The Center for Justice Reform Clinic at VLGS
Overview and Impact
The Center for Justice Reform at VLGS exists to transform the ways communities engage with each other, respond to harm, and pursue justice. We advance this mission by empowering law and graduate students to think restoratively while equipping them with knowledge and skills to be agents of change. A new pillar of the Center for Justice Reform is the groundbreaking Center for Justice Reform Clinic (“CJRC”), which supports JD and master’s students for three semesters per academic year to repair harms caused by the punitive criminal and immigration legal systems.
As Vermont’s only provider of immigration removal defense legal services, the CJRC empowers students to develop professional habits and essential advocacy skills through judicial, administrative, and legislative advocacy; survivor-centered legal services; partner-driven movement lawyering; and restorative practices. Since its formation in 2003, CJRC (formerly Vermont Immigrant Assistance) has supported student clinicians to directly serve hundreds of noncitizens hailing from over 80 countries and living across all 14 of Vermont’s counties. CJRC’s services help noncitizens and their families more fully enjoy their rights and protections under federal and state law, including safety from deportation.
CJRC performs the majority of its client work in Burlington, Vermont, at the VLGS Burlington office in order to provide easy access for clients. CJRC also has space on the VLGS campus in South Royalton to ensure as many students as possible have access to classes and high-quality training in essential advocacy skills.
Projects
In addition to offering robust direct immigration legal services (detailed below in “Intake Guidelines”), CJRC regularly engages in the following work and projects:
- Criminal Record Expungement and Sealing Project: Student clinicians assist individuals in sealing and/or expunging their criminal convictions under attorney supervision, including preparing petitions for submission.
- Community Education and Engagement: CJRC offers trainings and community education on justice reform alternatives for Vermont communities, law enforcement, private attorneys, law students, and community justice organizations. CJRC also delivers know-your-rights, capacity building, and Continuing Legal Education training to communities, advocates, lawmakers, and leaders statewide.
- Restorative Pardons Project (Coming Fall 2025): CJRC is partnering closely with founding members of the Center for Justice Reform to bring this project to fruition. The project will include voluntary opportunities for persons harmed by someone seeking clemency to participate in a “victim-offender dialogue.” Petitions sought will include a restorative reintegration process made up of trained community members and members of law enforcement. Noncitizens may be assisted in seeking post-conviction relief or are challenging removal orders or underlying convictions.
Intake Guidelines
Every request to CJRC for individualized immigration advice should be directed to our callback line at 802-540-0398 or at CJRClinic@vermontlaw.edu for an initial eligibility screen, conflicts check, and any appropriate referrals. Individuals will then either be directed to one of our upcoming consultation clinics or referred out.
CJRC responds to new callers during residential fall, spring, and summer classes only when staffing capacity allows.
Generally, CJRC offers humanitarian immigration legal services to individuals who live anywhere in the state of Vermont, who cannot afford private counsel, and for whom at least one of the following is true:
- People in removal proceedings, under immigration supervision, or who have been ordered removed, and who want to understand their immigration posture and options.
- Individuals who have suffered serious harm in their country of origin; who want to seek asylum; or who fear returning to their country of origin.
- Survivors of harms or victims of crimes in the U.S. including, but not limited to, forced labor or sex, intimate partner or family violence, and other attempted or completed violent crime.
- Young people who have any questions about their immigration status or proof of their status or U.S. citizenship.
- Immigrants facing criminal charges who want immigration advice on how to safely resolve their criminal or immigration proceedings.
- Immigrants with criminal histories or other past legal troubles who have questions about pursuing or protecting their immigration status, including U.S. citizenship.
- Generalized immigration advice and support, including work authorization applications, renewals, etc.
CJRC also offers legal services and assistance to a growing list of justice involved people, including:
- Individuals seeking assistance with pre-conviction or pre-sentencing mitigation reports.
- Individuals seeking to expunge a previous conviction.
- Individuals seeking pardons, clemency, and post-conviction relief.
- And more.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Center for Justice Reform Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School and how we might assist you, you are welcome to contact us at the following:
Center for Justice Reform Clinic at Vermont Law School:
Phone: 802-540-0398
Email: CJRClinic@vermontlaw.edu
Fax: 888-713-4532
Or through Mail:
Center for Justice Reform Clinic
P.O. Box 1404, Elmwood Ave, Burlington, VT 05402
*PLEASE NOTE: Effective July 1, 2024, our immigration intake is closed as we have reached capacity.*
Resources
If you need legal help, here is contact information for some of our recommended partners:
- Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (asylum): info@vaapvt.org
- Association of Africans Living in Vermont (affirmative asylum and other immigration help): 802-985-3106 and info@aalv-vt.org
- U.S. Committee for Refugee and Immigrant Services (affirmative asylum, TPS, other immigration legal help): 802-655-1963
- Prisoner’s Rights Office (pre- and post-conviction assistance): 802-828-3194
- Vermont Network to End Domestic Violence (intimate partner/gender-based violence help): 802-223-1302 and info@vtnetwork.org
- Vermont Legal Aid/Legal Services Vermont (all other legal help): 800-889-2047 or vtlawhelp.org
Who We Are
Brett Stokes
- Assistant Professor of Law
- Director, Center for Justice Reform Clinic
Osvaldo Viera Martiatu
- Office Manager, Center for Justice Reform Clinic (Burlington Office)
