Attorney Beth Padilla was the moderator for a recent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentation co-sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Southwest Colorado Bar Association in Durango, Colorado.  The CLE addressed professionalism in the courtroom.


Pictured L to R: Beth Padilla, Magistrate James Casey, Southwest Colorado Bar President Geoff Craig, District Court Judge Martha Minot. (District Court Judge William Herringer was also on the panel but is not pictured.)

-- Martha Burwell, Pre-Law Intern for Padilla Law, P.C., Summer 2013

Spending the summer working with Beth and Paul Padilla has not only been meaningful, but also extremely interesting, educational, and fun.  On my first day, the Padillas showed me around the office, including the small desk and computer that they had purchased especially for their new intern – or in other words, for me—to use.  Then Beth and I went straight to court for a hearing, and quickly back to the office where I observed a client meeting conducted in Spanish.  This high-paced work would continue for the next 4 months, while I spent about 10 hours a week in the office, in the court room, and even delivering subpoenas.

Since I have an interest in human rights and immigration, and I speak Spanish, about three quarters of my work was done with Beth.  She taught me how to draft letters to clients, and how to put together petitions for immigration clients, by sorting through evidence and creating exhibits.  She also gave me some tools for conducting legal research.  I was invited to sit in on client meetings, which often took place in Spanish, where I observed first hand the complex world of immigration. 

At first, this work which was so new to me seemed a little abstract; however, it was all made real when I met the clients with whom Beth was working.  This was really making an impact on their lives—she was helping them become U.S. citizens. 

Another side of Beth’s work which interested me was her role as Guardian Ad Litem, where she represents the best interests of children.  Beth advocates for children who have few others to speak on their behalf.  Although the hearings could be tough to watch, it was very interesting to see the integral importance of the role Beth plays.

Some of my time was spent with Paul, who also proved to be an adept and enthusiastic teacher.  He invited me to observe in court, and spent time explaining legal concepts, going over the cases he was involved in.  It was particularly interesting to follow one case, in family law, all the way through, and see the results.  He also emphasized to me a very important trait to have as a lawyer: meticulous and detailed organization. 

I experienced another aspect of law with Paul—delivery of subpoenas.  While delivering letters, in person, which order the recipient to testify in court, I saw many faces change to confused, angry, happy, scared, or apathetic.  An interesting job to say the least!

My internship culminated with a VAWA case.  VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act, and for women immigrants, it is extremely important.  VAWA states that any woman who has been abused by her U.S. citizen spouse, can petition for herself to become a lawful permanent resident, rather than wait for her spouse to petition on her behalf, as the law normally requires.  This was a heart-wrenching and complicated case, but with Beth’s guidance, I put together the extensive exhibits, with overwhelming evidence in the client’s favor.  I have yet to hear the results of the petition, but I very much hope it is approved and the client can free herself from the cycle of violence. 

Going to law school is an enormous investment.  I have asked myself countless times if this purchase of education is worth 25 years of debt.  Interning at Padilla Law was a chance to really see what being a lawyer means, in a day-to-day sense.  How would my time be spent?  Would I enjoy it?  Would I thrive at it? I am very grateful to Beth and Paul for allowing me the chance to explore this, gaining invaluable insight into what it means to practice law in a small firm – leaving me in a better position to one day embark on my own career in law.

Attorney Beth Padilla was chosen as the first attorney to be featured in the Office of the Child's Representative's quarterly newsletter section entitled, "Meet an OCR Attorney." A portion of the article is re-published below:

"Beth Padilla practices in the Sixth and Twenty-Second Judicial Districts in Colorado. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and New Mexico.

Q: Why did you choose to practice child welfare law?

A: I studied juvenile and family law in law school and was interested in the subject matter. However, I did not practice child welfare law until I relocated from Denver to Durango, Colorado and opened a firm with my husband, Paul Padilla. I decided to contact OCR on the advice of a mentor and judge. It made sense to me that I might be able to help kids in southwest Colorado because I am bilingual in English and Spanish and have an immigration background.

Q: What has been the most rewarding moment for you while working with
children and families in the dependency and neglect system?

A: One of the first D&N cases I received was a family of three young children. The children were removed from one foster home and placed into another based on allegations of abuse. One of the kids, aged six, was asked by a caseworker who the child would contact if he felt unsafe and he responded that he would call his GAL. I was so excited that he not only remembered me but also would turn to me if he felt unsafe in his new placement.

Q: What drives you to continue in this line of work?

A: I am driven to continue with child welfare because I really think I can
help the kids in these cases. The kids in dependency and neglect cases need an adult they can talk to and that is looking out for them. I try to be that
adult."

Alternative Horizon’s services and programs include:

• 24-hour free, confidential, and bi-lingual support hotline;
• Support groups for domestic violence survivors and the children or survivors;
• Prevention education and community outreach programs;
• Court advocacy;
• The “Bridges of Hope” legal program; and
• Individual therapy services for child, youth, and adult victims.

Alternative Horizon’s services are critical to Durango and southwest Colorado, and Paul hopes that his involvement with the organization will bolster and advance its efforts. 

Paul is grateful for the opportunity to work with the program and its staff and board of directors, and believes that his election to the Board is the first step in developing a long-term relationship between Padilla Law, P.C. and Alternative Horizons.