Vermont has never been afraid of marching to its own drummer. The Green Mountain state declared itself an independent country in 1777 and did not join the American Colonies until 1791. Vermonters are proud of their independent nature as well as their maple syrup and cows. Yes, cows! At times in its history, Vermont had more cows than people. No wonder Ben & Jerry's ice cream empire is located in Vermont.
If you wish to attend law school in this quirky little state, then your choice of program has been made for you — as there is just one accredited law school in Vermont.
Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School (VLS) is located in the tiny town of South Royalton. The little village of around 600 residents is charming and good for a whole afternoon of exploring. It may be a little small for some prospective students, but there can be a real upside to not having anywhere to go. As a law student, you'll have your nose firmly in a law book most of the time.
The school is laid out like a little village with separate small houses and buildings. However, the buildings are all connected, so you won't have to walk outside during snow storms.
Vermont Law School is a private school and is not associated with a larger university, which might explain why the tuition is on the expensive side (around $50,000 a year) despite its status as a third-tier school according to the U.S. News law school rankings.
Vermont Law School has a top-ranked environmental program, which includes:
- Animal Law & Policy Institute
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic
- Environmental Justice Clinic
- Environmental Tax Policy Institute
VLS offers an accelerated two-year program (if you are in a hurry) and an extended four-year (if you have other life commitments and need more time). The school also recently launched a hybrid online program.
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