On February 8, 2024, the Colorado Supreme Court adopted changes
to the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rule 5.5
on Unauthorized Practice of Law and Multijurisdictional Practice of
Law.
In particular, the Court adopted a change to comment [1] to
Colorado Rule 5.5, expressly authorizing lawyers who are not
admitted or otherwise authorized to practice in Colorado to work
remotely here. The change creates a safe harbor for such lawyers
from charges of unauthorized practice in violation of Colorado Rule
5.5(a)(1).
The change adds the following sentence at the end of comment
[1]:
"Lawyers who are physically present in Colorado and provide
legal services under the authority of another jurisdiction do not
violate Rule 5.5(a)(1), provided such lawyers do not solicit or
accept clients in Colorado for services to be performed in Colorado
and do not hold themselves out, directly or impliedly, as
authorized to practice law in Colorado."
