The Vermont Bar Foundation and the Vermont Access to Justice Campaign are pleased to announce the availability of a two-year Vermont Poverty Law Fellowship (VPLF) beginning in August 2018. The VPLF program is looking for outstanding graduating law students and other new lawyers to help expand the reach of Vermont’s existing legal services providers. Funding for salary and benefits will be provided by the Vermont Access to Justice Campaign. Loan forgiveness (up to $5,000) may be available from the Vermont Bar Foundation.
The 2018 Fellowship will incorporate the Fellow’s interests and background, as well as the needs of Vermont’s low-income community. The Fellowship’s focus will include work on one or more specific projects broadly impacting the lives of low-income Vermonters, as well as the day-to-day delivery of legal services to low-income clients. It will be fully integrated into the legal services being delivered by Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Law Line of Vermont. Past Fellowship projects have focused on foreclosure, rental housing, flood relief, children’s rights, veterans’ rights and the opioid crisis.
Fellows will work with the Vermont Bar Foundation and the Vermont Bar Association to publicize Fellowship activities, contribute to the public awareness of legal services in Vermont, and participate in the Vermont Bar Association’s continuing legal education activities.
Salary will be $47,085 in the first year and $48,576 in the second year, with excellent fringe benefits.
Applicants must have excellent written and oral skills. Experience in public interest law, civil rights law, or legal services is required. Applicants must be recent law school graduates or graduating law students and must be admitted to the Vermont Bar or willing to sit for the July 2018 Vermont Bar examination. Applicants must have a personal vehicle and some in-state travel will be required.
The deadline to apply is November 10, 2017. Visit our website http://www.vtlegalaid.org/work-vla for complete application instructions.