Vermont Law and Graduate School

Lunch & Learn with Graduate Admissions Counselors
2025-12-10 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The Office of Admissions invites you to join graduate admissions counselors for an overview of our master’s, LLM, and certificate programs. You’ll also learn about application strategies, timelines, and scholarship opportunities.

Please register in advance by clicking here.

*This event is geared toward prospective master’s, LLM, and certificate students.

Founding Day Celebrations
2025-12-05 00:00 - 23:59 | Vermont
December 5 marks the day Vermont Law School was officially chartered, and Founding Day was created as both our annual giving day and a time to honor the legacy of all who have shaped VLGS.

Celebrations—including a virtual panel on “The Founding of Vermont Law School” and regional gatherings for alumni and students around the country—will take place throughout the day.

Healing After an Economic Downturn
2025-12-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Communities can hit hard times economically due to various factors, including losing industry and employers. When communities lose industry, they can also lose their identity, and as a consequence, the story of “who we were” can linger without a clear sense of “who we are today.” How have communities that have experienced economic downturns recovered and successfully gained their footing to create a brighter future? How can we help communities process economic trauma, create collaborative atmospheres, and identify action steps to move forward? What role do restorative practices play in assisting communities to heal and grow together?

Hosted by the Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School, this is event is part of an ongoing online series, “Healing Communities to Heal the World.”

Esteemed guest speakers include:

Kennedy Smith, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Self-RelianceSteve Sanders, Director of Mill Site Redevelopment at One NorthMike Smith, Executive Director of the Outdoor Sport Institute

Please register in advance by clicking here.

Application Tips and Tricks
2025-12-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join Katie Merrill, dean of admissions, and Dan Budak, director of admissions, for helpful tips and tricks on the application process.

Please register in advance by clicking here.

*This event is geared toward prospective JD students.

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.

Learn More

"Presidential Power": A Lecture by Professor Rodney A. Smolla
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
The Office of Admissions invites you to a lecture on presidential power with Rodney A. Smolla, professor and former VLGS president. Professor Smolla is a renowned scholar on matters relating to constitutional law, civil rights, freedom of speech, and mass media.

Please register in advance by clicking here.

*This event is geared toward prospective JD and master’s students.

How to Apply: A Session for Master's, LLM, and Certificate Applicants
2025-11-12 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Join the Graduate Admissions Team for an info session focused on the application process. We’ll cover all the elements of an application, including transcripts, professional resume, essay(s), character and fitness, and letters of recommendation. This session will get you acquainted with the application process and provide insight on how to put together a strong application as you prepare for the next step in pursuing an advanced degree at Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Veterans Day Program: Honoring the Brave
2025-11-11 09:00 - 15:30 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

*The livestream will begin at 9:55 a.m. ET.

9 a.m. | Breakfast

9:55 to 10 a.m. | The Star-Spangled Banner Performed by Elizabeth Schmitt JD’27

10 to 10:45 a.m. | Remarks and Readings

Welcome: Don Hayes JD’10, Director of VLGS’s Veterans Legal Assistance Project

Opening Remarks: Law School Dean Beth McCormack and Graduate School Dean Daniel Bromberg

The Pledge of Allegiance: Michael A. Harden JD’26

Readings:

The Unbroken Chain of Service: Tara Lynn Angulo JD’26

“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae: Katie Merrill, VLGS Dean of Admissions

The Table of the Fallen Soldier: Brittany Lamb JD’27

10:45 to 11 a.m. | Veterans Resources

Donald Hayes JD’10, Director of VLGS’s Veterans Legal Assistance Project

22 Veterans a Day

Awareness and Outreach Resources

11:05 to 11:45 a.m. | Retiring of the Flag Ceremony (In Person Only)Presentation and Bugler: Norwich University Color Guard

11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Remarks and Networking/Lunch Break

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Lunch and Learn – Veterans Treatment Courts(qualifies for 1 Continuing Legal Education credit)

Matt Miller, LDM Lawyers

Veterans and Alternative Courts

Veterans in the Criminal Law Practice

1:30 to 2:15 p.m. | Presentation of Flags and Cases Presented by Veterans Law Student Association Members Kristina Smith JD’26 and Michael A. Harden JD’26

Professors Donald Hayes JD’10, Richard Sala JD/MELP’13, and Joe Griffo JD’07

Certificates of Appreciation

2:15 to 3:30 p.m. | VLSA Resources Panel and Fellowship

Mental Health Resources: Sally Rumsey, VLGS Mental Health Clinician

Fellowship: Join veterans, family, and friends as we gather to remember the fallen

"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.

