Law Day, observed annually on May 1st, is a national day in the United States dedicated to celebrating the rule of law and its importance in protecting liberty, justice, and equality. It serves as a reminder of the legal system’s role in shaping a just and equitable society. In Vermont, Law Day is not limited to May 1. It’s more of a season. And, with the program led and organized by VBA Board Member Alfonso Villegas on April 4 at Burlington High School, the season has begun.
Alfonso, who orchestrated a Law Day program at Burlington High last year, was back again with a team of legal luminaries. The lawyers addressed a group of about 60 juniors and seniors. Presenters, along with Alfonso, included the Hon. Helen Toor (Ret.) of Toor Mediation, Malachai Brennan of SRH Law in Burlington, Judith Dillon, past VBA president and Labor Relations Board, Executive Director, Celeste Laramie of Gravel & Shea PC in Burlington, and Attorney General Charity Clark.
The legal team and the students discussed what it means to be a judge in Vermont, how to become a judge, and what judges rely on to decide on cases. The team also had the students answer questions with interactive modules. The capstone was a mock oral argument – the famous Nix v. Hedden controversy – is a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable?
Law Day is celebrated through various activities, including school programs, community events, and educational resources, all designed to engage the public in discussions about law and justice. In Vermont, as noted, Law Day is really a season-long event, with many county bars and individual lawyers putting on programs for their local schools during the spring. This year, one of the goals of VBA President Josh Diamond is to get lawyers out to classrooms in every Vermont county for Law Day, or Law Day adjacent programs. Click here for more information about that effort.
Here are some pictures of the Law Day on April 4 at Burlington High. Thanks to Alfonso, and to all the presenters, students, and teachers.
