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Vermont Law School

Topic: Organization

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Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School seal
MottoLex pro urbe et orbe ("Law for the Community and the World")
Established1972
School typePrivate law school
DeanBeth McCormack, Interim President and Dean
LocationSouth Royalton, Vermont, United States
[ ⚑ ] : 43°49′18″N 72°31′16″W / 43.8218°N 72.5210°W / 43.8218; -72.5210
Enrollment464 (J.D.)[1]
Faculty109
USNWR ranking142nd (2023)[2]
Bar pass rate45.76% (2019)[3]
Websitewww.vermontlaw.edu/

Vermont Law School (VLS) is a private law school in South Royalton, Vermont. It offers several degrees, including Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law, Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP), Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy (MFALP), Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL), and dual degrees with a diverse range of institutions. According to Vermont Law School's 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 61.5% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.[4]

History

Debevoise Hall

Vermont Law School was founded in 1972 by Anthony Doria and held its first classes in the summer of 1973 with 113 students in what was then known as the old South Royalton schoolhouse. In December 1973, VLS was certified by the Vermont State Board of Education as an institution of higher learning. Doria resigned as dean of the school in 1974, after it emerged that he had been convicted of embezzlement by a Pennsylvania court in 1958, though the charges were later vacated.[5] Provisional ABA approval came in February 1975, and a full complement of classes were offered in the fall of 1975. The Law School's charter class graduated in spring 1976. Full approval by the ABA came in 1978, and the Law School was accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in 1980. VLS became a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1981.[6] In 2019, the Law School controversially stripped tenure from 75% of its faculty, citing financial exigencies.[7]

Solomon Amendment

Vermont Law School was one of two law schools in the U.S. to decline to receive federal funding under the Solomon Amendment. That statute passed by Congress required colleges and universities to allow military recruitment on campus or risk losing federal funding.[8] The school is also part of FAIR Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, a consortium of 38 law schools and law faculties that challenged the Solomon Amendment in Rumsfeld v. FAIR, and lost. Following the repeal of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' in 2011, the school has allowed military recruitment on campus.

Academics

As well as the Juris Doctor (JD), the Law School offers several degrees and joint-degrees, as well as degrees with other universities. Degrees include Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law, Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies, Master of Laws (LLM) in Food and Agriculture Law, and Master of Laws (LLM) in Energy Law; Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP), Master of Energy Regulation and Law (MERL), and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy (MFALP). Vermont Law School also offers an Accelerated Juris Doctor program that allows JD students to graduate in just two years (as opposed to the traditional three-year JD program), through the completion of two full-time academic semesters during the summer.[9]

The Law School has partnered with different domestic and international universities to offer dual-degree programs. Domestic schools include: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (JD/Master of Environmental Management), Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (MELP/Master of Business Administration), the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Natural Resources (MELP/Master of Science in Natural Resources), Thunderbird School of Global Management (JD/Masters of Business Administration), the University of South Carolina (MELP/JD), University of South Dakota (MELP/JD), and Northeastern University School of Law (MELP/JD). International universities include the University of Cambridge (JD/master of philosophy), Cergy-Pontoise University (France ), and the University of Seville (Spain ).

Julien and Virginia Cornell Library

The Julien and Virginia Cornell Library opened in 1991.[10] The library contains over 250,000 print volumes, including primary and secondary legal materials focusing on state, national, and international law.[11] The library also possesses a collection of microforms including congressional documents, state session laws, and briefs. The library's electronic collection includes access to LexisNexis and Westlaw and other online gateways and databases, as well as a large catalog of full-text electronic journals and books and databases offering primary legal materials.

Vermont Law School maintains "an extensive interdisciplinary environmental collection, including journals, monographs, electronic resources, and other material related to the study of the environment and environmental law and policy."[12]

Campus

Abbott House
Center for Legal Services and campus bookstore

Vermont Law School's 13-acre (5.3 ha) campus is located in South Royalton in central Vermont. The campus is set just above the broad banks of the White River.

The oldest and centermost classroom building on the campus is Debevoise Hall, the town's original schoolhouse, built in 1892. In 2005 the former town schoolhouse (the original Law School building in 1973) was renovated and renamed after one of the first deans of the Law School, Thomas M. Debevoise. Practicing what it preaches, the Law School emphasized environmental concerns in the renovation, as well as historical preservation and design efficiency. Debevoise Hall was the only LEED Silver Certified renovation building project in the state of Vermont.[13] Debevoise Hall continues to serve as classroom space and now also houses administration offices, the Environmental Law Center, and the Yates Common Room.[6]

The James L. and Evelena S. Oakes Hall building was constructed and dedicated in 1998. Oakes Hall incorporates "green building" techniques along with the latest classroom technology.[10]

Jonathon Chase, the late former dean of the Law School, liked to joke that South Royalton was the only town in America "with a law school and no stop light." Vermont Law School holds the distinction of being the law school farthest from a traffic light, at 27 miles (43 km).[14] As of January 2021, South Royalton does not have a stoplight.

