The VBA Annual Meeting is just two weeks away! It’s going to be a good one at the charming perfectly-Vermont Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee on Sept. 27. Our advice? Stop thinking about whether you should go and just register! Like so many things in life, once you get up and actually do something you’ve been meaning to do, you’re glad you did. Will you get in your car at the end of the meeting, with Lake Morey in your rear-view mirror, wishing you had stayed in your office that Friday? (Hint: the answer is “no.”)
Here’s a link to the flyer with complete registration details and program descriptions. Want the snapshot? Read on…
The Beginning
We’re starting early, at 8 AM, with a terrific one-hour ethics program led by Mike Kennedy and Ed Adrian: “The Dilemma of Dealing with the Darkness of a Mental Health or Substance Abuse Condition: Ethical Obligations to Clients and the Judiciary, as well as what you owe Yourself as a Practitioner.” Or you may choose to take a class on surviving burnout from Attorney Well-Being Section Co-chair Samara Anderson. (1.5 CLE). Either way, you’ll need some breakfast and that will be ready for you before and after the first sessions of the day.
In the second CLE block you have your choice of a panel on hot employment law topics put together by Employment Law Section Chair Steve Ellis: “Rules, Rulings and Rulers: Agency Final Rules and the Demise of Chevron Deference” (1.5 CLE credits), or attend the discussion on the VT Judicial Commission on Artificial Intelligence* (1 CLE) featuring members of the Commission; or choose the scintillating “IP For Cocktail Parties” with Intellectual Property Section Head (and musician) Andrew Manitsky (1 CLE)
The Middle
We will gather for lunch and our business meeting at noon. (Lunch is included in your registration, of course). After dessert it’s back to class for more great topics. At 1 PM the CLE offerings will be a discussion on the work of the VT Judicial Commission on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion* (1 CLE DEI credit). All the members of our Supreme Court will be there to talk about the work of the Commission and next steps in Vermont. Alternatively, get in on some cutting edge of Environmental law at, “Act 250 Meets Act 181: Understanding the New Legal Framework for Vermont Land Use and Development* (1.5 CLE credits), or choose “Grounding & De-Escalation Skills for Trauma Responsive Lawyering,” (1.5 CLE wellness credits), taught by the popular presenter, Cassie Gillespie, LICSW.
And Then Even More
The final CLE block begins at 3 PM and you have three choices again. The Vermont Asylum Assistance Project will lead, “Intersecting with Immigration: Impact & Consequences of Immigration Law on Other Areas of Civil & Criminal Practice*” (1.5 CLE). Or you can take in an update on the US Supreme Court from Vermont Law and Graduate School President – and nationally known constitutional scholar – Rod Smolla.(1 hour).
Big Changes, including the integration of a lot of AI features, are coming to the Fastcase legal research platform. Fastcase is a prime benefit of VBA membership and Lisa Smith-Crisey from Vlex Fastcase will be at the meeting to give personal instruction on what the new features are and how to use them (1 CLE).
Of course, there will be plenty of time during the day to mix and mingle with your colleagues and our sponsors. (Someone will win a Kindle Scribe via a sponsor bingo game!)
Even if every moment is not a perfect 10 (and we’re aiming for that, believe me) you will make new connections and reinforce some old ones. You will learn some things, get some sponsor swag, and take in some beautiful Vermont scenery while you’re improving yourself professionally but not on your way to court or a deposition or what have you. Click the form and register! We really want to see you there.
CLEs marked with an * are approved & certified to meet the requirements of Rules 12(a)(1) and 15(c) of the VT Rules of Admission
