O'Connell, Alicia M.

I have practiced criminal defense exclusively, in both Colorado and Alaska, since graduation from law school in December, 2002. With 7-years of criminal defense practice I am excited to transition my main area of practice to Domestic Relations. My 7-years of litigation experience and familiarity with the court system enable me to competently represent persons involved in a Domestic Relations dispute whether it is Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation, Declaration of Invalid Marriage, Modification of Parental Responsibilities or Modification of Child Support. I am very excited about my transition into family law practice and am a compassionate advocate for all of my clients.

My entire career has been dedicated to representing people involved in the criminal justice system. Upon graduation from college I devoted time working for a victim assistance program dedicated to reimbursing victims of crime. Prior to law school I was a probation officer who handled both a domestic violence caseload as well as a drug case load. During law school I worked as a law clerk for Shawnee County District Court, 3rd Judicial District of Kansas. I also designed and implemented a youth court which was a preventative program impacting first time, non-violent, juvenile offenders. The program emphasized restorative justice while eliminating incarceration and criminal convictions upon successful completion of the program. I've worked as a pro bono attorney for Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center representing children as a Guardian Ad Litem and in Dependency and Neglect cases. I've also volunteered my time as a mock trial judge and coach for youth.

As a Public Defender for 6 of the past 7 years, I have been in the courtroom on almost a daily basis, representing and defending persons charged with misdemeanor, juvenile and felony criminal offenses. Prior to entering the courtroom, I personally meet with and advise the client of their criminal charges, constitutional rights and of potential penalties. Often, in criminal cases, there are constitutional violations (illegal stops, searches and seizures) which require legal research and writing of suppression motions. While in the courtroom, I've routinely handled all stages of the criminal proceedings including, but not limited to, bail hearings, first appearances, Preliminary Hearings, pre-trial motions, plea dispositions, jury trials and sentencing hearings.

It is very important to me to develop strong relationships with my clients. This can be challenging when handling complex and often emotionally charged criminal allegations. It is imperative that my clients fully understand and appreciate the nature of their criminal charges, constitutional rights, possible defenses and potential penalties so that they can make an informed decision regarding the ultimate outcome in their case. Most often, the Assistant District Attorney assigned to prosecute a client's case will extend a "plea offer" to resolve the case. Whether or not to accept the plea offer is completely up to the client. The client cannot make a knowledgeable decision as to whether or not they should accept their plea offer unless they have been fully advised of the strengths and weaknesses of their case and what the potential likelihood of success at jury trial is. I have substantial experience in negotiating with adversarial parties resulting in successful outcomes for the client. Truly getting to know my client and grasping their personal situation leading up to criminal charges being filed is essential to effectively counsel the client and advocate upon their behalf.

I attended Washburn University School of Law and obtained my Juris Doctorate degree in December, 2002. While in law school I interned with the Kansas State Public Defender's Office as well as the Kansas Federal Public Defender's Office. In 2001 I took second place at the American Bar Association's Client Counseling Competition.

My professional associations and affiliations include the following: Alaska State Bar (2007-2010); Ben S. Wendelken Inns of Court (2005-2007, 2010-present); Colorado Bar Association (2003-2007, 2010-present); Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (2010-present) Colorado Legal Aid (2006); El Paso County Bar Association (2010-present); Women's Bar Association (2010-present)