In January 2020, VLS opened a new satellite office in Burlington, which hosts the school's immigration law clinic and additional admissions office.[15]

Centers, institutes, clinics, and programs

Law centers and research institutes

  • Environmental Law Center — The Environmental Law Center (ELC) began in 1978 with eight master's degree students. As noted, the ELC's program is consistently top-ranked by U.S. News & World Report. The ELC confers both the Master of Environmental Law and Policy (MELP) and Master of Laws in Environmental Law (LLM) degrees. The Class of 2008 included 87 students receiving these master's degrees.
  • Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) — The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) has a dual mission: to train the next generation of food and agriculture advocates and entrepreneurs, and to create innovative legal tools supporting the new food movement. CAFS trains students through a comprehensive array of residential and distance learning courses and a Food and Agriculture Clinic. VLS offers a JD Certificate in Food and Agriculture, and both Master's and LLM degrees in Food and Agriculture Law and Policy. CAFS' diverse course offerings, law clinic and degree options make it the most comprehensive sustainable food, agriculture, and environmental law graduate program in the country.
  • Institute for Energy & the Environment — The Institute for Energy and the Environment (IEE) is a national and international resource for energy law and policy. The institute offers a full course curriculum and a certificate of concentration during the academic year and through its Energy Summer seminars; distributes scholarly, technical, and practical publications; provides forums and conferences for professional education and issue development; and serves as a center for graduate research on energy issues, with an environmental awareness.[16] The Institute’s research team is selected from top students in the energy and environmental programs at Vermont Law School.[17] The Institute maintains the IEE blog focused on current events and research.
  • Environmental Tax Policy Institute — The institute analyzes ways in which taxation can address environmental problems. As a resource for the public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations, the press and academia, the Institute seeks to better inform the public policy debate about the role of environmental taxes at the local, state and federal levels.
  • Land Use Institute — The Land Use Institute (LUI) addresses intensifying land use law and policy issues at the local, national, and international levels that critically pertain to the development of a sustainable society. These issues include application of smart growth principles, ecological planning, affordable housing, flood hazard mitigation, improving the confluence of energy and land use regulatory decision-making and other permitting processes, and land conservation strategies. LUI works with VLS faculty and students, and other nonprofit legal and professional planning partners, to provide sound and innovative information, experience, and education to advance the practice of land use law and planning. This mission is served through direct support for local and regional planning agencies, forums and conferences for issue development, preparation of legislation affecting critical land use issues, education and training for state and local land use planners and regulators, practical and scholarly publications, and graduate professional teaching.

Clinics and experiential programs

  • Environmental Advocacy Clinic — The Environmental Advocacy Clinic assists major conservation organizations and local community groups to promote access to justice on important environmental and natural resources issues.[18] In 2019, the National Wildlife Federation selected the Environmental Advocacy Clinic to represent the Federation on its national legal advocacy work.[19]
  • Environmental Justice Clinic — Launched in 2019, the Environmental Justice Clinic became one of the only law clinics specifically devoted to environmental justice, providing legal services to low income communities and communities of color fighting the unjust distribution of pollution sources within those areas.[20]
  • Energy Clinic—Started in 2014, the Energy Clinic is one of the only law clinics in the United States focused on promoting climate justice and renewable energy. The Energy Clinic provides opportunities for students to progressively develop the knowledge, skills, and values integral to the field of energy law and policy, while helping clients meet local energy needs with reliable, clean, and affordable resources.[21]
  • Food and Agriculture Clinic — Students in the Food and Agriculture Clinic collaborate with local, regional, national, and international partners, and engage in law and policy work that addresses challenges related to food and land justice, public health, the economy, food security, and animal welfare.[22]
  • South Royalton Legal Clinic — The South Royalton Legal Clinic serves Vermont residents who are unable to afford counsel and who need assistance with issues such as bankruptcy, children’s rights, disability, domestic violence, family law, housing, immigration, veterans issues and wills.[23]
  • Legislative Clinic — In the Legislative Clinic, students to work under the supervision of attorneys supporting the work of the Vermont General Assembly. Under the supervision of the Vermont Legislative Council, students work on bills, amendments, and related research projects. They observe floor debates, attend committee hearings, and participate in hearings as needed by the committees.[24]
  • Immigration Clinic — Expanded alongside the opening of the Burlington satellite office in 2020, this clinic offers assistance to Vermonters on issues of immigration law.[25]
  • General Practice Program — The General Practice Program (GPP) was instituted in 1987. The GPP is recipient of the American Bar Association's E. Smythe Gambrell Award for Professionalism, a national award for law schools and other organizations in recognition for advancing professionalism in the practice of law.
  • Legal Clinic of Petrozavodsk State University — Under the patronage of Vermont School of Law at the Faculty of Petrozavodsk State University opened the first legal clinic in Russia in October 1995, supported by the Council of Judges.

