing so without losing one’s core identity. This philosophy extends to her practice, where she mentors other strong, intelligent women on her staff.
Her success is supported by a solid personal foundation, including her husband, who serves as a stay-at-home dad to their children. Schielke credits her continuous learning approach and willingness to seek guidance from more experienced colleagues as critical factors in overcoming adversity.
Through her innovative legal strategies and unwavering commitment to justice, Sarah Schielke has achieved remarkable results for her clients and helped reshape the landscape of civil rights litigation in Colorado. Her work continues to challenge institutional misconduct while setting new precedents for accountability in law enforcement.
