Alaurice Tafoya-Modi obtained her B.A. in 1990 from the University of Colorado. She obtained her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1993 and immediately began her career as a Deputy Trial lawyer in the Denver Office of the Colorado State Public Defender’s office. After six and a half years of handling numerous types of criminal cases including serious felony cases and numerous murder trials, Ms. Tafoya-Modi left the Colorado State Public Defender’s office to work for the firm of Buchanan, Jurdem and Zulauf, P.C. where she continued representing those criminally charged as well as personal injury clients. She began her own firm in 2002, specializing in criminal defense and personal injury litigation. She is a talented and experienced litigator who has tried numerous cases in her career and handled cases all over the state of Colorado as well as in federal courts. Ms. Tafoya-Modi has successfully handled civil cases against major corporations such as Starbucks, Walmart and Conoco Phillips.

As a criminal defense lawyer, her commitment to her clients and persistence in advocating their cases have earned her respect from prosecutors, opposing counsel, and judges. Ms. Tafoya-Modi was previously appointed to serve on the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice by Governor Bill Ritter in 2009 and re-appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper in 2012. The Commission is comprised of key stakeholders in the criminal justice system which was created to evaluate and make recommendations on reforms and improvements to the Colorado Criminal Justice system. In her position on the Commission, Ms. Tafoya-Modi represented the interests and perspectives of the criminal defense community. Ms. Tafoya-Modi served as the 2019-2020 term President of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. The Colorado Criminal Defense Bar is the only statewide organization devoted solely to the representation of persons accused of having committed crimes.  CCDB is committed to providing it’s  800 plus members with the tools they need to better represent their clients as well as advocate for reform to Colorado’s criminal justice system. Ms. Tafoya-Modi is also a member of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Education

University of Colorado
Denver, CO
B.A. [General] - 1990

University of Colorado Law School
Denver, CO
B.A. Law Degree - 1993

Activities & Affiliations

• Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice

• Former President of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar

• Colorado Hispanic Bar Association Member

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Bar Admissions

Colorado Bar Association, Member, 1993 - Present