Legal Assistance Developer

The Legal Assistance Developer program is a statewide legal aid and older adult advocacy program. The Legal Assistance Developer also provides leadership in securing and maintaining the rights of older adults. This includes providing leadership in developing the Colorado Legal Assistance Program for persons 60 years of age and older and oversight of the program, as well as the development of other legal aid services throughout Colorado.

Through developing free civil legal services and advocating for older adults, the Legal Assistance Developer works to ensure that older Coloradans live and age with dignity, security, and choice.

For more information, please contact:

Candise Johnnie, MPH

Legal Assistance Program

Title III of the Older Americans Act makes funds available specifically for legal assistance to those 60 years of age and older with the greatest social and economic need. The Legal Assistance Developer provides oversight of the Title III legal assistance programs and ensures that at-risk older people have access to the civil justice system.

Each of Colorado’s 16 area agencies on aging (AAA) contracts with local attorneys or firms to provide services. The attorneys who contract with the AAAs to provide services are known as Legal Assistance Providers. Based upon the needs of the community, each AAA establishes both the types of legal services to be offered to older adults in the region and what services should be prioritized. Priority legal services are provided free of charge. Priority legal issues typically included:

• Housing issues
• Accessing health and long-term care
• Elder abuse and neglect
• Financial exploitation
• Public benefit issues (Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc.)
• Consumer protection

For legal assistance contact the legal assistance provider in your area or your local AAA.

Click here to find the legal assistance provider in your county.