
Lance Michael Sears
Phone: (719) 471–1984
Alternate Phone: (800) 994–1984
E–mail: Email Lance
Fax: (719) 577–4356
Full Printable Resume
Biography
LANCE M. SEARS is a past President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, a state–wide professional association of Colorado lawyers who practice civil trial law. After service as President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association from 1988–1989, Lance was elected to represent Colorado as a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) for six (6) years.
Lance was raised in Boulder, Colorado and received both his undergraduate degree (magna cum laude) and his law degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder. From 1975 to 1979 he was Deputy District Attorney in El Paso County (Colorado Springs), where he learned trial law on a daily basis in the courtroom. His practice since then has concentrated on civil trial law.
A significant amount of Lance's practice is in Federal Court, and in 1992, the judges of the Federal Court in Colorado appointed him to the Federal Court Advisory Committee, where he worked with his fellow lawyers and the federal judges to make federal trial practice more efficient and cost effective. In 2002, Lance was elected as the President of the Faculty of Federal Advocates (the trial lawyers who practice in Federal Court) for the Federal District Court of Colorado.
From 2001–2006, Lance was Chair of the Colorado State Judicial Performance Commission, which evaluates the performances of the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court and the judges of the Colorado Court of Appeals for purposes of making recommendations regarding their retention by the voters of Colorado.
Lance has lectured in over forty states and at national forums, and all over Colorado, on subjects involving trial skills and tactics, personal injury law, commercial torts and legal ethics. He is certified as a Diplomate of Trial Advocacy by the National College of Advocacy, a prestigious achievement reached only after a lawyer has accumulated over 600 hours of teaching and lecturing to other lawyers, and is on the faculty and Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy.
Since 1982, Lance has also been on the Colorado Bar Ethics Committee, the committee that writes ethics opinions to guide Colorado lawyers in ethical standards. Lance is an advocate representing lawyer/respondents before the Colorado Grievance Committee.
Lance has over thirty five years of trial experience. In 2003, Mr. Sears was named a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers (ISOB), a prestigious international organization with only approximately 600 members throughout the English-speaking world. He was appointed State Chair of the ISOB for the state of Colorado in 2006 to present, and was elected to the Board of Governors of the ISOB and has served in that position since 2008.
Lance is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Colorado, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals as well as before the United States Supreme Court.
Current Employment Position(s):
- Partner
Year Formed Present Partnership:
- 1991
Areas Of Practice:
- Personal Injury
- Commercial Litigation
- Grievance Defense
Litigation Percentage:
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
- Colorado, 1975
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1979
Education:
- University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, 1975
J.D. - University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Major: History/English
Classes/Seminars/Trial Colleges Taught:
- "How to Handle Rambo Litigator Tactics During Depositions: The Law and Strategy", SeminarWeb program, March 31, 2009
- "How Madison Avenue Influences Jurors" or "Persuasion Through Marketing and Branding", Psychology of Persuasion: How Is the Economy Impacting Your Jury?, American Association for Justice, March 13–14, 2009
- "Dealing with the Rambo Litigator", Advanced Depositions College, American Association for Justice, January 2009
- "Developing a Trial Theme Through Discovery Using The Jury Bias Model", Florida Justice Association, December 12–16, 2008
- "Developing a Trial Theme Through Discovery Using The Jury Bias Model" Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, August 2008
- "Personal Responsibility & Victimization", American Association for Justice, Philadelphia, PA, July 11–15, 2008
- "Jury Selection", Medical Seminar, Steamboat, CO, Feb. 29 – Mar. 2, 2008
- "Using Depositions to Overcome Jury Bias" Advanced Depositions College, American Association for Justice, January 10–14, 2008
- Overcoming Jury Bias – Persuasion – Las Vegas, NV – November 16–17, 2007
- Advanced Depositions College – New Orleans, LA – January 2007
- Advocacy Track: "Dealing with the Rambo Litigator" – 2007 Winter Convention – Miami, FL – February 2007
- Jazz Fest: "Litigating Auto Collision Cases: Slaying the Insurance Beast", 2007
- Advocacy Track: Developing Your Case Theme Through Discovery – 2007 Annual Convention – Chicago, IL – July 2007
- Advanced Depositions College – Denver, CO – March 2006
- Advocacy Track: Panel: "How to Uncover and Prevail on a Challenge for Cause" – 2006
