CO · rules
C.R.C.P. 224
Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of a Major Disaster
(1) Determination of Major Disaster. Solely for purposes of this rule, the Supreme
Court shall determine when an emergency affecting the justice system, as a result of a
natural or other major disaster, has occurred in:
(a) The state of Colorado, and whether the emergency caused by the major disaster
affects the entirety or only a part of this state, or
(b) Another jurisdiction in the United States, but only after such a determination and
its geographical scope have been made by the highest court of that jurisdiction.
(2) Temporary Practice in Colorado Following a Major Disaster in Colorado.
Following the determination of an emergency in Colorado pursuant to paragraph (1) of this
rule, an out-of-state attorney who meets the conditions of C.R.C.P. 205.1(a) and (b) may be
allowed to establish a place for the temporary practice of law from which the attorney may
provide legal services not otherwise authorized by Rule 205.1. The terms and conditions of
such temporary practice will be set forth in the Supreme Court’s emergency order, and will
depend upon the nature and extent of the emergency affecting the justice system, and the
needs for legal services resulting from such emergency.
(3) Temporary Practice in Colorado Following a Major Disaster in Another
Jurisdiction. Following the determination of a major disaster in another jurisdiction in the
United States, pursuant to paragraph (1) of this rule, an out-of-state attorney who meets the
conditions of C.R.C.P. 205.1(a) and (b) may establish a place for the temporary practice of
law in Colorado not otherwise authorized by C.R.C.P. 205.1, from which such attorney
may provide legal services related to that attorney’s practice of law in the licensing
jurisdiction or the area of such licensing jurisdiction where the major disaster occurred.
(4) Duration of Authority for Temporary Practice. The authority for an out-of-state
attorney to maintain a place for the practice of law in Colorado as described in paragraphs
(2) and (3) shall end when the Supreme Court determines that the conditions caused by the
major disaster have ended. The Supreme Court may allow a winding down period for such
temporary practice offices.
(5) Court Appearances. The authority granted by this rule does not include appearances in Colorado state courts of record or administrative tribunals, except:
(a) When the out-of-state attorney files a motion for pro hac vice admission pursuant
to C.R.C.P. 205.3 and 205.4, and obtains permission from the trial court for such appearance (the Supreme Court may waive pro hac vice admission fees at the time of the
determination of the major disaster as described in paragraph (1) or at any time thereafter
while the determination remains in effect); or
(b) When the Supreme Court, in any determination made under paragraph (1), grants
blanket permission to attorneys providing legal services pursuant to paragraph (2) to
appear in all or designated Colorado courts or administrative tribunals, thereby suspending
the pro hac vice application and fee requirements set forth in C.R.C.P. 205.3 and 205.4.
(6) Disciplinary Authority and Registration Requirement. Out-of-state attorneys
who establish a place for the temporary practice of law in Colorado pursuant to paragraphs
(2) or (3) are subject to this Supreme Court’s disciplinary authority and the Colorado Rules
of Professional Conduct as provided in C.R.C.P. 205.1(3) and Colo. RPC 8.5. Prior to
opening such place for the temporary practice of law in Colorado, these out-of-state
attorneys shall file a registration statement with the Colorado Supreme Court Office of
Attorney Registration. The registration statement shall be in a form prescribed by the
Supreme Court. Any out-of-state attorney who provides legal services pursuant to this rule
shall not be considered to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Colorado, and
shall be deemed, for the purposes of Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 12, Article 5,
Sections 101, 112 and 115, to have obtained a license for the limited scope of practice
specified in this rule.
(7) Notification to Clients. Out-of-state attorneys who establish a place for the
temporary practice of law in Colorado pursuant to paragraph (2) shall inform Colorado
clients in writing, at the time the relationship commences, of the jurisdiction(s) in which
the attorney is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice law, any limits on that
authorization, and that the attorney is not authorized to practice law in Colorado except as
permitted by this rule and the Court’s emergency order.
History
Source: Entire rule added and effective June 16, 2011; (2), (3), (5)(a), (5)(b), and (6) amended and effective January 14, 2015.
Provenance
- Source
- content.leg.colorado.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-15
- Content hash
d7c70465ff575894d139b7041d1314e0a9a9606332f6494edb6a85671c3c6c11
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