Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Law School has expanded with the addition of a new immigration clinic and admissions office in Burlington. Located at 162 St Paul Street, the satellite office opened Tuesday morning.
Through its connection to the South Royalton Legal Clinic (SRLC), the new Burlington VLS office will offer legal assistance, particularly on immigration law, through the expanded Vermont Immigration Assistance Clinic. Chittenden County students will also have more opportunity to participate in Vermont Law School’s academic programs through practical, real-world experience gained through workshops and programming.
VLS President Thomas McHenry, at podium, and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger share a laugh before McHenry's remarks opening the new VLS center in Burlington on January 7, 2020. Courtesy photo.
Additionally, Vermont Law School’s admissions office will be easily accessible to work with University of Vermont students pursuing the UVM 3+2 program and meet with prospective students from the Greater Burlington Area.
“As Vermont’s law school, we serve as the center of legal education and scholarship for the state,” said Thomas McHenry, president and dean of Vermont Law School. “By locating a satellite office in Burlington, Vermont Law School will bring accessible legal expertise, particularly on immigration and business law, to Vermonters in the state’s most populous region. Chittenden County residents will also have the opportunity to learn more about our programs and engage directly with the school.”
“We’re quite thankful for the generous support of the Clowes Fund and the Vermont Bar Foundation,” added Dean McHenry, “who helped made this project possible.”
“The law school has long been a champion of access to justice for all Vermonters, regardless of income or citizenship status,” said Erin Jacobsen, managing attorney of the SRLC and professor of law. The SRLC provides more than $1.5 million in pro bono services to low-income Vermonters and vulnerable populations each year. Added Jacobsen, “This office will allow us to bring more of that expertise to underserved Vermonters in the Burlington Area.”
VLS President Thomas McHenry and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger cut the ribbon at the new VLS center in Burlington on January 7, 2020. They were joined by Attorney General TJ Donovan and managing attorney of the SRLC, Erin Jacobsen, far right. Courtesy photo.
Following the ribbon cutting on January 7, the Vermont Law School Burlington Office will offer clinic services by appointment. For more information, see vermontlaw.edu or call 802-831-1500.
Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation’s premier environmental law program is based in South Royalton. VLS offers a juris doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; four master’s degrees- Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy, and Master of Arts in Restorative Justice; and four post-JD degrees-LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and an LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental Advocacy Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, Environmental Justice Clinic, and Center for Justice Reform. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
The Clowes Fund is a family foundation established in 1952, in Indianapolis, Indiana; and makes grants in Indianapolis, Seattle, Massachusetts, and northern New England to support human services, education, and the arts.
The Vermont Bar Foundation is a leading private funding source for dozens of legal services and access to justice programs for low-income Vermonters.
Source: BURLINGTON, Vt.—Vermont Law School 1.7.2020