City Attorney

The City Charter requires the City Attorney to:

• represent the City in all legal proceedings
• draft all ordinances and prepare all other legal documents for the City
• attend all City Council meetings
• perform all services related to the position as required by the City Charter, City laws or City Council

The City Attorney's Office does not represent Poudre Fire Authority, Poudre River Public Library District or the Downtown Development Authority.

Legal Aid Resources

The City Attorney's Office does not give legal advice to private residents. Anyone seeking information about their individual rights and responsibilities should contact a private attorney or seek other legal assistance.

Student Legal Services

If you are a full-time, fee-paying CSU student with a current activity card, you can get legal aid from CSU Student Legal Services. CSU Student Legal Services can advise students on most legal matters.

Colorado Legal Services

Larimer County residents whose income falls below certain levels can get legal services for civil matters from Colorado Legal Services, located at 211 W. Magnolia St., or at 493-2891. Colorado Legal Services does not advise on criminal matters.

Pro Bono Program

The Larimer County Bar Association Pro Bono Program helps connect residents with free lawyers for some civil legal issues. The Pro Bono Program holds a weekly intake session for qualifying low-income individuals on Wednesdays at noon at the Larimer County Justice Center. The Pro Bono Program deals primarily with divorce and child custody issues and landlord/tenant issues. It does not handle bankruptcy, criminal, workers compensation, social security or personal injury cases. For additional information on this program please call 970-402-2075.

Court-Appointed Counsel

If you are seeking court-appointed counsel for a Fort Collins Municipal Court matter, please contact Municipal Court. If you are seeking court-appointed counsel for a criminal matter in County or District Court, you should contact the Public Defender's Office (see below).

Public Defender/District Attorney's Office

The Public Defender is a lawyer employed by the state who helps people accused of crimes in District and County Courts. The Public Defender does not handle civil lawsuits or municipal court cases. The Public Defender is located at #1 Old Town Square, Suite 200, in Fort Collins, and the telephone number is 970-493-1212.

The District Attorney's office is a state government office, which represents the State of Colorado by prosecuting all criminal matters in County and District court. If you have a question about such criminal matters, please contact 970-498-7200.

Tenant/Landlord Disputes

The Fort Collins City Attorney does not offer legal services relating to landlord/tenant disputes as this is a private matter between two private parties. People with landlord/tenant problems can talk to a private lawyer or review the City's Landlord-Tenant Handbook.