Employment

According to Vermont Law School's official 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 61.5% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.[4] Vermont Law School's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 29%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[26]

Tuition and financial aid

JD tuition for 2018-19 is $48,254.[27] 67.4% percent of students receive some sort of scholarship.[1]

Publications

Vermont Law School students publish two legal journals, the Vermont Law Review and the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, on a regular basis several times a year in print and online. In addition to regular publication, both journals sponsor annual symposia.

Notable faculty and administrators

  • Peter A. Bradford, current professor at Vermont Law School, former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  • Mark Cooper, senior research fellow for economic analysis at VLS' Institute for Energy and the Environment
  • Douglas M. Costle, former Dean of Vermont Law School and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
  • Molly Gray, elected Lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2020, instructor of international human rights law courses
  • Philip H. Hoff, former Vermont Law School Trustee, 1983–1999, Trustee Emeritus beginning in 1999
  • Denise R. Johnson, first woman appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court, instructor in legal writing, 1978–1980
  • Deborah Markowitz, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, former Vermont Secretary of State, adjunct professor
  • James L. Oakes, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Vermont Law School Board of Trustees (1976–1994)
  • Robert D. Rachlin, Partner in Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC, the state's largest law firm, current professor at Vermont Law School
  • Norman Redlich, Warren Commission researcher, VLS Board of Trustees (1977–1999)
  • Rodney Smolla, president at Vermont Law School beginning in July 2022
  • Benjamin K. Sovacool, founding Director of the Energy Security & Justice Program at their Institute for Energy and Environment
  • Gus Speth, co-founder of Natural Resources Defense Council, professor from 2020 to 2015

Notable alumni

  • Arnie Arnesen, J.D. 1981, member, New Hampshire House of Representatives (1985–1993), Democratic nominee for Governor of New Hampshire, 1992, candidate for United States House of Representatives, 1996[28]
  • Sarah E. Buxton, J.D. 2010, former member of the Vermont House of Representatives[29]
  • Karen Carroll, J.D. 1988, associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court since 2017[30]
  • William D. Cohen, J.D. 1984, associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court[31]
  • Harold "Duke" Eaton Jr., J.D. 1980, Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice (2014–present)[32]
  • Vincent Illuzzi, J.D. 1978, youngest person ever elected to Vermont State Senate, State Senator 1981–2013, Essex County State's Attorney since 1998, unsuccessful 2012 Republican nominee for Vermont Auditor of Accounts[33]
  • Elizabeth MacDonough, J.D. 1998, first woman to serve as Parliamentarian of the United States Senate[34]
  • Richard McCormack, M.S. 2002, member of the Vermont Senate[35]
  • Charles A. Murphy, J.D. 1990, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee[36]
  • Sterry R. Waterman, J.D. 1977, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit[37][38]
  • Susanne R. Young, Vermont Attorney General beginning in June 2022[39][40]

See also

  • List of American institutions of higher education
  • List of colleges and universities in Vermont

