Annual Rankings Highlight Institution’s Expertise Across Multiple Programs
SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt. (April 7, 2026) — Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) is the nation’s only institution featured in the top five for both environmental law (No. 5) and most graduates entering public interest law (No. 5), according to newly released rankings from U.S. News and World Report.
VLGS also ranked No. 48 in Best Legal Writing Programs, No. 49 in Best Part-Time Law Programs and No. 55 in Best Clinical Training Programs.
“These rankings reinforce our national leadership in environmental law and policy, public interest law, legal writing and experiential learning,” said Law School Dean Beth McCormack. “While rankings are only one measure, they reflect the school’s motto — Law for the Community and the World — and speak volumes about the dedication of our faculty, staff and students.”
As VLGS continues to gain momentum in areas like legal writing and clinical training, it maintains its legacy as a premier environmental law school that serves the public interest.
Established in 1978, VLGS’s Environmental Law Center is the country’s most comprehensive environmental law program, with six legal clinics, seven centers and institutes, 76 faculty members and more than 60 specialized courses.
“As our world faces profound environmental challenges, we are training the next generation of advocates and practitioners to confront them,” said Associate Dean for Environmental and Experiential Programs Christophe Courchesne. “Through a remarkable combination of world-class faculty, renowned research centers, and unmatched experiential and course offerings, VLGS is building on its long-standing leadership in environmental law and policy.”
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Vermont Law and Graduate School, a private, independent institution, is home to a law school that offers ABA-accredited residential and online hybrid JD programs and a graduate school that offers master’s degrees and certificates in multiple disciplines, including programs offered by the Maverick Lloyd School for the Environment, the Center for Justice Reform and other graduate-level programs emphasizing the intersection of environmental justice, social justice and public policy. Both the law and graduate schools strongly feature experiential clinical and field work learning. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.