Education

Leslie graduated cum laude in 1980 from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. In 1984, Leslie received her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and was admitted to the bar in Colorado.

Leslie has participated in numerous legal and leadership trainings, including the Executive Leadership Course at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard in 2008 and the Leadership Program of the Rockies in 2009.

About Leslie

Leslie and her husband of 32 years live in Douglas County. They are the parents of three wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter-in-law. Leslie and her family enjoy golfing and skiing/boarding together. She is an avid fan of the PGA and the Colorado Avalanche.

Experience

Public Sector
Leslie began her legal career as a deputy district attorney at the Denver District Attorney’s Office. She handled hundreds of criminal cases and conducted dozens of jury trials, including 10 first degree murder trials. In 2005, Leslie became the Assistant District Attorney at the District Attorney’s Office for the 18th Judicial District. As the second in command, Leslie supported the District Attorney in developing and implementing office policy; managed the Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln County offices; participated in all employee management decisions; interface with all 26 law enforcement agencies and the 4 Boards of County Commissioners; mentored deputy district attorneys; and provided communication and interaction with the constitutents of the judicial district. Leslie selected and presented cases to the district and county grand juries. She served as the District Attorney’s representative on the Community Corrections Board, and with the Mental Health Court and Drug Court. Leslie was the Chair of the District Attorney’s Inclusiveness Committee and was the office representative to the U.S. Attorney, District Attorney and Attorney General working group at the Center for Legal Inclusiveness. Leslie has testified before the state legislature on matters relating to sentencing laws and juvenile law and has spoken to community groups about all aspects of criminal law.

Private Practice
In 1992, Leslie left the Denver prosecutor’s office and was a partner in the law firm Chambers, Dansky & Hansen, PC. Leslie and her partners developed a litigation firm that specialized in family law, criminal defense, and employment law. Leslie handled many divorce cases and settled most of them, but litigated those that were necessary. She worked with families as a guardian ad litem for children whose parents were divorcing and was regularly appointed to this position by Denver judges with whom she had worked as a prosecutor. She represented domestic violence victims and grandparents seeking custody of their grandchildren. In 2000, Leslie started her own firm, Leslie Hansen PC, and continued to focus exclusively on family law. Leslie continued her advocacy on behalf of children and families and handled all types of domestic relations cases. In late 2012, Leslie left public service and returned to private practice and again practices family law, including dissolution of marriage and civil unions, child custody and support issues, and post dissolution matters.

Leslie’s background as a prosecutor with extensive litigation experience gives her a unique perspective on family law cases. She knows that it is usually best for couples involved in a dissolution of marriage or civil union to settle their case by reaching an agreement they can both live with, without resorting to litigation. Whenever possible, couples should decide how to divide their assets and debts and decide what is best for their children as co-parents. When there are children involved, their best interests must be the number one priority for the parents and for the family law attorney. Leslie is a firm believer in, and an advocate for, shared parenting where both parents have a loving and nurtuing relationship with their children and both are actively involved in parenting responsibilities. Leslie brings the right combination of strength and compassion to the practice of family law.