A Legacy of Service
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has awarded Colorado Chapter Fellow Sarah Chen the 2026 National Pro Bono Service Award in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to providing free legal representation to underserved families in Colorado.
Chen, a partner at Harris Chen Family Law in Denver, has dedicated over 800 hours of pro bono service annually for the past five years, focusing primarily on domestic violence protection orders and custody matters for families who cannot afford legal representation.
Impact on the Colorado Legal Community
Chens work extends far beyond her individual case representation. She founded the Colorado Family Law Pro Bono Network in 2022, which now connects over 60 volunteer attorneys with families in need across the state.
Program Statistics
Under Chens leadership, the Colorado Family Law Pro Bono Network has facilitated representation in over 1,200 cases, trained 150 attorneys in pro bono family law practice, established partnerships with 12 domestic violence shelters and community organizations, and secured favorable outcomes in over 85% of cases handled through the network.
Mentoring the Next Generation
In addition to her direct service work, Chen has developed a mentoring program that pairs law students with experienced family law practitioners for supervised pro bono representation. This program has become a model that other AAML chapters are now replicating nationwide.
The National AAML Pro Bono Award
The National AAML Pro Bono Service Award is presented annually to a Fellow who demonstrates exceptional commitment to providing access to justice in family law matters. Selection criteria include volume and quality of pro bono service, impact on the community, innovation in service delivery, and leadership in inspiring others to provide pro bono service.
Chen will receive the award at the AAML National Conference in Chicago in November 2026. The Colorado Chapter will host a celebration reception in her honor in October.
How Fellows Can Get Involved
Inspired by Chens example, the Colorado Chapter encourages all Fellows to consider expanding their pro bono commitments. The Chapter offers resources including a pro bono case referral system, malpractice coverage for qualifying pro bono cases, CLE credits for pro bono training programs, and recognition at the annual meeting for outstanding pro bono contributions.