Vermont Law School Reviews

"I attended Vermont Law School for my JD degree and I can say that it was one of the best decisions of my life. The school is located in a beautiful and serene town in central Vermont, surrounded by nature and tranquility. The campus is set just above the White River, which offers a scenic view and a relaxing atmosphere. The area is conducive for studying, as there are plenty of quiet and cozy spaces in the library, the Environmental Reading Room, and the dorms. The town is small but has a friendly and welcoming community, with local shops, restaurants, and events that make you feel at home.The academic program at Vermont Law School is very rigorous and challenging, but also doable and rewarding. The school offers a variety of courses and concentrations, especially in environmental law, which is ranked as one of the top programs in the country. The faculty are experts in their fields, and they are also supportive and accessible to the students. The school also provides many opportunities for experiential learning, such as clinics, externships, moot courts, journals, and student organizations. I was able to participate in some of these activities and gain valuable skills and experience that prepared me for my career.During my third year of law school, I was a visiting student at the University of Miami, and I felt that Vermont Law School was at par with UM in terms of quality and reputation. I was able to transfer my credits and graduate on time, thanks to the flexibility and assistance of the administration. I also maintained my connections with my classmates and professors at Vermont Law School, who were always supportive and encouraging.Another benefit of graduating from Vermont Law School is that it enhanced my professional profile and helped me with my acceptance to Columbia University for my master's degree. Vermont Law School has a strong reputation and network in the legal field, and it also offers career services and alumni support to its graduates. I was able to leverage these resources and connections to advance my career goals and pursue further education. Columbia University recognized the value and quality of my degree from Vermont Law School, and they offered me a spot in their prestigious program.I would highly recommend Vermont Law School to anyone who is looking for a top-notch legal education in a beautiful and peaceful environment. The school will challenge you academically, but also nurture you personally and professionally. It is not just a school, but a community and a family. I am proud to be a Vermont Law School alum!Read Less"

"The school is dying - do not attend. Vermont Law School cannot relieve itself of the bad habit of over extending into areas with low or no demand. As their influence shrinks, their funding and student population is shrinking as well. Yet in the face of that reduction they have decided to expand their courses and hire more staff. This has harmed every aspect of the school. All office staff are perennially unresponsive and disorganized. The registrar's office almost lost my graduation info, which would have left me unable to take the bar exam. ****More importantly, the quality of legal education being offered is in free fall. They are hiring any ex-graduate they can regardless of experience or ability just to fill up classrooms. This is good for the ex-grads since the job market for VLS grads is so dismal. I was able to salvage a decent experience and education but for 120k in debt it was not worth it. ***MOST IMPORTANTLY THE BAR PASSAGE RATE FOR THIS SCHOOL IS UNDER 40% FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. The school is at real risk of losing its ABA accreditation. If that very likely event occurs VLS, will not be able to recover since all their best staff and professors have left. The sad fact is that this school is too poorly lead and poorly funded to produce quality lawyers. Attend literally any other law school, VLS has become a diploma mill. Once can still gain a quality education here, but for the money one would be better served reading for the bar and forgoing law school completely.Read Less"

"Pros Specific focus in environmental law, helpful professors, students who are very passionate about what they study. Online courses offer a lot of flexibility.Cons Limited course offerings, limited financial aid. Little to no Job in internship experiences near campus"

"My overall consensus is that this is an excellent program for those seeking a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy. It is very demanding and requires much reading and in depth thought and analysis but you will also find that the professors are more than willing to help with whatever support you may need. Highly recommend. This is an A+ program."

"The school attracts top faculty who are extremely knowledgeable on their topic and are renowned in the field. The school is the top environmental school in the country and truly deserves this title. It is because of the faculty that the Master's and JD programs are so valuable for those interested in environmental law. However, the school does a poor job advertising its strengths and therefore does not attract neither endowment or high quality students. This leads to a slew of other problems such as limited financial aid, low student diversity and quality job placement. The school is located in South Royalton, VT which is a quintessential small Vermont town. There is not much to do for entertainment but for a student interested in the environment, the charm and natural beauty of Vermont has much appeal.Read Less"

"Vermont Law School is a small community with an extensive network throughout the Environmental Law community. The school has knowledgeable professors, helpful faculty and a great reputation. The only significant problem with the school, in my opinion, is its location. Being located in rural Vermont creates issues of finding ways to escape the law school and makes it difficult to meet new people outside of it. However, because being in law school is a time-consuming time in most students lives, having a life outside of it is almost impossible anyway.Read Less"

"Vermont Law has a very rigorous degree program and even the online courses are very challenging and involve a lot of time and work. I feel I am definitely getting my money's worth. The campus is very small but very accessible and it is easy to get in touch with faculty and staff. There is not a whole lot of financial aid/scholarship money and most people end up taking out federal student loans to pay for the majority of their degree. Additionally, the town is very small and there are no chain stores of any kind so if you do not have a car the school offers zipcars for those who have a membership (and joining is easy).Read Less"

"Vermont Law School is a leading the way in its Masters Program in Environmental Law and Policy. Students are inspired to think critically about the pressing issues affecting our future and to act on those issues. Visiting the school and meeting the professors recently was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. My life has changed because of the exposure and my eyes are wide open."

"I am so proud to be apart of VLS. Everyone wants to see you succeed and the learning environment is superior."