The Continental Divide Bar Association ("CDBA") is a an organization of licensed attorneys with ties to the four counties that comprise the Colorado Fifth Judicial District. The CDBA was originally founded in 1968 and later incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 2006. Our roughly 200 members include county and district court judges, magistrates, attorneys in the office of the District Attorney, attorneys in the office of the Public Defender, and those otherwise serving in the public sector. However, the majority of our members are private attorneys, who either practice on a solo basis or as lawyers associated together in small law firms. Situated in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, most CDBA members live and work in mountain towns that include (from east to west): Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silverthorne, Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, Leadville, Vail, Edwards, Avon, and Eagle.
The CDBA has an established tradition of service to its members as well as to the public. It provides local attorneys with continuing legal education as well as networking and volunteering opportunities. In addition to providing resources to local attorneys, the CDBA strives to improve the mountain communities in which it operates by providing the public with opportunities to learn more about the law. More specifically, the CDBA was founded to achieve the following purposes:
- Promote excellence in the practice of the legal profession;
- Improve educational opportunities for its membership through programs designed to cover emerging ethical issues and new developments in all fields of law;
- Cultivate social relationships amongst our membership that will encourage an atmosphere of collegiality and cooperation in the local legal community;
- Foster congeniality and mutual respect amongst legal professionals in our community;
- Provide services that will assist our members in meeting various needs in their daily law practices;
- Enhance public understanding of and respect for the law;
- Assist and educate the public regarding their legal rights and responsibilities; and
- Assure that quality legal services are available to all persons in our community at an affordable cost.
Additional Information
The CDBA web site provides assistance in finding an attorney, information regarding continuing legal education, and news pertaining to professional and charitable activities of the organization. It is intended to help both attorneys and non-attorneys with matters related to legal representation and service to the community. It also permits members to login, participate in the local legal community, and obtain access to organizational resources.
Most CDBA members also belong to the Colorado Bar Association ("CBA"). The CBA makes a wealth of information and assistance available to Colorado attorneys as well as the general public. For instance, the CBA publishes The Colorado Lawyer, a monthly publication that serves as an excellent resource for Colorado attorneys. The CBA also provides access to legal research tools as well as extensive information regarding law office management guidance, continuing legal education across the state, legal malpractice insurance, and many other services which a local bar cannot provide.
