LEGAL VOLUNTEERS

VAAP offers a range of pro bono opportunities for attorneys—from one-day legal clinics to full-scope representation and federal litigation. Volunteers receive training, malpractice coverage, and collaborative support through group case rounds. We welcome resourceful, justice-driven lawyers ready to help our nascent and resource-constrained organization to expand access to immigration legal services across Vermont. Whether you have one afternoon or a few hours a month, VAAP has a pro bono opportunity to match your legal skills and schedule. Learn more.

LEGAL AND PARALEGAL INTERNS

Year-round, VAAP seeks highly motivated students to join us for customizable internship experiences focused on administrative assistance, case management and support, communications, and event coordination. Positions are hybrid-remote with access to coworking space in Burlington's Old North End and designated in-office days for value-added team meetings, supervision, and events. Preference is given to individuals who can commit to multi-semester partnerships and who bring language access skills. We support interns to access compensation and/or academic credit. Learn more.

VAAP-DOWNS RACHLIN MARTIN PRO BONO COORDINATOR

Taylor (she/her) is an Associate at Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC and coordinates the VAAP-DRM pro bono partnership. She is a registered patent attorney with a background in biology and experience in both patent litigation and patent prosecution. With our clients, practices, privacy, and the very rule of law under threat, we are supremely grateful to our pro bono partners at DRM - ranging from direct service providers to transactional advisors to lobbysts and beyond - for standing strong with VAAP. Learn more.

VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY

Glennis (she/her) is a full-time volunteer attorney at VAAP on Pro Bono Emeritus status. Since her retirement from a storied career in children’s rights, Glennis has established herself as the go-to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) attorney in the Upper Valley. She also assists asylum seekers with filing their applications and tables at VAAP outreach events. In her own words, "I recently retired and can’t think of a better way to use my skills and experience as an attorney than by volunteering with the intelligent, organized and energetic staff at VAAP, assisting immigrants gain legal status in the US. I heartily recommend working under the auspices of VAAP as a pro bono attorney.”

VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY

Seth (he/him) is a full-time volunteer attorney at VAAP on Pro Bono Emeritus status. Since his retirement from a storied career at the Vermont Prisoner’s Rights Office, Seth has developed a reputation as Vermont’s go-to French-speaking pro bono asylum attorney, now representing asylum seeking families from Tunisia, Rwanda, Benin, and Congo (Brazzaville), as well as Afghanistan, Russia, Venezuela, and Pakistan. At a time when the federal asylum system has slowed to a frustrating halt, Seth has managed to bring creative asylum legal claims and litigate them to favorable resolutions. In 2024, the Vermont Bar Association honored Seth with the Pro Bono Service Award.

LANGUAGE ACCESS VOLUNTEERS

Language access is the foundation of meaningful connection between legal advocates and the clients we serve. Without interpretation, justice remains out of reach. Interpretation and translation are rightfully expensive, reflecting the technical precision and lived experience providers bring to this work. That’s why we are especially grateful for the skilled volunteer interpreters who make VAAP’s work possible. Without volunteer interpreters and translators to supplement the services we pay for, VAAP would not be able to run. Express interest.

LEGAL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Team work makes the dream work! VAAP works in coalition with diverse stakeholders at the community, state, regional, and national levels. We strive to be a legal services organization that is motivated by and accountable to the communities we serve. We believe that when the entire immigrant services sector grows, everyone benefits together. Learn about our legal partners here and our community partners here.

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT SERVICE LEARNING

Each fall and spring, VAAP teaches the Social Work Department’s Working with Refugees, which leverages the strengths of about 30 students working 8–10 hours weekly on collaborative projects addressing the micro- and marco-level needs of VAAP’s client communities.

VAAP also partners with the History Department’s Country Conditions Research Seminar, which leverages the talents of about 15 students who compiled annotated indeces of pertinent country conditions which VAAP files with USCIS and the Immigration Court as corroborating evidence of clients’ asylum claims.

Finally, VAAP subcontracts as the legal services provider for Connecting Cultures, an interdisciplinary program of the Psychology Department. In turn, Connecting Cultures supervises graduate students to forensically evaluate VAAP’s asylum seeking clients to substantiate their applications and build witness credibility.