VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS

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. We are especially interested in partnering with law firms and bringing coordinated pro bono mentorship and services right to your office. Learn more.

VAAP PRO BONO COORDINATOR, DOWNS RACHLIN MARTIN PLLC

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. After participating in several attorney-for-a-day legal help clinics with VAAP support, she was proud to undertake leadership on VAAP’s ongoing pro bono collaboration with DRM. 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 and our client communities. Learn more.

VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY

Glennis (she/her) is a full-time volunteer attorney working with VAAP pursuing 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 working with 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.

VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY

Rick (he/him) is a part-time volunteer attorney with VAAP and full-time mediator working with Round Table Resolutions. The bulk of his experience as an attorney has been in the areas of environmental law, administrative law and elder law. He has served as President of the Vermont Mediators Association and as a Senior Mediator in the Chittenden County Small Claims Court Mediation program, where he supervised and acted as a mentor to junior mediators. He has led workshops in basic legal procedure for students at Woodbury College. Building on his experience working on asylum matters at his law school clinic in the 1990s, Rick is eager to do whatever is needed to support VAAP client communities.