Lunch & Learn with JD Admissions Counselors
2025-11-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
The Office of Admissions invites you to join an informal session covering an overview of JD programs, application strategies, timelines, and scholarship opportunities.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

*This event is geared toward prospective JD students.

Compassionate, Community-Centered Responses to the Drug Crisis
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Individuals, families, and entire communities across the country have experienced the effects of the substance use and a drug crisis in recent years. We often think about drug policy or addiction recovery as an issue affecting “individuals.” In this session, we want to think about substance use and recovery in a broader sense, exploring what happens when communities come together to address substance use in their local communities in positive ways that help individuals and the community to heal.

Substance use affects many people within communities, including the impacted individuals, family and friends, librarians, first responders, and business owners. Frequent occurrences of substance use in a community can affect the community’s identity, local economy, and sense of safety. How do communities who have faced challenges or human loss due to substance use heal afterwards? How have restorative practices been helpful to communities struggling with these questions? Our speakers can share both practice and policy that build stronger, healthier communities for everyone.

Hosted by the Center for Justice Reform at Vermont Law and Graduate School, this event is part of an ongoing online series, “Healing Communities to Heal the World.”

Esteemed guest speakers include:

Ricardo Bowden, Executive Director of Peer360Kateri Coyhis, Executive Director of White BisonHon. Eric Mehnert, Chief Judge of Penobscot Nation

Please register in advance by clicking here.

Community Day and Harvest Fest
2025-10-25 14:00 - 18:30 | Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Celebrate community with an afternoon of music, activities, campus tours, thoughtful conversation, and a shared meal. We’re excited to bring together neighbors, families, local businesses, and the Vermont Law and Graduate School community for this special day.

SCHEDULE:2 to 4 p.m. | Harvest Fest (Debevoise Back Lawn) Presented by the Student Bar Association, featuring fall treats and family-friendly activities.

2 to 3 p.m. | Campus Tours (Chase Breezeway)

2 to 4 p.m. | Upper Valley Business Fair (Chase Breezeway)

3 to 4 p.m. | Dean’s Address: Reflecting on VLGS’s 50th Anniversary (Chase Community Center) Presentation with Dean of the Law School Beth McCormack

4 to 5 p.m. | Introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence (Chase Community Center and Virtual) Presentation with Professor Jennifer Sekula JD/MSEL’98 (qualifies for 1 Continuing Legal Education credit) Tune in virtually by clicking here.

5 to 6:30 p.m. | Town Hall, Spaghetti Dinner, and Community Champion Award Presentation (Chase Community Center)

Vermont Businesses & Educational Institutions Collaborating for Community
2025-10-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Join Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Vermont Law and Graduate School for an evening of connection and learning, as we explore the important role Vermont’s higher education institutions are playing—and their untapped potential—as conveners and changemakers, especially when working alongside businesses to improve local communities.

This discussion will examine how socially responsible businesses and educational institutions are driving transformative local change through public-private partnerships, community governance, and climate resilience.

Panelists include:

Dan Bromberg, Graduate School Dean, Vermont Law and Graduate School (Moderator)

Patricia Coates, Director, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and Office of Engagement, University of Vermont

Christophe Courchesne, Associate Dean, Environmental and Experiential Programs; Director, Environmental Law Center; Director, Environmental Advocacy Clinic, Vermont Law and Graduate School

Phillip Foy, General Counsel, Encore Renewable Energy

Emiliano Void, Founder and CEO, nuwave Equity Corporation

We’ll dive into the power of local collective action*—led by businesses and educational institutions—to fill critical gaps in government support. Come for the insights—stay for the delicious drinks, networking, and shared learning!

