Vermont Law and Graduate School

Vermont Supreme Court at VLGS
2025-03-19 09:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Oakes Hall, Room 109, 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, VT, 05068
Join us as the Vermont Supreme Court hears three cases on the Vermont Law and Graduate School campus. For more information from the Vermont Judiciary, please click here.

SCHEDULE:

9 a.m. ET: State of Vermont v. Stacey Lynn Vaillancourt*

10 a.m. ET: In re 8 Taft Street DRB & NOV Appeals (Stephen Wille Padnos* & Sharon Wille Padnos*)

11 a.m. ET: Ciara Kilburn** & Brona Kilburn** v. Bill Simmon & Vermont Community Access Media, Inc.*

11:30 a.m. ET: Q&A for VLGS Students

An asterisk (*) indicates the appellant and a double asterisk (**) indicates a cross-appellant.

Please note that Court rules will apply. All cell phones must be silenced and may not be used to record from the gallery orally or visually. Security personnel will check any items you bring into the room (including backpacks and purses), which will lengthen the wait time to enter the courtroom. It is recommended that you leave non-essential items at home to expedite this process. Neither the Court, nor VLGS will be responsible for any personal belongings.

Each hearing will be livestreamed and can be viewed by clicking here.

Master of Public Policy Webinar
2025-03-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join Stephen Pimpare, director of our Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, for an informative session exploring the qualities of an effective public policy professional and what makes our MPP program distinct.

VJEL Symposium: Climate Justice LIVE
2025-03-22 08:30 - 17:00 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
The Climate Justice LIVE symposium—presented by the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law (VJEL)—focuses on climate justice and community advocacy through three key panels: Legal Protection for Immigrants and Farmworkers, Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice, and Versatility and Experience.

This event will explore the intersection of climate change, vulnerable communities, and legal advocacy. Featuring expert panelists and a hands-on Legal Learning Lab, the symposium will offer unique insights into pressing environmental and social issues, while providing practical experience in strategic legal analysis.

The livestream link has expired. Thank you for joining us!

SCHEDULE

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast and Check In (In-Person Attendees)

9 a.m. – Welcoming Remarks

9:30 a.m. – Climate Justice in the Present Moment

10 a.m. – Keynote Speaker Esperanza Franco, Esq.

11:10 a.m. – Panel One: Legal Protections for Immigrants and Farmworkers(Featuring Laurie Beyranevand JD’03, Claudia Quintero, Emma Scott, and Will Lambek)

12:45 p.m. – Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. – Panel Two: Indigenous Rights and Climate Justice(Featuring Mia Montoya Hammersley, Benjamin Gray JD/MELP’23, Gerald Torres, Rebecca Tsosie, and Matt Dannenberg)

3:05 p.m. – Panel Three: Versatility and Experience(Featuring Callum LaFrance, Todd Howland, Tabitha Sookdeo, and Sofia Owen MELP’14)

4:10 p.m. – Legal Learning Lab

5:15 p.m. – Closing Remarks

Vermont continuing legal education (CLE) credits are available. If you plan to claim CLE credits, please register here.

Money for Nothing: Guide to Bankruptcy Relief
2025-03-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Debt can be stressful. This lunch and learn session will offer an introduction to the fundamentals of consumer bankruptcy, tailored specifically for non-attorneys. Participants will gain insights into the different types of bankruptcy, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, and understand the processes involved in filing for bankruptcy.

Hosted by the Veterans Legal Assistance Project at Vermont Law and Graduate School, the webinar will also cover key concepts such as the role of the bankruptcy trustee, the automatic stay, and the discharge of debts. By the end of the program, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge to identify and counsel veterans facing financial distress.

Please register by clicking the button below or emailing communications@vermontlaw.edu.

The Next Generation Bar Exam: The Biggest Change to Legal Education That No One is Talking About
2025-03-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Dean Beth McCormack unveils the changes to the new bar exam and answers your questions.

