The Vermont Commission on Women will welcome two Vermont Law School students as interns to assist with updating its handbook, "The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont," during a summer internship program in the late Professor Cheryl Hanna’s memory.

As part of the internship, VLS students Maeve Callaghan ’16 and Arden Florian ’16 will write, research state and federal statutes, and work with experts in the field to update the handbook with recently passed laws.

Hanna, who passed away in July 2014, worked with VLS students to update the publication in 2011. The Commission on Women named the internship after her in tribute.

"Cheryl was a role model to many on the VLS campus and beyond, and we are pleased to see her legacy continue in the work of our mission-driven students," said Marc Mihaly, president and dean of Vermont Law School. "’The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont’ is an important resource for Vermonters seeking information on a variety of issues affecting women and their families. I am proud of Maeve and Arden for contributing to the publication, thereby making the legal system more accessible to our Vermont neighbors."

Since 1977, "The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont" has been a source of information for Vermont women, their families, and professionals who serve them. Written in plain and simple language, the handbook, although developed for women, covers issues affecting all Vermonters, such as marriage and divorce, adoption, wills and probate, health, employment and education, housing and public accommodations, violence, public assistance and government benefits, insurance, as well as many others. For more information about the handbook, visit women.vermont.gov.   

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The Vermont Commission on Women (VCW) is a nonpartisan state government commission established in 1964 working to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls. Sixteen volunteer commissioners and representatives from organizations concerned with women’s issues guide the VCW’s public education, coalition building, and advocacy efforts. VCW offers many services to the public, including a toll-free information and referral service at 800-881-1561 and many publications, including the handbook The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont, and has just launched the VT Equal Pay Compact, a voluntary pledge that employers sign to indicate their commitment to closing the gender wage gap in their workplace.​