This event is a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, gain fresh inspiration, and have some fun. Open to all who are interested in building a just, thriving, and transformative economy that works for both people and the planet. Please register in advance. If you have questions, contact Leah Romano at lromano@vermontlaw.edu.

*Collective action refers to collaborative efforts where groups share knowledge, resources, and efforts to achieve a common goal.

You Can't Take It With You: Beginner's Guide to Estate Planning in Vermont
2025-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
This educational webinar—hosted by VLGS’s Veterans Legal Assistance Project—will introduce attendees to essential estate planning tools that protect autonomy, preserve assets, and ease transitions for loved ones.

Designed for non-attorneys, the course demystifies durable powers of attorney, enhanced life estate deeds, advance directives for healthcare, and simple wills—highlighting how each document functions, when it’s appropriate, and what practical steps are needed to create and update them. Through plain-language guidance, participants will gain confidence in making informed decisions and preparing documents that reflect their values and goals.

To register, please click the link below or email communications@vermontlaw.edu. The event link will be shared with all registrants prior to the webinar.

Inside Appellate Advocacy: Mixer and Info Session
2025-10-07 17:30 - 19:00 | Costello, Valente & Gentry, P.C., 136 Western Ave., Brattleboro, Vermont
Vermont Law and Graduate School invites alumni and local lawyers to attend its Inside Appellate Advocacy Mixer and Info Session, which will be held on Tuesday, October 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. ET. This free event will take place at Costello, Valente & Gentry, P.C. (136 Western Ave., Brattleboro, VT).

Enjoy light refreshments and good company while connecting with Dean Beth McCormack, faculty, students, and other legal professionals, in addition to learning about future volunteer opportunities.

The VLGS Legal Writing Department’s flagship program is its Appellate Advocacy course. As part of that class, each student is required to write a mock Supreme Court brief and argue in front of a panel of mock judges. Arguments are held across several evenings in mid-November, and volunteer judges are needed. That’s where you come in!

Join us in Brattleboro on October 7 to learn more. Please register in advance 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

How to Use Home Energy Tax Credits Before They Expire
2025-10-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Efficiency Vermont and VLGS’s Institute for Energy and the Environment invite you to this informative webinar.

Professor Jenny Carter JD’86/MSL’87 will discuss what home energy tax credits cover, how to know if you’re eligible, and how to get the tax credits before they expire. Please register to receive the Zoom link.

NOTE: This webinar is not tax advice. Consult a tax professional if you intend to use any federal tax credits.

12th Annual Energy Symposium: Navigating Challenges to the Energy Transition
2025-09-25 13:00 - 17:45 | Bracewell LLP, 31 W. 52 Street, Suite 1900, New York, New York
Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Institute for Energy and the Environment and Alumni in Energy group are excited to host the 12th Annual VLGS Energy Law and Policy Symposium both in person and virtually. Held during Climate Week NYC, the symposium will bring together VLGS alumni, partners, and supporters for a half-day discussion on the challenges facing the energy transition. Doors open at 12 p.m. ET, and the program will begin at 1 p.m.

New York continuing legal education (CLE) credits will be available to symposium attendees. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Kevin B. Jones Fund, which supports the academic and professional development of Vermont Law and Graduate School energy students.

Learn more and register by clicking here.

Constitution Day 2025: "Landmark Cases in American Constitutional Law"
2025-09-17 17:00 - 18:00 | 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.

2025 New England Legal Writing Conference
2025-09-12 08:30 - 17:00 | Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) looks forward to hosting professors from near and far for the the 2025 New England Legal Writing Conference. This year’s theme is “Legal Writing: 2035.”

Participants will be asked to imagine the promise—and peril—of the future of legal writing. What will legal writing look like ten years from now? How should legal writing professors pivot to address rapidly evolving developments in technology and society? Which core principles of legal writing should we preserve–and which should we abandon?

For conference details, including information on registration and hotel accommodations, please click here. You can view the tentative schedule below.

