Legal Observer® Program
Request Legal Observers®
To request legal observers at your event, email:
LegalObserver.NLGCO@proton.me
Please include the following information:
Organization Name
Event Name
Date(s)
Start and End Times
Location
We look forward to working together!
We are living through a critical moment in our nation’s history; one in which protest is playing a crucial role.
As Legal Observers®, we document interactions with police, especially those that could later have criminal or civil legal consequences. We take the confidentiality of our work very seriously, and seek to provide as much legal protection as possible for protesters.
We hope that our presence can be a deterrent to violent police tactics and if not, we make sure we’ve documented those tactics for legal advocacy later.
Why Request Legal Observers?
We do not work with police or law enforcement agencies or act as liaisons between them and the protesters.
In order to maintain necessary legal boundaries:
We cannot give legal advice on the ground while we’re observing;
We cannot participate in the protest or the planning; and
We maintain separation during the event (checking in with organizers before or after the event).
If you are an organizer in the community, we urge you to reach out to us. We do not enter spaces to which we are not invited out of respect for your group.
In partnership with Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN), we have developed a specialized curriculum to provide trained Legal Observers® as part of rapid response teams that appear on scene during immigration raids across the state.
If you see a suspected ICE raid occurring in your area, call the Rapid Response Hotline at 1-844-864-8341.
Become a Legal Observer®
Legal Observers® are typically, but not exclusively, law students, legal workers and lawyers who may or may not be licensed locally. However, if you are interested in training, please don’t hesitate to register.
Attend an Introductory Training
These 90 minute, in-person trainings take place periodically, often at DU or CU Law School. You’ll learn the basics, sign paperwork, and do some role-play training exercises if time permits.
Read the Manual
At the end of the training, you’ll receive a .pdf manual, which contains detailed information about what to do before, during, and after an action. You are responsible for being familiar with the manual before you shadow.
Shadow an Active Legal Observer®
Attend an action and shadow an experienced Legal Observer®, while making your own observations. This is a great opportunity to see what observing is really like and to ask questions.
All trainee information is kept on secure, EU-hosted, end-to-end encrypted platforms
We will email you with information about the next available training
*Current or former members of law enforcement are NOT eligible to become Legal Observers®