Future LLM StudentsLLM
Vermont Law School
PO Box 96, Chelsea Street, South Royalton, VT 05068-0096, USA
Phone: 802.831.1000 | Website: www.vermontlaw.edu
Introduction
Vermont Law School operates from the belief that lawyers and legal scholars should advocate for the common good and help protect the natural world, and that legal education in service to those objectives should be both rigorous and practical. The School's legal scholars, practitioners, and staff guide and prepare students to have impacts in fields affecting the public interest, public policy, and social justice. Graduates work for nonprofit organizations, private firms, government agencies, and educational institutions.
As an international leader in environmental law, VLS is active in broadening the array of social justice, energy policy, and climate crisis issues to be addressed by legal scholarship and in legal education. The school features distinctive programs in international law and dual JD/Master's degree programs in business administration, environmental management, environmental policy, philosophy, and other fields.
Vermont Law School also works with advocacy organizations, domestic and international governments, and other educational institutions that share its commitment to make substantial, positive change in their communities and countries. The experiential education VLS provides prepares its graduates to engage the critical issues of our time.
Law School Enrollment
- Total law school enrollment: 675
- JD program: 607
- LLM programs: 21
- MELP full-time program: 47
Physical Facilities
At VLS we live our environmental ethic. Our campus, nestled in the Green Mountains, occupies 18 buildings on 13 acres beside the White River in the lovely village of South Royalton. Surrounded by tranquility and exceptional Vermont views, our historic buildings have been renovated with respect for the past and for the environment. Our students can find cozy spots to study or socialize as well as space to hike, ski, and fish—one of the best trout fishing rivers in Vermont forms the northern border of our campus.
At the same time, we have kept pace with advancing technology, ensuring that our campus is wireless and our equipment is cutting edge. Our sophisticated law library serves attorneys throughout Vermont and New Hampshire, and our full-time environmental librarian assists legal scholars throughout the world. Our newest buildings and recent renovations represent the very latest in energy conservation and environmentally friendly construction.
Housing
Although VLS does not offer on-campus housing, we maintain a searchable database on the law school website of rental properties as a service to our students. Over 200 units are available within Royalton and others are available in nearby villages. The best time to look for apartments in the area is from mid-May through June. In July and August, there will still be plenty of rentals available but your search will take more time if you have pets or are on a strict budget.
We strongly recommend that you set up appointments with prospective landlords from your home prior to visiting South Royalton. This is especially true during the summer months when landlords may be on vacation.
Our housing database is comprised of rental properties that local landlords have indicated are available. The database is updated regularly and can be searched by many criteria such as number of bedrooms, location, pets allowed, and cost. In late spring we will be posting new listings for the next academic year, which begins with Fall Orientation in late August.
LLM Programs/Areas of Specialization
Vermont Law School offers two LLM programs for graduates of ABA-approved law schools or their foreign equivalent.
Environmental Law
The Master of Laws in Environmental Law (LLM) degree is designed for a select group of post-JD candidates seeking to specialize in the practice of environmental law or pursue careers in teaching, research, or public policy. Vermont Law School offers LLM candidates over fifty courses in environmental law and policy—the widest range of courses offered by any law school in the nation.
Students enrolled in the Environmental Law LLM program have the option of beginning their studies in the summer or fall semesters. Full-time students complete the degree requirements during three consecutive semesters (fall/spring/summer or summer/fall/spring). Part-time students have up to five years from the date of matriculation to complete the degree.
For additional information, please visit the Master of Laws (LLM) website, or contact:
Kathy Hartman
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management
Vermont Law School
PO BOX 68
168 Chelsea Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
USA
Phone: 802.831.1232
Fax: 802.831.1174
E-mail: khartman@vermontlaw.edu
American Legal Studies
The Master of Laws in American Legal Studies is specifically designed for students who hold a law degree from an institution outside of the United States. Our LLM students take all their courses together with the JD students, so they have immersion in the US law school experience. The required courses provide a solid foundation in US law and US legal method. Some US states permit foreign lawyers who earn an LLM in US law to take the bar exam and be admitted to practice in their state, if certain other requirements are met. Students in our LLM program have taken either the New York or Washington, DC, bar exam, and have an excellent pass rate.
Students enrolled in this LLM program begin in the fall semester and take the full set of required courses in the fall and spring semesters. Students may not begin their coursework for the LLM in the spring semester because some courses in the spring are a continuation of fall semester courses.
For additional information, please visit the Master of Laws (LLM) website, or contact:
Kathy Hartman
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management
Vermont Law School
PO BOX 96
168 Chelsea Street
South Royalton, VT 05068
USA
Phone: 802.831.1232
Fax: 802.831.1174
E-mail: khartman@vermontlaw.edu
Requirements for LLM Applicants
- Application deadline: March 1
- Application fee: $60
- LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service
- Two letters of recommendation
- Law school transcripts
- Writing sample (in English)
- TOEFL®, IELTS™, or PTE scores for foreign applicants
- Tuition for 2011–2012 is $38,033
Student Services and Organizations
The Student Bar Association funds over 30 official student organizations and groups, representing special interest and advocacy organizations, affinity groups, extra- and co-curricular activities, sports and recreation, and student publications. Each year, the LLM class elects one representative to the SBA.
Career Services
In addition to the network of staff, peers, and faculty advocates who serve as a ready resource to every VLS student and graduate, the Office of Career Services operates as a clearinghouse for information on professional and experiential opportunities for students throughout their law school years. The Office also provides tools for résumé and interview preparation. It works as an advocate in the effort that will necessarily require students to carefully research and apply for internships and summer jobs, and explore a range of post-graduate placements.
