The Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) invites qualified individuals to apply for a current “Labor” seat vacancy on the Board. A Labor seat representative brings demonstrated knowledge of labor relations and collective bargaining agreements from the perspective of employees and organized labor. Individuals appointed to the Labor seat typically have experience working with or representing…
VBA NAMES KIM VELK NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Board of Managers of the Vermont Bar Association voted at their January 16 meeting to offer the Executive Director position to Kim Velk, Esq. The decision comes following a search that began last June when the current ED, Bob Paolini, announced his plans to retire. Velk has…
Nominations are now open for candidates for VBA’s Annual Pro Bono Service Award. The Award is given each year to one or more attorneys who have devoted themselves in a noteworthy way to provide pro bono legal services. Standards for the award reflect Rule 6.1 of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct which exhorts lawyers…
This press release just in from the Governor’s office (1/5/26): Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today has named Christina Nolan of Burlington and Michael Drescher of Hinesburg to the Vermont Supreme Court. “Naming justices to the Vermont Supreme Court is one of the greatest responsibilities for any governor,” said Governor Phil Scott. “These…
The Vermont Bar Association, continuing its efforts to address attorney shortages in underserved areas throughout Vermont, is again accepting applications for its Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Now in its third year, the VBA Loan Repayment Assistance Program (“LRAP”) is designed to assist attorneys burdened by debt so that they can work in underserved geographic…
The VBA’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Poster/Essay Contest is now underway. Middle Schoolers statewide are invited to write a short essay (up to 250 words) and illustrate a quotation from Dr. King. This year the quotation is: “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles.” The quotation appears in Dr. King’s…
This just in from the Governor’s office (10/16/25). Governor Phil Scott today announced the appointment of Zach Weight as a Special Prosecutor assigned to work with the Chittenden County State’s Attorney to assist in relieving the backlog of service-resistant repeat offender criminal cases, with an initial focus on individuals who have five or more…
The Vermont Bar Association held its 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hotel Champlain in Burlington on Sept. 26, 2025. A crowd of more than 200 Vermont attorneys, judges, special guest speakers, and 15 meeting sponsors were on hand. The hotel’s lobby had been renovated since our last meeting there and it looked elegant. The…
This just in (Sept. 29, 2025) from the Governor’s Office: Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Colin Owyang as a superior court judge. “Colin is a strong leader with diverse experience working in both the public and private sectors,” said Governor Phil Scott. “I believe this will help him to excel in this new…
The Judicial Nominating Board sent a memo to the Vermont Bar today (9/16/25) with details on the search for the replacement for Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice William Cohen. Justice Cohen has announced that he will be retiring from the bench on Dec. 27 of this year. The memo outlines the process for the search,…