How the Flexible Online Hybrid JD Works for Military Personnel and Their Families
2025-04-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join us to hear how VLGS’s flexible Online Hybrid JD (OHJD) works for members of the military and their families. Special guest panelists include Dean Beth McCormack, OHJD Director Roger Pao, and current students.

Alumni in Energy Regional Symposium: Emerging Energy Issues in New York and New England
2025-04-03 10:00 - 16:30 | St. Anne’s Institute, 160 N. Main Avenue, Albany, New York, 12206
Join Vermont Law and Graduate School alumni, industry leaders, and energy experts for an in-depth discussion on the evolving energy landscape in New York and New England. This one-day symposium will explore key topics shaping the region’s energy future, featuring expert panels and a distinguished lunchtime keynote from Brenda Brickhouse MERL’18, Technical Director of EPRI’s Equitable Decarbonization Initiative.

Panel discussions include:

Energy Affordability in the Energy Transition: strategies for managing the costs of the energy transition while protecting consumers

Grid Connections: approaches to accelerating the integration of new generation resources under Order 2023

Regional Transmission Planning: enhancing regional transmission system planning and construction across New York and New England

Featured Panelists: John Bernecker, Senior Advisor for Transmission, NYSERDADavid Ellis, Managing Director, Mass AmericanGraham Jesmer JD’13, Senior Regulatory Counsel – Operations and Planning, ISO-NERussell King JD/MERL’18, Assistant Counsel, NY DPSMark Sciarrotta JD’96, Vice President and Legal Counsel, VELCOLindsay Speer MELP’14, Senior Energy Planner, Central New York Regional Planning & Development BoardLaurie Wheelock JD’10/MELP’07, Executive Director, Public Utility Law Project

Please use the link below to register. $25 per registrant, with proceeds supporting the Kevin B. Jones Fund. Lunch will be provided.

Rooted in Law: Shaping the Future of Agricultural Systems
2025-04-04 15:00 - 18:00 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Following the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, the Food and Agricultural Law Society (FALS) and the Food Law Student Network (FLSN) are proud to showcase the innovation, resilience, and community-driven impact of agricultural cooperatives in Vermont and nationwide. This symposium, Rooted in Law: Shaping the Future of Agricultural Systems, will emphasize the critical role of cooperatives in addressing modern challenges such as climate change, labor equity, and market access in agriculture.

The livestream link has expired. Thank you for joining us!

SCHEDULE

3 p.m. – Opening Remarks

3:10 p.m. – Fireside Chat:

Erika M. Dunyak, Director of the Business Start-up Clinic and Visiting Clinical Professor, Roger Williams University School of Law

Clara Ayers, Farmer and Co-Owner, Fairmont, LLC, and Regional Director, Agri-Mark

3:50 p.m. – Panel Discussion:

Gordon Merrick JD/MFALP’20, Senior Policy and Programs Manager, Organic Farming Research Foundation and Board Member, South Royalton Market Food Cooperative

Jeannie Oliver LLM’13/LLM’14, VP of ROC NH and Energy Solutions, ROC-NH

Kara Brown, Sales Manager, Deep Root Organic Cooperative

Matt Cropp, Executive Director, Vermont Employee Ownership Center

4:50 p.m. – Vermont Lieutenant Governor John Rodger

5 p.m. – Reception

Overview of the Online Hybrid JD Program
2025-04-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join us as we discuss our flexible Online Hybrid JD program. Accessible anywhere, anytime, this program offers a top-tier legal education tailored to fit your schedule and aspirations. Beth McCormack, dean of Vermont Law School, and Roger Pao, director of the Online Hybrid JD program, will be present to share their valuable insight and answer your questions.

Please register by clicking the button below.

20th Annual Norman Williams Distinguished Lecture in Land Use Planning and the Law: Navigating an Energy Transition
2025-04-10 17:00 - 18:00 | Oakes Hall, Room 007, 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, Vermont, 05068
The Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law and Graduate School invites you to hear from Dr. Sarah Mills, director for the Center for EmPowering Communities at the University of Michigan’s Graham Sustainability Institute.

