The Accelerated Juris Doctor program at Vermont Law School enables students to earn a JD degree in less time and to reduce costs associated with living expenses while enrolled.

VLS offers two accelerated start options, the Summer Start AJD program and the Fall Start AJD program.

Summer Start Two-Year Accelerated JD (AJD) Program

The Summer Start AJD program at Vermont Law School enables students to earn a JD degree in less time and reduce costs associated with living expenses while enrolled. Summer Start AJD students graduate after six semesters, preparing them to sit for the bar in July and begin work a full year ahead of their traditional three-year JD track peers. Full merit-based and need-based scholarships are available for this program.

Summer Start AJD students begin their studies at the end of May. In the first and second years, students attend classes during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. There is room in the second year schedule to participate in up to two types of clinics and externships. Even within the condensed schedule, there's time to participate in all student groups and be eligible to work on the Vermont Law Review or the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.

Students admitted into the Summer Start AJD program must meet a 3.0 GPA requirement at the end of the summer semester to continue in the AJD program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will continue with the traditional program.

Fall Start Two-Year Accelerated JD (AJD) Program

The Fall Start AJD program begins in August. Students attend classes during the fall, spring, and summer semesters in each of their two years and graduate in August of their second year. Fall Start AJD students are eligible to sit for the bar in February after graduation.

Students admitted into the Fall Start AJD program must meet a 3.0 GPA requirement at the end of the fall semester to continue in the AJD program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will continue with the traditional program.