- Annual Convention – Seattle, WA – July 2006
- Psychology of Persuasion: "What You Need to Know to Win for Your Client" – Atlanta, GA – September 2006
- Overcoming Juror Bias College Part II: "The Ten Commandments" – Denver, CO – October, 2006
- Depositions, Trial Advocacy College, New Orleans, LA – January 2005
- Jazz Fest: Litigating Auto Collision Cases Seminar – New Orleans, LA – April 2005
- 2005 Annual Convention – Toronto, Canada – July 2005
- Overcoming Juror Bias Part I: The Five Juror Perceptions and Beliefs – Atlanta, GA – October 2005
- "Theming Your Case" – Weekend With the Stars – New York, NY – December 2005
- "Using Jury Bias in Jury Selection", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2004
- "Using the Principles of Overcoming Jury Bias", Overcoming Jury Bias College, 2004
- "Preparing an Effective Direct and Cross Exam", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2004
- "Selecting a Jury in the Age of Jury Bias and Lawyer Bashing", Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2004
- "The Law & Art of the Opening Statement", Ultimate Trial Advocacy College, 1993
- "Grievance Prosecutors", Colorado District Attorneys Conference, 2003
- "Preparing the Client for Deposition", Association of Trial Lawyers, 1993
- "Making Facts Come Alive with Exhibits in Opening", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003
- "Compelling use of Modern Themes in your Low Impact Cases", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003
- "Theming Your Case: A Methodology", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003
- "Evaluating and Presenting Closed Head Injury Cases", National College of Advocacy, 1993
- "The 10 Principles of Overcoming Jury Bias", Overcoming Jury Bias College, 2003
- "The New Millenium Client", Kansas Trial Lawyers, 2002
- "Developing a Trial Theme in the Age of Jury Bias", Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2002
- "Theming Your Case", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2002
- "Using and Applying Focus Group Results", Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 2002
- "Dealing with Jury Bias Issues with Direct Examination", Overcoming Jury Bias College, 2002
- "Daubert is not only for Defendants: What Every Plaintiff's Lawyer Must Know", Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 2002
- "Using Persuasive Themes at Trial", National Continuing Legal Education Conference, 2002
- "Ethics for Plaintiffs Lawyers", Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 2001
- "The Keys to a Successful Direct Examination", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2001
- "Using Daubert and Its Progeny as a Sword", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2001
- "Daubert is not only for Defendants: What Every Plaintiff's Lawyer Must Know", National College of Advocacy, 2001
- "Law Firm Management: The 10 Principles to Success", PESI Absolute Litigators Conference, 2001
- "Using Jury Bias Concepts During Voir Dire", Overcoming Jury Bias College, 2001
- "Deposing the Expert Witness", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2001
- "Developing a Trial Theme: A Concise Methodology for Every Case", National CLE Conference, 2001
- "What Every Plaintiff's Lawyer Needs to Know About Avoiding Malpractice and Grievances", Kansas Trial Lawyers, 2000
- "What to do if you Receive a Grievance Complaint", Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 2000
- "Preparing your Client for Her Deposition", Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2000
Honors and Awards:
- ATLA Citation of Excellence, 1990
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Faculty of Federal Advocates, 2002
President - National College of Advocacy, 1995 – Present
Board of Trustees - National College of Advocacy, 1992
Certified Diplomat - Colorado State Judicial Qualification Commission, 1997 – 2006
Member/Chair - International Society of Barristers, 2003 – Present
Fellow - Belli Society, 2004 – Present
Member - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1979 – Present
Member - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1990 – 1996
Board of Governors - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1988 – 1990
State Delegate - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1991
ATLA PAC Vice–Chair - Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1993 – 1994
Co–Chair Peoples' Law School - Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 1982 – Present
Board of Directors - Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, 1988 – 1989
President - Western Trial Lawyers Association
Charter Member - Western Trial Lawyers Association, 1998 – Present
Board of Directors - American Bar Association, 1979 – Present
Member - Colorado Bar Association, 1975 – Present
Member - Colorado Bar Association, 1983 – Present
Ethics Committee - El Paso County Bar Association, 1975 – Present
Member - District of Colorado Federal Civil Justice Advisory Committee, 1991 – 1995
- District of Colorado Federal Court Vacancy Commission, 1998
- Fourth Judicial District Judicial Qualification Commission, 1994 – 2001
Past Employment Positions:
- 4th Judicial District Attorney Office, Deputy District Attorney, 1975 – 1979
- Private Practice, 1979 – Present