The U.S. has only just begun to see the rapid expansion of renewable energy on our landscapes. Technological advancements and reductions in costs for renewable energy have energy models showing that wind and solar may impact as much as 15% of the continental U.S. land area by 2050. The lion’s share of the energy infrastructure that has already been built—and will need to be built—for this energy transformation is sited in rural places.

In this talk, Dr. Mills will dig into how this infrastructure impacts rural residents and local governments. She will also discuss how a web of state policy choices—from siting/zoning authority to property tax policy to utility policy—shape the impacts that renewable infrastructure has on rural communities and the ability to deploy renewables with community goals in mind.

The livestream can be accessed via the button below or by clicking here.

Executive Orders and Competing Constitutional Conceptions of Presidential Power
2025-04-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
The Office of Admissions invites you to tune in as Vermont Law and Graduate School President Rod Smolla leads a lecture on executive orders and competing constitutional conceptions of presidential power.

President Smolla has been and remains an active litigator. He is particularly well known for his representation of American and international clients on matters relating to defamation and invasion of privacy.

He is admitted to the Illinois, Virginia, and Delaware bars, and he has participated as counsel or co-counsel in many litigation matters. He is a frequent advocate on a wide variety of legal issues, and has presented oral argument in state and federal courts across the country, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Please register in advance by clicking the button below.

Veterans Advocate Training Program
2025-04-25 08:30 - 14:30 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
The South Royalton Legal Clinic’s Veterans Legal Assistance Project, with the generous support of the Thomas M. French Veterans Advocacy Fund, is honored to provide this introductory continuing legal education (CLE) program focused on preparing attorneys and appointed representatives to advocate for veterans.

Attorneys and other advocates must be accredited to practice before the VA. Within 12 months of accreditation, attorneys and other advocates are required to complete three hours of qualifying CLE credits. This program is offered to satisfy that requirement. It is also an excellent primer for any attorney considering representing veterans before the VA.

This program—which is eligible for up to four Vermont CLE credits—will provide an introduction to advocating for veterans before the VA, a review of the VA benefits appeals process, and an update on current trends in veterans advocacy. New this year, we are offering an extra session on VA compensation claims that will highlight initiation, review, evidence development, and decisions. This session is highly recommended for any new-to-VA-law practitioner or advocate.

Attorneys and other advocates who become accredited will be listed on a national VA list, and are entitled to represent veterans in their initial claims for VA benefits on a pro bono basis, and on VA benefits appeals for attorney’s fees.

The session is being offered free of charge to attorneys and appointed representatives in exchange for their commitment to assist at least one pro bono VA benefits client in the year following the program.

Please register in advance by clicking here or emailing communications@vermontlaw.edu.

SCHEDULE:8 a.m. In-Person Registration Opens

8:30 a.m. VA Benefits: Nuts and BoltsDon Hayes JD’10, South Royalton Legal Clinic, VLGS

9:30 a.m. Working Claims at the RO: Evidence Development and AppealsTim Mercer, Esq., The Bluestein Group

10:30 a.m. Break

11 a.m. Obtaining a Character of Service Determination: Review of New StandardsAndrew Thibault JD’22, The Bluestein Group

12 p.m. Remarks from Thomas French

12:10 p.m. Practitioner Q&A

12:30 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. Beyond the RO: Appellate Process from CAVC to the Supreme CourtDavid Giza, Esq., Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD

Moot Court Simulation
2025-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join us as we present a moot court debate simulation featuring a team of current students who have represented VLGS at national competitions. In order to be considered for one of VLGS’s moot court teams, students must demonstrate excellent oral and written advocacy skills during their performance in our Advanced Appellate Advocacy class.

