Vermont Bar Association

TO FOSTER RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW BY CULTIVATING THE SCIENCE OF JURISPRUDENCE, PROMOTING REFORM IN THE LAW, FACILITATING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, ELEVATING THE STANDARDS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, CHERISHING A COLLEGIAL SPIRIT IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND PERPETUATING THE MEMORY OF ITS MEMBERS.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION - LICENSED ATTORNEYS IN VERMONT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 20 HOURS OF MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION EVERY TWO YEARS. THE ASSOCIATION OFFERS LIVE SEMINARS, TELESEMINARS, WEBINARS AND VIDEO REPLAYS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS STANDARD CORE CURRICULA IN MANY AREAS OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW, ECONOMICS OF PRACTICE, LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT, TECHNOLOGY, ETHICS AND OTHER AREAS.

THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL - A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE CONTAINING SCHOLARLY SUBSTANTIVE ARTICLES, REVIEWS AND COLUMNS OF INTEREST TO ALL LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. IT OFFERS PRACTICE TOOLS, PROFILES, INTERVIEWS AND OTHER ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AS WELL AS CLASSIFIEDS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION - A SECTION OF THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION FOR ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE PRACTICES TEN YEARS OR LESS AND/OR ARE 37 YEARS OF AGE AND UNDER. THE YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION SPONSORS A MID-WINTER MEETING EACH YEAR IN MONTREAL, BUT IN 2021, THE MEETING WAS HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