SCHEDULE:

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast (Yates Common Room)

Sponsored by Bloomberg and Carolina Academic Press

9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Dean’s Welcome with Dean Beth McCormack (Yates Common Room)

9:30 – 10:15 a.m. | Opening Plenary Address (Yates Common Room)

Moderator: Professor Greg Johnson

Linda Anderson, Stetson University College of Law: Legal Writing Reimagined: AI, NextGen Bar, and the New Writing Process—What Every Professor Needs to Know

10:25 – 10:50 a.m. | Plenary Discussion Group (Yates Common Room)

Moderator: Professor Catherine Fregosi

Nicole Belbin, Beth Cohen, and Jessica Mahon Scoles, Western New England School of Law: The Future of Legal Writing is Now: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

10:50 – 11 a.m. | Coffee Break (Yates Common Room) Sponsored by Aspen Publishing

11 – 11:50 a.m. | Concurrent Sessions

Map Room

Moderator: Professor Michael Kovac

Anna Elbroch, Melissa Christensen, Heather Ward, Julia Pothen, and Kelsey Klementowicz, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law: Mindful AI Integration: Designing Activities that Build Skills, Not Shortcuts

Rachel Jay Smith, University of Cincinnati College of Law: Chatbots as Tutors: Enhancing Legal Writing Education for the Future

Nina Thomas Classroom

Moderator: Professor Anna Connolly

Liz Chen, Brooklyn Law School: Rewarding Reflection

Kerry Fulham, Brooklyn Law School: Beyond Anxiety: Incorporating Creative Exercises into the Legal Writing Classroom

12 – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch (Yates Common Room) Sponsored by Thomson Reuters

12:30 – 1:50 p.m. | Keynote Speakers (Yates Common Room)

Moderator: Professor Greg Johnson

Elizabeth Berenguer, Stetson University College of Law; Lucy Jewel, University of Tennessee Winston College of Law; and Teri McMurtry-Chubb, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Gut Renovation: Using Critical and Comparative Rhetoric to Remodel How the Law Addresses Privilege and Power

2 – 2:50 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions

Map Room

Moderator: Professor Tenielle Fordyce-Ruff

Colin M. Black, Suffolk University Law School: The Ghost-Writer in the Machine: When Must Lawyers Disclose AI Assistance in Legal Writing?

Sarah Cansler, Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law: Teaching Ethical Use of AI

Nina Thomas Classroom

Moderator: Professor Jessica Durkis-Stokes

Anna Connolly, Vermont Law and Graduate School, Get Out of the Shallows: Break Up Legal Research and Writing

Stevie Leahy, Suffolk University Law School: Fifty Classrooms, One Future: Ground-Level Visions for Legal Writing in 2035

2:50 – 3 p.m. | Coffee Break (Yates Common Room) Sponsored by LexisNexis

3 – 4:30 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions

Map Room

Moderator: Professor Catherine Fregosi

Marni Goldstein Caputo and Kathleen Luz, Boston University School of Law: Professional Identity Formation in the Transactional Context: Not an Amorphous Concept

Laura D’Amato and Claire Abely, Boston University School of Law: A Transactional Simulation for a Changing Legal Education Landscape

Rebecca Chapman, Northeastern University School of Law: Transforming and Expanding Legal Writing Instruction Through Clinical Work

Nina Thomas Classroom

Moderator: Professor Michael Kovac

Patricia Winograd and Rebecca Delfino, LMU Loyola Law School: A Look at the Future . . . From a First-Generation Perspective

Krista Bordatto, Campbell Law School: Incorporating Cross-Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility into the Legal Writing Classroom—Enhancing Advocacy and Global Understanding

Afton Cavanaugh, University of Baltimore School of Law: “We Were Raised in Crisis”: Teaching Legal Writing to a Generation Formed by Upheaval

4:30 – 5 p.m. | Closing Reception (Yates Common Room)

Parenting, Property, and Payments: The Basics of Vermont Family Law
2025-08-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
This educational webinar—hosted by VLGS’s Veterans Legal Assistance Project—will provide a practical introduction to key concepts in Vermont family law, focusing on custody and child support. Designed for non-lawyers, this session aims to demystify the legal process and clarify common terms, practices, and procedures. It will include an overview of how family law works in Vermont, including how courts handle divorce, separation, and disputes involving children.

