Maria Liu

Partner
maria@cotriallaw.com

Education: Southern Illinois University, B.S., 1990, Southern Illinois University, J.D., 1997

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Post-Conviction Remedies; Forensic DNA; Drug Trafficking; Liquor Licensing; Burglary; Weapons Charges

Membership: Weld County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2008-present; President, 2004-2005); Colorado Criminal Defense Bar; American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Admissions: 1998, Colorado

Biography:

A founding member of the firm, Maria Liu specializes in criminal defense and post conviction relief. She is committed to ensuring that individuals accused of crimes are afforded fair treatment, respect, and the legal and constitutional protections guaranteed to them. In addition to her private cases, she represents indigent clients as a member of the Office of Alternate Defense Counsel.

Prior to establishing the firm with a few close colleagues, Ms. Liu worked at the Colorado Public Defenders Office for three years. Ms. Liu realized early in her career that she wanted to use her law degree to fight injustices and to protect clients’ personal and property rights. She began her career as a Deputy Public Defender where she handled criminal and juvenile matters ranging from traffic offenses to serious felonies. She enjoyed working with indigent clients because they are often the people that need lawyers the most.

Ms. Liu was raised in Tupelo, Mississippi. She received a B.S in Speech Communication from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Ms. Liu also attended Southern Illinois University for law school, and while attending she was involved in numerous organizations. During law school Ms. Liu worked at the Illinois Migrant Legal Assistance Project and Land of Lincoln Rural Legal Aid.

Ms. Liu is a member of the Colorado Bar, the American Academy of Forensic Science, and the Weld County Bar. She served as president of the Weld County Bar Association from 2004-2005 and served on the board of directors from 2002-2004. She was a part-time municipal judge in Greeley and an interim Liquor Licensing Officer for Greeley.

Ms. Liu received the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar’s 2008 Gideon Award and the ACLU’s 2008 Sherman Award  for her representation of Tim Masters.