After the simulated debate, the students will highlight their experiences in Advanced Appellate Advocacy, as well as their time on moot court teams. There will also be a Q&A session at the end of the event.

Commencement 2025: Cultural Celebration
2025-05-15 17:30 - 19:00 | Debevoise Back Lawn at Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, Vermont
Join us for a Cultural Celebration to honor graduating members of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and Native American Law Students Association (NALSA).

This event will take place both in person and virtually. To tune into the livestream, please click the button below.

Learn more about all the Commencement festivities by clicking here.

Commencement 2025: Honorary Degree Lecture
2025-05-16 15:30 - 16:30 | Oakes Hall, Room 012, 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, Vermont, 05068, United States
Julia Olson, co-executive director and chief legal counsel for Our Children’s Trust, will present, “Children’s Climate Rights: Foundation of Democracy.”

Olson founded Our Children’s Trust in 2010 to empower young people to secure their climate rights, protect their futures, and save our planet. In August 2023, they made history with Held v. State of Montana, the first children’s constitutional climate trial resulting in a landmark win for youth. In June 2024, with Navahine v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Our Children’s Trust achieved the first settlement agreement of a youth-led constitutional climate case directed at decarbonizing transportation.

Today, Olson directs the organization’s cutting-edge legal strategy and has served as lead counsel on the pathbreaking federal cases, Juliana v. United States and Genesis v. EPA. Olson has received numerous awards, including the Kerry Rydberg Award for Environmental Activism (2017), Rose-Walters Prize for Global Activism (2018), Katharine & George Alexander Law Prize (2022), and Berkeley Law’s Environmental Leadership Award (2024). In 2023, TIME100 Climate called her one of the world’s most influential leaders driving climate action. Olson received her JD from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and her BA from University of Colorado.

You can also tune into the livestream by clicking here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Commencement 2025: Awards Ceremony
2025-05-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Chase Community Center, 164 Chelsea St., South Royalton, VT, 05068
Join us as we recognize a few exceptional students from the Class of 2025 for their outstanding service, stewardship, and leadership.

This event will take place both in person and virtually. To tune into the livestream, please click the button below.

Learn more about all the Commencement festivities by clicking here.

VLGS Commencement Ceremony
2025-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Royalton Town Green, 194 Chelsea St., South Royalton, Vermont, 05068
Vermont Law and Graduate School’s 49th Commencement Ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10 a.m. on the Royalton Town Green.

A reception that includes food, champagne, and a steel drum band will take place immediately after the ceremony on the Debevoise Hall Back Lawn. The reception is free and open to all graduates and their families.

To tune into the livestream, please click here.

JD Employment Results for VLGS Alumni
2025-05-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
Join us for a review of employment results for our alumni, and to hear what kinds of career opportunities are available to VLGS graduates. Several of our alumni will be participating in the discussion to share their experiences in the job market post-graduation.

The Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment with Director Christophe Courchesne
2025-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual
We will be joined by Christophe Courchesne, associate professor and director of the Environmental Advocacy Clinic (EAC) at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS), to discuss the Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment and its relationship to the EAC.

Professor Courchesne has litigated environmental cases for nearly two decades. Before joining VLGS in 2022, he was deputy chief of the Energy and Environment Bureau and assistant attorney general at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, leading work on the climate crisis, federal policy, environmental and racial justice, and clean energy.

Hot Topics | Advancing Environmental Justice in a Chaotic Time
2025-05-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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, “Advancing Environmental Justice in a Chaotic Time,” will be presented by Marianne Engelman-Lado from New York University School of Law.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | Toxic Sewage Sludge: How the Biosolid Fertilizer Industry is Poisoning Farm Animals
2025-06-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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, “Toxic Sewage Sludge: How the Biosolid Fertilizer Industry is Poisoning Farm Animals,” will be presented by Marin Scotten, VLGS Animal Law Media Fellow.