You’ll also learn about the differences between physical responsibility and legal responsibility, as well as how property is divided and child support is calculated. This discussion will include information on required disclosures and how the court treats veterans benefits.

To register, please click the link below or email communications@vermontlaw.edu. The event link will be shared with all registrants prior to the webinar.

Hot Topics | Climate in the Courtroom: Inside the Historic Held v. Montana Youth Climate Trial
2025-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session will be presented by Dana Drugmand.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Understanding Tariffs and Potential Mitigation Measures
2025-07-31 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Tariffs have become a very hot topic during 2025. New and threatened measures now impact virtually every company that imports products from abroad. This educational session hosted by the Vermont Small Business Law Center at VLGS will provide an overview of the current tariffs in place, what exceptions exist, and potential ways to reduce the impact of tariffs on your business. The session will also discuss so-called “countermeasures” from other countries targeting United States exports. The session will be presented by Darshak Dholakia, a partner in the International Trade group based in the Washington, DC, office of McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | Carbon Pricing: Issues and Challenges
2025-07-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session, “Carbon Pricing: Issues and Challenges,” will be presented by David Talbot from École Nationale d’Administration Publique.

The presentation will cover the evolution of carbon markets and taxes worldwide. Its aim is to highlight the challenges and issues linked to carbon pricing and discuss the impact of the various policies and initiatives that have been implemented. In particular, Talbot will present comparisons between the European carbon market and the Western Climate Initiative (California and Quebec).

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | Animal Storytelling
2025-07-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session, “Animal Storytelling,” will be presented by Stephanie Hanes, environmental journalist and VLGS Animal Law Media Fellow.

Reporting and writing about non-human animals creates unique challenges for journalists. We can’t quote them. We can’t interview them. So how do we pick what stories to tell about them—and how do we adjust our work to ensure we are accurately and effectively communicating about our natural world? In this talk, Hanes will discuss some of the pitfalls and potential of covering animals for mainstream media.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Lending and Financing for Small Businesses
2025-07-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
In this two-hour educational webinar with live Q&A, a panel of legal experts will demystify three pivotal capital moves—taking out a general loan, financing equipment or property, and bringing in outside investments. Learn to decode lenders’ and investors’ jargon, learn practical ways to shield your personal assets, and uncover the “unknown unknowns” that may trip up many growing businesses. Join the conversation and bring your questions.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below. This event is hosted by the Vermont Small Business Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Hot Topics | Someone
2025-07-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session will be presented by Kristen Stilt from Harvard Law School and a VLGS Distinguished Animal Law Summer Scholar.

An assumed division between human and nonhuman animals (and most of nature) has long been baked into most of Western culture and law. As effects of the Anthropocene bring humans and animals in closer and more frequent contact, increasingly in emergency and catastrophic situations, we are beginning to see more signs of awareness that humans and animals are not only ecologically but profoundly interdependent—and that each animal should not be categorized something, but as someone.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | One Big Beautiful Bill and How it Will Disrupt the Clean Energy Transition
2025-07-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session will be presented by Valerie Volcovici from Thomson Reuters and a VLGS Environmental Media Fellow.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | Universal Ownership, Systematic Stewardship: Whatever You Call It, Where Do We Stand?
2025-07-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session, “Universal Ownership, Systematic Stewardship: Whatever You Call It, Where Do We Stand?”, will be presented by Madison Condon from Boston University School of Law and the VLGS Distinguished Climate Law Summer Scholar.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | A Just Transition for Whom? Understanding the Opportunities and Limitations of a Just Energy Transition
2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for the Hot Topics in Environmental Law Summer Lecture Series, brought to you by the Environmental Law Center at VLGS. The series is free and open to the public. In addition to featuring live Q&A with the audience, each installment is eligible for Vermont Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

This session, “A Just Transition for Whom? Understanding the Opportunities and Limitations of a Just Energy Transition,” will be presented by Mijin Cha from University of California Santa Cruz and the VLGS Distinguished Energy Law Summer Scholar.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.
