Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS) is thrilled to share that Nick Glover JD’25 has been selected by the American Constitution Society (ACS) as one of its 2025 Next Generation Leaders (NGL). Nick is one of just 31 future progressive legal professionals across the country chosen for this distinct honor. Read the full press release here.
The American Constitution Society, a non-profit, non-partisan legal organization, supports and advocates for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of the Constitution, strengthens democratic legitimacy, upholds the rule of law, and realizes the promise of equality for all. Since 2007, their Next Generation Leaders program has identified and provided support to recent or forthcoming law school graduates who demonstrate special leadership in their work with ACS student chapters, and who have the interest, skills, and ability to remain active members of the ACS community.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Nick attended Bates College in Maine for his undergraduate degree and was a four-year starter on the men’s tennis team. After graduation, he returned to Austin and worked at a law firm. He elected to attend VLGS for his legal education, crediting the decision to the caliber of our faculty, as well as its proximity to family in the area. He will graduate this May as a member of the class of 2025.
Nick established the first chapter of ACS at VLGS last year, having made a connection with a former chapter president during his work with the Office of the Maine Attorney General during his 1L summer. After confirming his understanding of the process and expectations, working with individuals from the ACS team, and laying the foundations to form an executive board, Nick and his peers proposed the addition of a chapter to the VLGS Student Bar Association. Once they had received approval for the new student group, they hit the ground running. Since its start, the VLGS chapter has held frequent well-attended events.
“I just flat out love constitutional law,” Nick said. His curiosity initially began during his undergraduate studies and has continued through his time at VLGS: “By 2L, I started reading legal scholarship by renowned professors of all philosophical stripes, including, among others, Will Baude, Cass Sunstein, Steve Sachs, and Dan Epps, whenever I could.” Nick also held a constitutional law teaching assistantship, which offered a chance to further explore the subject.
“Nick has been a dedicated ACS member and enthusiastic student of constitutional law. He is sharp, hardworking, and will be a terrific leader,” said Professor Anna Connolly, who contributed a letter of recommendation to Nick’s NGL application. “We are proud of Nick for this well-deserved accomplishment and are excited to see him grow and thrive in this new role.”
We asked Nick to share his thoughts on this achievement, the American Constitution Society chapter’s presence at VLGS, and his plans after his nearing graduation. Read more below. Congratulations, Nick!
VLGS: You’ve just been named an ACS Next Generation Leader. What does it mean to you to be recognized in such a meaningful way?
NG: I consider it a great honor to be selected as a Next Generation Leader by ACS, a nationally recognized legal organization. It is nice that the hard work and events that our chapter has put on this academic year have not gone unnoticed. I see this recognition as one bearing both great honor and responsibility.
As you reflect on bringing an ACS chapter to VLGS and serving as Co-Chair, what are some of the things you are most proud of?
NG: Individually, two things stick out: the interest in our events and the quality of speakers we had and have secured in just our first year on campus.
The first point is shown by the truly excellent attendance we have had at each event. Attendance has not been limited to students; faculty and alumni have also attended our events.
For the second point, our speakers have included excellent professors, some of the brightest practitioners in Vermont, and even the Solicitor General of Vermont, Jonathan Rose. For our final event this semester, Judge Geoffrey Crawford of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont is going to be one of our speakers. This is a testament to the ACS’s reach. Overall, each event has been an unqualified success, and it has been a rewarding experience to both be a part of and now look back on.
In terms of group accomplishments, I am most proud of how our chapter’s executive board members work together. We each put significant time into our events and general body meetings, despite all of us being busy with Vermont Law Review, Moot Court competitions, externships, and so on. I cannot speak for the others, but I was unaware of how busy it can be to have a role in a student group! But because we are a cohesive unit, things have been more than manageable.
What are your hopes for VLGS’s ACS chapter in the future?
NG: First, I hope that our chapter becomes a fixture among student groups on campus. I think if you asked law students what their favorite class is, or at least one they find interesting, many would gravitate towards constitutional law. And for good reason—constitutional law is a field that affects every individual and is, I feel, endlessly fascinating. There will always be individuals interested in a group like ACS—one that discusses and debates various jurisprudential theories, cases, legal scholarship, and difficult constitutional questions. Thus, I hope VLGS has a robust ACS chapter for years to come.
Second, I hope that ACS continues to put on events that are timely, thought-provoking, and filled with intellectual curiosity. In our first year on campus, we have had events on a variety of topics: (1) the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause and City of Grants Pass v. Johnson; (2) the ramifications of Loper Bright; (3) gun rights at both the state and federal level and the evolving Second Amendment jurisprudence; (4) TikTok and the First Amendment; and (5) our final event on April 9 centers around the origins of the United States Constitution. There are plenty of interesting constitutional questions that our chapter can discuss in the future. After graduation, I look forward to following the school’s chapter and seeing what areas and questions they choose to explore.
The Next Generation Leaders program offers many benefits. What are you most looking forward to as part of this special ACS network?
NG: I think the thing I am most looking forward to is simply being able to access this robust national network. I experienced this first-hand when I attended the ACS National Convention in Atlanta last summer, and I have seen it consistently since. Everyone in the national organization has been wonderfully supportive. I am looking forward to continuing my connection with those in ACS and doing what I can to eventually pay it forward.
As a 3L, commencement is quickly approaching. What are your post-graduation plans?
NG: After studying for and taking the Bar, I will clerk at the New Hampshire Superior Court starting in mid-August!
Is there anything else you want to share?
NG: I hope that having a student awarded as an ACS Next Generation Leader can become an annual occurrence at VLGS!