Using human biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, as farmland fertilizer has been hailed as a climate-friendly and efficient way to fertilize crops and dispose of waste. But a growing body of research now suggests sewage sludge application—which is largely unregulated and controlled by just a handful of companies—is contaminating food and water with PFAS, poisoning farm animals and creating major public health risks.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Managing Law School Debt with the Director of Financial Aid
2025-06-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join us for a presentation with Melissa Erickson, director of Financial Aid. Melissa will share advice on saving money before, during, and after law school, as well as information on how to navigate VLGS’s financial aid portal.

Mock Lecture on Criminal Law with Professor Anna Saxman JD'85
2025-06-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join us to experience a class at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) with a mock lecture on the subject of Criminal Law delivered by professor Anna Saxman JD’85.

Anna Saxman graduated magna cum laude from VLGS, and was the articles editor of the Vermont Law Review. Following graduation, she clerked with Justice Louis Peck of the Vermont Supreme Court. She was an associate attorney with Langrock Sperry until she joined the Defender General’s Office, where she is an appellate defender, the director of training, and the deputy defender general. Professor Saxman currently teaches in the Criminal Law Clinic. She has taught at VLGS since 1995 and has taught Criminal Law, Current Issues in Constitutional Law, Mental Health Law, Evidence Labs, and Criminal Practice and Procedure.

Hot Topics | Sustaining Environmental Justice
2025-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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, “Sustaining Environmental Justice,” will be presented by Sharmila Murthy from Northeastern University School of Law.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Seal and Heal: The Path to Expungement Made Simple
2025-06-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Having a criminal record, even for minor offenses, can follow someone for their entire life, affecting employability, housing prospects, and even personal relationships. Fortunately, expungement and sealing are mechanisms under Vermont law whereby most misdemeanors and some felonies can be removed from public records, effectively giving the convicted person a fresh start.

Join us to learn about expungement and sealing under Vermont law, including determining what can and cannot be expunged or sealed, what the process looks like, and resources to assist you along the way. Hosted by the Veterans Legal Assistance Project at Vermont Law and Graduate School, this lunch and learn session will take place virtually.

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 | Access to Beaches and Other Public Lands: Past, Present, and Future
2025-06-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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, “Access to Beaches and Other Public Lands: Past, Present, and Future,” will be presented by Josh Eagle from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | Our Plastic Problem and What the Law Can Do About It
2025-06-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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, “Our Plastic Problem and What the Law Can Do About It,” will be presented by Sarah Morath from Wake Forest Law.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

June Admissions Open House
2025-06-14 09:30 - 15:00 | Yates Common Room at Vermont Law and Graduate School, 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, Vermont, 05068, United States
Attending this dynamic event is the perfect way to envision life as a Vermont Law and Graduate School student. Throughout the day, you will get an in-depth look at the many opportunities available and how VLGS can help you reach your goals.

In addition to being greeted by our amazing faculty, staff, and students, you’ll be guided through a tour of campus, experience a class lecture, and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Please register by clicking the button below.

Hot Topics | A Dog is a Chimp is a Mouse is a Rabbit? How Charismatic Species Shape Lab Animal Welfare Laws and Policies
2025-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join us online for this summer’s 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 Dog is a Chimp is a Mouse is a Rabbit? How Charismatic Species Shape Law Animal Welfare Laws and Policies,” will be presented by Larry Carbone.

In this talk, Carbone will explore the effect of using charismatic species (such as dogs, primates, and rabbits) to advance welfare reforms. Do new laws and practices crafted to accommodate interests of one species have a ripple effect that improves the lot of other animals? Or do special protections for one type of animal come at the expense of others? Carbone shows how both outcomes have occurred through the years, and argues that activists should be mindful of arguments that elevate species we care about at the expense of those without a human constituency advocating for their interests.

Tune into the livestream by clicking the button below.

How to Apply to Law School
2025-06-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Join two of our Admissions team members as they share tips and tricks on how to make your law school application as strong as it can be. There will be time for Q&A to address your individual application questions.
