By 
In a bold move that defied traditional legal career paths, Sarah Schielke launched her practice through a Craigslist advertisement in 2010, offering legal services at discounted rates to gain experience in Colorado. Following her graduation from Boston University School of Law, this unconventional start laid the groundwork for a groundbreaking civil rights litigation career.
The establishment of her Life and Liberty Law Office in 2012 marked the beginning of a distinctive approach to civil rights cases. Rather than following conventional legal strategies, Schielke developed a unique methodology of publicly releasing body camera footage from her clients’ cases. This tactic has proven remarkably effective in achieving justice and substantial settlements.
Her representation of Karen Garner, a woman with dementia injured during a 2020 Loveland police arrest, demonstrates the power of this approach. By releasing the body camera footage in April 2021, Schielke brought national attention to the case, leading to criminal charges against two officers. Austin Hopp received a five-year sentence, while Daria Jalali was sentenced to 45 days in jail with three years of probation. The case settled for $3 million, dramatically exceeding the typical $100,000 settlement for similar cases.
Most recently, Schielke has taken on Fort Collins Police Services, filing five lawsuits challenging alleged wrongful DUI arrests by former officer Jason Haferman. The cases highlight a pattern of arrests where blood tests revealed no alcohol presence, affecting at least 17 people over one year. Her investigation revealed that Haferman’s supervisors had never reviewed his body camera footage, despite his practice of disabling or muting his camera in violation of Colorado law.
The impact of these wrongful arrests was severe. Victims suffered from depression, lost jobs, missed promotions, and endured months of anguish before blood tests proved their innocence. In two cases, parents faced child abuse investigations simply because their children were present during the arrests. Schielke’s legal action seeks economic and punitive damages, challenging the officer’s conduct and the department’s supervision and training practices.
Her approach to law is deeply personal, shaped by early experiences, including the loss of her father to cancer just as her legal career began. This loss transformed her perspective, emphasizing gratitude and forgiveness while maintaining a determined pursuit of justice. Her guiding principle reflects this duality: “There are two types of people: good people and good people in pain.”
Schielke’s academic background includes graduating magna cum laude from Middlebury College with a psychology degree before attending law school on a full academic merit scholarship. Her excellence in the field has earned her recognition as USA TODAY’s Women of the Year honoree for Colorado, acknowledging her significant impact on civil rights law.
For Schielke, courage means confronting wrongdoing despite powerful opposition. She emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself and working to improve the world, particularly when faced with institutional resistance. This philosophy has proven effective, as demonstrated by her record-breaking $7 million settlement in 2022 against the Idaho Springs Department for a tasing incident.
With support from her husband, who serves as a stay-at-home father to their children, Schielke continues to challenge police misconduct and advocate for civil rights. Her success stems from a commitment to continuous learning and a willingness to seek guidance from experienced colleagues when facing adversity.
Through her innovative legal strategies and unwavering dedication to justice, Schielke has established herself as a powerful voice for civil rights in Colorado. She consistently achieves unprecedented results while pushing for greater police accountability and transparency.
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