Meet The Attorneys Behind LawForPeople
In October 2023, LawForPeople trial attorney M. E. O'Connell and with one of two very adventurous daughters, undertook an expedition. It was an amazing combination of advocacy and gratitude for the immense beauty of the world. They carried the Transgender and LGBTQIA+ flags from Colorado all the way to Kathmandu, Nepal, then along the spine of the Himalayas, through passes, valleys, and rivers, all the way to the base of Mount Everest itself, known as Sagarmatha to the Nepalese and Chomolungma to Tibetans.
Along the way, strangers greeted them with smiles, kindness, and questions. M. E. was approached by a father with a transgender daughter, by another parent of a gender diverse son, by a charming and smiling Hijra (a recognized 3rd gender in some Hindu cultures), by Nepalese well-wishers and Indonesian supporters, by allies and community members from all over the world. The journey is a testament to M.E.'s belief in going all in, whether championing their community in Nepal or utilizing their impeccable legal skills to go all in for clients. M.E. takes pride in being one of the very few non-binary lawyers in Colorado and is unafraid of taking on complex issues and tough cases, all while being unabashedly themselves.
M. E. O'Connell attended the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland as an undergraduate and obtained a law degree (JD) from the University of Maryland's Carey School of Law. M.E. currently serves on the prestigious Trial Lawyers College faculty, which teaches trial skills to trial attorneys. It is a post-doctoral curriculum for people who are already fighting the good fight.
M.E. has obtained jury verdicts all over Colorado and in all kinds of cases, from $8.5M in a trial against fracking companies, to $1M for a veteran suffering PTSD, and 100K for a gay man discriminated against by the city and county of Denver - the list goes on. Rest assured, we can help you.
It's about Justice, big or small. M.E. has litigated everything from fracking and product liability cases to car accidents and premises liability. But leading the charge against sexual abusers who commit crimes against children is one of the most meaningful missions for M.E. and LawForPeople.
Their personal passions dovetail with the advocacy of LawForPeople. Well before the Nepal trip, we journeyed to Botswana to help teach a seminar for the local lawyers who prosecute poachers and smugglers. Here in Colorado, M.E. can be found at Parasol Patrol events, drag show readings, rallies for the unhoused, chamber of commerce functions, and generally soaking up our community at every opportunity. And, of course, in courtrooms all across the State.
(She / Her)
Ellyn Rapaport, Esq.
Ellyn knows how it feels to be injured in an accident. Prior to attending law school, a drunk driver crashed into Ellyn’s vehicle at high speed. As a result, Ellyn suffered significant and permanent injuries to her back. She endured countless invasive medical treatments, including a three-level spinal fusion. Her life had changed forever in the blink of an eye. After a long and painful recovery, Ellyn began to rebuild her life and learned to live within her new limitations.
Ellyn is a fierce advocate for others who have been harmed by negligence. She understands and recognizes the hardships that follow an injury. This knowledge drives Ellyn’s passion every day to fiercely advocate for others going through what she has endured. From fighting insurance companies to forcing a major medical institution to recognize human rights for transgender patients, Ellyn does not back down. She fights relentlessly for those who need a voice.
Ellyn Rapaport obtained her law degree from Hamline University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Minnesota.
In her spare time, Ellyn serves on the board of directors for SaveAFox Rescue, feeds the unhoused, and enjoys the beauty of Colorado.
