VLS Class of 1980

04/09/2026

A letter from VLGS Board Chair Glenn Berger '78 re: the latest US News & World Report Rankings;

The annual U.S. News & World Report law school rankings were released today, and I am pleased to share several encouraging results for Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Overall Rank: Our overall ranking improved nine spots to #154, reflecting steady progress across multiple indicators.
Public Interest Outcomes: We rose nine spots to #5 nationally for Graduates in Public Interest Law, affirming our core mission and national impact.
Environmental Law: We are tied for #5 among the nation’s top environmental law programs—alongside Harvard—behind Pace, Lewis & Clark, Berkeley, and UCLA. Importantly, none of the other schools in the top five environmental rankings also rank as highly in public interest placement, highlighting the distinctive strength of our combined focus.
Legal Writing: Our Legal Writing program climbed three spots to #48.
Part-Time Program: We are newly ranked #49 for part-time programs, recognizing the growth and quality of our part-time online hybrid JD program.
Clinical Training: Our clinical program advanced 21 places to #55, a significant gain that reflects the strength of our experiential, practice-ready education.

These results reflect real momentum and reinforce our national leadership in public interest law, environmental law, legal writing and experiential learning. While rankings are only one measure, this year’s improvements align closely with our strategic priorities and the outcomes we value most for students.

03/11/2026

I've attached a link to the VLGS Class Notes for February, which features news from four of our classmates, Joel Burcat, Jack Tomarchio, Barry Skidelsky and Tom Clancy. Enjoy!

02/15/2026

I received the following email from VLGS:

"We are collecting Class Notes and all submissions should be received by February 20th. Whether you were recently promoted, landed your dream job, got married, are retiring, or you have other exciting updates, we want to know! Share your news and photos with us and we’ll spread the word to fellow Swans in our monthly e-newsletter, The Swanvine, on our social media platforms, and/or in our alumni magazine, Loquitur.

Notes can be submitted directly here: https://connect.vermontlaw.edu/alumni-news. "

You can also send notes or photos directly to me at [email protected], or post it here and I will forward to VLGS.. Thanks.

Scott Cameron

02/06/2026

Sorry to share the sad news that our class member, Anne Whiteley, has passed.

Anne F. Whiteley MIDDLESEX — Anne F. Whiteley, it is with a heavy heart that we announce that Anne Whiteley of Middlesex, Vermont, passed away on January 26, 2026, after

07/30/2025

Can you help me win the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Readers' Choice Award? This is a big deal award. My bock, REAP THE WIND, was selected by the Judges as a 2025 Silver Falchion Award Judges’ Top Pick (basically, a semi-finalist). Now I'm up for a Readers' Choice award. All you have to do is click on the link, then scroll down to my book (about half way down the list), click on it, then scroll to the bottom and submit. That's it! THANKS!

Killer Nashville wants to know your favorite authors and their works! Authors, publicists, and publishers have submitted their favorites. Our Killer Nashville judges are busy looking at their choices for the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards. But we want to know what the readers think. Tell us...

07/08/2025

It was great to see classmates attending our 45th reunion last weekend. I wish I took more pictures, but hopefully other attendees have some more shots to post.

VLGS put together a great weekend for us. There were three great CLE courses offered on Friday. Our class dinner at SAAP Friday night was a lot of fun, and the food and entertainment on Saturday was terrific.

Attendees from the class included Gail Nichols, Barry Skidelsky, Mike Maronich, Jessie (Marshall) Roberts, Jack Tomarchio, Dennis Johnson, Priscilla (Bondi) Dube, David Descavage, Phil Meyer, Scott Cameron and a brief appearance by Harold “Duke” Eaton. 

06/25/2025

Class of 1980 Reunion this week in So Ro. Class dinner at SAAP Thai restaurant in Randolph Friday 6/27 at 7 pm. Still time to register!

06/19/2025

Alumni Weekend and our 45th class reunion June 27-29. Class dinner at SAAP in Randolph Friday June 27 - register today!

06/04/2025

Alumni Reunion June 27-28-29.

It's the 45th Reunion year for the Class of 1980. It won't be the same if you're not part of it!

Class dinner at SAAP in Randolph, VT on Friday noght, June 27. One of the great vErmont restaurants. PRofessor David Firestone will attend. We hope to see many of our classmates then!

TO register:

Join Swans in South Royalton, Vermont, this summer for an exciting weekend of events! All alumni are invited to attend, regardless of your graduation year, and we'll have special celebrations for class years ending in 0s and 5s. Please see below for helpful resources, and don't hesitate to contact u...

06/04/2025

https://vtdigger.org/2025/06/02/anonymous-donor-gives-vermont-law-and-graduate-school-10-million/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=db9bfb8ff6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_06_03_11_24&utm_source=VTDigger+Subscribers+and+Donors&utm_term=0_-db9bfb8ff6-405533001

A press release from the board of trustees did not indicate why the gift, which is the largest donation in the 52-year history of the school, was anonymous.

05/20/2025

Great podcast about VLGS.

South Royalton has something that no other Vermont town does: a law school.