vermont

bar admission administrative agency:

administrative assistants
board of bar examiners
109 state street
montpelier, vt 05609-0702
tel: 802/828-3281
fax: 802/828-3457
website: http://www.vermontjudiciary.org
website: http://www.vtbar.org

bar admission options:

without bar examination
an applicant who meets the other state bar requirements below and has been admitted to practice in another u.s. jurisdiction may be admitted without examination if the applicant:
1. has been actively engaged in the practice of law for five of the preceding ten years;
2. is currently licensed in at least one jurisdiction; and
3. is not under suspension or revocation in any jurisdiction.
any part of the five-year admission requirement can be waived if the jurisdiction in which the applicant is currently licensed and has been actively engaged in the practice of law for not less than six months requires fewer than five years following admission as a condition of admission without examination for attorneys licensed in vermont provided, however, that at the time of application the applicant has been actively engaged in the practice of law for not less than three of the preceding ten years.
4. applicants licensed to practice law in new hampshire.
a) attorneys who meet all other vermont state bar requirements below, who are active members of the new hampshire state bar, have been actively engaged in the practice of law in new hampshire for no less than three years immediately preceding their application for admission under this rule, are currently members in good standing in all jurisdictions where admitted, and are not under suspension or revocation nor currently subject to any disciplinary matter in any jurisdiction, may be admitted to the practice of law in this state upon motion and without examination.
b) in lieu of the requirements of rules of admission §7(d) (three months of study in the office and under the supervision of an attorney practicing in this state), an applicant under this section may complete and certify prior to admission that he or she has attended at least 15 hours of continuing legal education on vermont practice and procedure in courses approved by the board of continuing legal education and certified by the board of bar examiners as satisfying the requirements of this section.
c) an applicant who has failed the vermont bar examination within five years of the date of filing an application for admission under this section shall not be eligible for admission on motion.

application deadline: not applicable.

application/admission fee: $600.00.

with bar examination
examination required for all other applicants.

examination components:
1. academic: mbe (required score of 135) and six state essays. mbe score of 135 is transferable from any jurisdiction within five years.
2. ethics: mpre scaled score of 80 is transferable from any jurisdiction within seven years.

examination dates:
february (deadline: january 15)
july (deadline: june 15)

application/admission fees:
$15.00 application fee; $240.00 examination fee.
late fees apply (written request needed).

other state bar requirements:

1. minimum age: 18

2. u.s. citizenship or lawful permanent resident.

3. character check by the vermont committee on character and fitness.

4. graduation from an aba-, aals-, or vermont supreme court-approved law school; or, for a period of not less than four years, the study of law in vermont under the supervision of an attorney who has been admitted to practice in vermont not less than three years prior to the commencement of that study; or, the court may allow credit for the study of law in an approved or non-approved law school, in a law office in another state or territory, or for admission to the practice of law in a foreign nation which is a common law jurisdiction, provided the applicant has also pursued the study of law in vermont under the supervision of an attorney (who has been admitted to practice in vermont not less than three years prior to the commencement of that study) for a period of at least two years immediately preceding examination.

5. biennial fees: $300.00 (state licensing fee); $150.00 (inactive).

regulation of in-house counsel:

vermont bar admission rules do not directly address in-house counsel.

bar association status:

[ ] mandatory

[x] voluntary
annual dues: $80.00 (first year after admission); $105.00 (2-4 years after admission); $160.00 (5-10 years after admission); $170.00 (more than 10 years after admission).

specialty certification:

vermont recognizes aba-accredited private certification programs, which include the following specialty certifications:

• accounting professional liability
• business bankruptcy
• civil trial advocacy
• consumer bankruptcy
• creditors’ rights
• criminal law trial advocacy
• elder law
• estate planning law
• family law trial advocacy
• legal professional liability
• medical professional liability