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vermont Law School ABA §509 Disclosures". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/sites/default/files/2019-12/2019_ABA_Standard_509_Information_Report.pdf. 
  2. ↑ "Vermont Law School". https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/vermont-law-school-03158. 
  3. ↑ "VLS Bar Passage Data". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/200130_ABA_Consumer_Information_Bar_Passage_Report.pdf. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Employment Statistics". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/careers/employment-statistics. 
  5. ↑ "Warped Sense of Issues". Rutland Herald. August 4, 1980. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100422231/doria-embezzlement/. Retrieved April 25, 2022. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Vermont Law School (2009). "Vermont Law School – History and Mission". http://www.vermontlaw.edu/About_VLS/History_and_Mission.htm. 
  7. ↑ "AAUP investigation finds Vermont Law School violated shared governance when it stripped tenure from most faculty" (in en). https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/08/aaup-investigation-finds-vermont-law-school-violated-shared-governance-when-it. 
  8. ↑ Zezima, Katie (2008-06-29). "Law School Pays the Price in 'Don't Ask' Rule Protest, New York Times". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/education/29vermont.html?scp=1&sq=Vermont%20law%20School&st=cse. 
  9. ↑ "Accelerated Juris Doctor (AJD) | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/degrees/jd/accelerated-jd. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Id.". http://www.vermontlaw.edu/About_VLS/History_and_Mission.htm. 
  11. ↑ School, Vermont. "Vermont Law School". http://www.vermontlaw.edu/About_the_Library.htm. 
  12. ↑ Library Information (2008). "Information about Julien and Virginia Library: Collections" (webpage). http://www.vermontlaw.edu/library/index.cfm?doc_id=860#Collections. 
  13. ↑ "U.S. Green Building Council". http://www.usgbc.org/?CategoryID=19. 
  14. ↑ Nemethy, Andrew (The New York Times) (1988-05-15). "Off the Beaten Track to Study Law – The New York Times". https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/15/us/off-the-beaten-track-to-study-law.html?scp=2&sq=Vermont%20law%20School&st=cse. 
  15. ↑ "Burlington Office | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/community/campus/burlington. 
  16. ↑ "Dworkin's Leadership at VLS Wins National Recognition". The Herald of Randolph. 2008-12-04. http://www.ourherald.com/news/2008-12-04/People/p02.html. 
  17. ↑ The Associated Press (2010-04-05). "Vermont Law School gets $450K for smart grid study". BusinessWeek. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9ET29GG0.htm. 
  18. ↑ "Environmental Advocacy Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/environmental-advocacy-clinic. 
  19. ↑ "Vermont Law School Selected by National Wildlife Federation to Partner on Environmental Advocacy Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/news-and-events/newsroom/press-release/vermont-law-school-selected-national-wildlife-federation. 
  20. ↑ "Environmental Justice Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/ej-clinic. 
  21. ↑ "Energy Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/energy-clinic. 
  22. ↑ "Food and Agriculture Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/food-and-agriculture-clinic. 
  23. ↑ "South Royalton Legal Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/south-royalton-legal-clinic. 
  24. ↑ "Legislative Clinic | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/academics/clinics-and-externships/legislative-clinic. 
  25. ↑ "Vermont Law School Announces New Location and Expanded Access to Legal Services in Burlington | Vermont Law School". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/news-and-events/newsroom/press-release/vermont-law-school-announces-new-location-and-expanded. 
  26. ↑ "Unemployment Score". http://www.lstscorereports.com/schools/vermont/2013/. 
  27. ↑ "VLS Tuition & Financial Aid". https://www.vermontlaw.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/tuition-fees. 
  28. ↑ "Deborah \Arnie\ Arnesen". Harvard University Institute of Politics. http://www.iop.harvard.edu/deborah-arnie-arnesen. 
  29. ↑ "Sarah E. Buxton's BIOGRAPHY". Project Vote Smart. http://votesmart.org/candidate/123853/sarah-buxton#.UQ8R9r99w1M. 
  30. ↑ "Biography, Honorable Karen R. Carroll". Montpelier, VT: Vermont Judiciary. 2017. https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/people/honorable-karen-r-carroll. 
  31. ↑ Jensen, Lori (October 25, 2019). "Speaker Biography, William D. Cohen". Essex Junction, VT: Vermont Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. http://www.vtacdl.com/seminars/. 
  32. ↑ "Shumlin taps Judge Harold Eaton for high court". Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/13/shumlin-taps-judge-harold-eaton-for-high-court/. 
  33. ↑ "vincent 'vince' illuzzi's biography". Project Vote Smart. http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/5265/vincent-illuzzi#.UQ8QFr99w1M. 
  34. ↑ Elizabeth MacDonough – Vermont Law School . Vermontlaw.edu. Retrieved on 2014-04-12.
  35. ↑ Vermont Senate (2019). "Biography, Senator Dick McCormack". Montpelier, VT: Vermont General Assembly. https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2020/14625. 
  36. ↑ "charles 'charley' a. murphy's biography". Project Vote Smart. http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/13670/charles-murphy#.UQ8R9r99w1M. 
  37. ↑ The Federal Reporter, Volume 751. Eagan, Minnesota: West Publishing. 1985. p. 104. https://books.google.com/books?id=kxiSAAAAIAAJ&q=%22sterry+waterman+his+J.D.%22. 
  38. ↑ "Vermont Law School Begins its 5th Year". Bennington Banner: p. 3. September 12, 1977. https://www.newspapers.com/image/63953812/. "The president of the board of trustees, Sterry R. Waterman, senior judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, was also awarded the juris doctor degree. Although he had studied at three law schools prior to his long legal career and has several honorary degrees, he had not previously received the law degree." 
  39. ↑ Civil Government, State of Vermont. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 2005. p. 355. https://books.google.com/books?id=HrVLAQAAMAAJ&q=%22was+born+in+Northfield+,+Vermont+on+October+30+,+1956%22. 
  40. ↑ Mearhoff, Sarah; Keays, Alan J.; Weinstein, Ethan (June 22, 2022). "Phil Scott appoints former Administration Secretary Susanne Young to complete attorney general’s term". VT Digger (Montpelier, VT). https://vtdigger.org/2022/06/22/phil-scott-appoints-former-administration-secretary-susanne-young-to-complete-attorney-generals-term/. 

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