Vermont Law and Graduate School

Constitution Day 2025: "Landmark Cases in American Constitutional Law"
2025-09-17 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
In celebration of the day that the United States Constitution was adopted, the Vermont Bar Association (VBA) and Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) will host a panel presentation focused on “Landmark Cases in American Constitutional Law.”

Panelists include:

Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber

Vermont Superior Court Judge Timothy Tomasi

Vermont Superior Court Judge Daniel Richardson JD’03

Vermont Superior Court Judge Bonnie Badgewick

VLGS Professor Peter Teachout

Incoming VBA President Jordana Levine JD’04 (Moderator)

This event is free and open to the public, and all in-person attendees will receive a pocket Constitution. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of panelists following the presentation.

If you are unable to join us in person, the livestream can be accessed by clicking here.

Vermont Law Review Presents: "Free Speech on Trial: Resisting Censorship in 2025"
2025-10-03 15:30 - 2025-10-04 12:30 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
In celebration of its 50th volume, Vermont Law Review proudly presents its annual symposium, “Free Speech on Trial: Resisting Censorship in 2025.”

This dynamic event will feature four panels examining pressing First Amendment issues—executive power and academic freedom in contemporary governance—the Pico v. Island Trees case and book banning in schools across the United States, a comparative panel with African artistic freedom of expression, and the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and free speech in democratic societies.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Both in-person and livestream attendance options are available. The livestream links will be shared on this page prior to the event.

To view the full agenda, please see below.

You can access the livestream via the following links:

Friday, October 3 | 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, October 4 | 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET

AGENDA:

Friday, October 3

3:30 p.m. | Opening Remarks

Katie Scott JD’26, Symposium Editor, Vermont Law Review

Ilinca Johnson JD’26, Symposium Editor, Vermont Law Review

Keynote Address: Rod Smolla, Professor of Law, Vermont Law and Graduate School

4 p.m. | Break

4:05 p.m. | Panel One, “Executive Power and Academic Freedom”

Moderator: Siu Tip Lam, Interim Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Vermont Law and Graduate School

Michael Hurley, Government Affairs Counsel, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)

Ryan Kane JD’13, Deputy Solicitor General, Vermont Attorney General’s Office

Sam Abel-Palmer, Executive Director, Legal Services Vermont

Apratim Vidyarthi, Litigation Associate, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

5:20 p.m. | Break

5:30 p.m. | Panel Two, “Pico v. Island and Book Bans”

Moderator: Anna Connolly, Associate Professor of Law, Vermont Law and Graduate School

Rhiannon Hamam, Supervising Attorney, Mithoff Pro Bono Program, University of Texas School of Law, and Co-host, 5-4 Podcast

Michael Liroff, Creator and Co-host, 5-4 Podcast

6:45 p.m. | Social Hour

Saturday, October 4

8:30 a.m. | Check-in and Breakfast

9 a.m. | Opening Remarks

Ilinca Johnson JD’26, Symposium Editor, Vermont Law Review

9:05 a.m. | Panel Three, “African Artistic Freedom and Censorship”

Moderator: Emily Gould, Lawyer, Mediator, and Executive Coach

Sam Brakarsh, Chair, Pan-African Network on Artistic Freedom Summit

Adaobi Egboka, Director, Africa Initiative, Human Rights and Access to Justice Program, Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

Muleta Kapatiso, Activist, Lawyer, and Development Practitioner

Lisa Sidambe, Independent Human Rights and Development Consultant

10:20 a.m. | Break

10:25 a.m. | Panel Four, “AI and the First Amendment”

Moderator: Benjamin Varadi, Associate Professor of Law, Vermont Law and Graduate School

Esha Bhandari, Deputy Director, ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project

John Coleman, Legislative Counsel, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)

Ilan Kogan, Associate, Litigation, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

11:45 a.m. | Closing Remarks

Katie Scott JD’26, Symposium Editor, Vermont Law Review

Ilinca Johnson JD’26, Symposium Editor, Vermont Law Review

"What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist’s Guide to Sustainable Living" Book Talk
2025-11-06 12:45 - 14:00 | Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Join us for an engaging book talk with Charlie Sellars, director of sustainability at Microsoft and author of the #1 best-selling climate book, “What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist’s Guide to Sustainable Living.”

In this empowering and practical guide, Sellars offers a data-driven framework to help readers embrace sustainability in their personal, professional, and political lives. With an optimistic perspective, “What We Can Do” reminds us that each of us has more power than we realize to create a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change.

This event is hosted by the Business Law Society, the Environmental Law Society, the Energy Law Society, the Environmental Law Center, and Offices for Alumni Relations and Development.

Planning to attend in person? Please register via the button below. Joining virtually? Access the presentation on the day of the event via this link.

2025 Community Thanksgiving Dinner
2025-11-27 11:30 - 13:30 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Join us to celebrate Thanksgiving with our community! This free dinner is sponsored by the South Royalton/Royalton community, businesses, churches, Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS), the Royalton and Area Lions Club, and residents of surrounding towns.

If you would like to attend or have a meal delivered, please contact:

Courtney Potter (VLGS) at communitythanksgiving@vermontlaw.edu or 802-831-1238; or Carol Greene (Royalton and Area Lions Club) at 802-291-3750

Food donations (chocolate, apple, and pumpkin pies; other desserts) will be accepted from November 24-26 in Chase Community Center on the VLGS campus. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted and can be dropped off at VLGS with Courtney Potter (Debevoise Hall, 3rd Floor). Please make checks payable to Vermont Law and Graduate School.

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Alumni Weekend 2026
2026-06-26 08:00 - 2026-06-28 17:00
Stay tuned for more details!
