Sarah Schielke: Trailblazing Civil Rights Attorney Makes Waves with Unconventional Tactics
Sarah Schielke’s journey into law was anything but conventional. After moving to Colorado for a fresh start, the Boston University School of Law graduate took to Craigslist in 2010 to offer discount legal services, quickly gaining experience and learning on the job. In 2012, Schielke opened her firm, the Life and Liberty Law Office, specializing in the areas she was most passionate about criminal defense and civil rights litigation.
Never having worked under another attorney allowed Schielke to forge her path, particularly in civil rights cases. Her unique strategy of releasing body camera footage to the public has proven highly effective, drawing national attention to her clients’ cases and resulting in settlements far exceeding the norm.
Schielke’s impact was incredibly profound in 2021 and 2022. Her release of footage from the violent arrest of Karen Garner, a woman with dementia, by Loveland police officers sparked multiple investigations and criminal charges. The city ultimately settled with Garner’s family for $3 million, a staggering sum compared to the typical sub-$100,000 settlements in similar cases. In 2022, Schielke achieved another record-breaking $7 million settlement in the case of Michael Clark, who Idaho Springs police officers brutally tased in his own home.
For Schielke, courage means trusting oneself, loving others, and striving to improve the world, even in the face of powerful opposition. She believes there are two types of people: good people and good people in pain, with almost everyone trying their best each day. Schielke overcomes adversity through constant learning, reaching out to those with more experience, and the unwavering support of her husband, a stay-at-home dad to their two daughters.
Looking back, Schielke acknowledges that her younger self is unrecognizable compared to who she is today. It was through loss, suffering, and the desire to lessen that pain that she worked hard on herself and her interactions with the world. Her advice to her younger self: keep loving to learn, for there will be plenty of opportunities to do so.
Sarah Schielke’s unconventional path and tireless dedication to civil rights have made her a force to be reckoned with in the legal world. Her innovative strategies and record-breaking successes inspire aspiring attorneys and those seeking justice in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.