DIRECTORY/WEBSITE - THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY IS A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF VERMONT LICENSED ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES, ALONG WITH THEIR MAILING ADDRESSES, PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, AND ELECTRONIC ADDRESSES. IT ALSO CONTAINS A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE VERMONT COURT SYSTEM AND LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES FREQUENTLY CONTACTED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION. A COPY IS DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY MEMBER FREE OF CHARGE.LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE - A PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION THAT PROVIDES REFERRALS TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING AN ATTORNEY.MEETINGS - THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION SPONSORS TWO MEETINGS EACH YEAR, THE ANNUAL AND MID-YEAR MEETING, AT WHICH CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS ARE OFFERED TOGETHER WITH SOCIAL EVENTS.MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP IN THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION IS VOLUNTARY. THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM TRACKS ALL EXPENSES RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP SUCH AS THE DUES MAILING, PRINTING AND POSTAGE COSTS FOR NOTICES TO ATTORNEYS, ETC. LOBBYING - LOBBYING FOR THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION IS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE ASSOCIATION TRACKS, REPORTS AND TESTIFIES ON LEGISLATION OF IMPORTANCE TO VERMONT LICENSED ATTORNEYS.CASEMAKER - THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION OFFERS ITS MEMBERS ON-LINE LEGAL RESEARCH THROUGH OUR WEB PORTAL.LEGAL ACCESS COORDINATOR - THE COORDINATOR IDENTIFIES AND UNIFIES PRO BONO EFFORTS THROUGHOUT VERMONT, PUBLICIZING AND PROMOTING THE WORK OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS, RECRUITING AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR PRO BONO ATTORNEYS IN AREAS OF NEED, AND COORDINATING WITH EXISTING ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. THE LEGAL ACCESS COORDINATOR ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE RUTLAND COUNTY PILOT PROJECT AND THE COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS. RUTLAND COUNTY PILOT PROJECT - THE RUTLAND COUNTY PILOT PROJECT IS A VERMONT BAR FOUNDATION FUNDED PROJECT UNDER WHICH MEMBERS OF THE PRIVATE BAR PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME PRO SE LITIGANTS IN SPECIFIC CASES IN SUPERIOR, FAMILY AND PROBATE COURTS IN RUTLAND COUNTY. PARTICIPATING ATTORNEYS RECEIVE A REDUCED FEE ($60 PER HOUR) TO REPRESENT ELIGIBLE CLIENTS IN LANDLORD/TENANT, FORECLOSURE AND COLLECTION CASES IN RUTLAND SUPERIOR COURT; IN CHILD SUPPORT CONTEMPT CASES IN RUTLAND FAMILY COURT; AND IN INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP CASES IN RUTLAND DISTRICT AND FAIR HAVEN DISTRICT PROBATE COURTS. SCREENING FOR ELIGIBILITY IS DONE BY VERMONT LEGAL AID IN BURLINGTON. ATTORNEY COMPENSATION IS GENERALLY CAPPED AT 5 HOURS FOR SUPERIOR COURT CASES, AND AT 3 HOURS FOR INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP AND FAMILY COURT CASES. COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS - THE COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS ARE MODELED AFTER THE BENNINGTON COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT AND THE RUTLAND COUNTY PILOT PROJECT. THEY WILL OPERATE IN MUCH THE SAME MANNER AS THEIR PREDECESSORS AND THEY WILL USE FORMS, LITERATURE AND PROCEDURES DEVELOPED FOR THOSE PROJECTS. THE ADDISON, WINDHAM, WINDSOR, BENNINGTON, WASHINGTON AND FRANKLIN/GRAND ISLE COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS SEEK TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT AND LOW-INCOME LITIGANTS LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AREAS (CHILD SUPPORT CONTEMPT/MODIFICATION; LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES; COLLECTION AND FORECLOSURE MATTERS; COLLECTION MATTERS; AND INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP CASES). ABA CATALYST - THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE VERMONT LAW SCHOOL HAVE PARTNERED ON A VIRTUAL LAWYER INCUBATOR PILOT PROJECT TO TEST A MODEL OF ENCOURAGING NEW LAWYERS TO ESTABLISH LAW PRACTICES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF VERMONT. AN IMPORTANT GOAL OF THE PROJECT WILL BE TO USE THE SKILLS AND ENTHUSIASM OF THESE YOUNG LAWYERS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME CLIENTS THROUGH PRO BONO AND LOW BONO REPRESENTATION. NEW ATTORNEYS WILL LEARN HOW TO MELD SERVICES FOR POORER CLIENTS INTO A PRACTICE THAT STILL ENABLES THE ATTORNEY TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING WHILE SERVICING THEIR COMMUNITIES.VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) GRANT - THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT BETWEEN THE VERMONT CRIME VICTIMS SERVICES AND THE VERMONT BAR ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF ALL TYPES OF CRIMES. VICTIMS ARE REFERRED TO THE GRANT PROGRAM AND OUR LEGAL ACCESS COORDINATE FINDS ATTORNEYS TO ASSIST THEM AT A REDUCED FEE. THE ATTORNEY IS REIMBURSED THROUGH GRANT MONIES.CLIENT SECURITY FUND - THE CLIENT SECURITY FUND IS INTENDED TO BE USED TO SATISFY LOSSES TO CLIENTS OF LAWYERS WHO MISHANDLE CLIENT TRUST FUNDS. THE ASSOCIATION HAS ENACTED A $30,000 MAXIMUM AMOUNT PAYABLE PER CASE. THE FUND WAS CREATED THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS AND DUES ASSESSMENTS. THERE WERE NO CLAIMS PAID OUT IN FISCAL YEAR 2021.ADULT INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIPS - THIS IS A GRANT FROM THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT TO ENABLE THE VBA TO PROVIDE LOW BONO ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION TO RESPONDENTS IN ADULT INVOLUNTARY GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS.POST ADOPTION CONTRACT AGREEMENTS - THIS IS A GRANT FROM THE VERMONT SUPREME COURT TO ENABLE THE VBA TO PROVIDE LOW BONO ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION TO FINANCIALLY NEEDY ADOPTIVE PARENTS ENTERING INTO POST ADOPTIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENTS.BANK OF AMERICA GRANT - THIS IS A GRANT FROM BANK OF AMERICA TO ENABLE THE VBA TO ASSIST IN THE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROJECT. THESE GRANT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PREVENT FORECLOSURE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED ELIGIBLE DEFENDANTS IN FORECLOSURE ACTIONS.