December 18, 2020
As the year comes to a close, we reflect on all that 2020 was. It might not have been the year we expected, but as a community, we got through it. In anticipation of the New Year, here are the most popular blogs of 2020 based on readership. Enjoy!
1) David Versus Goliath
Kyle Tisdel JD’05 and his colleague took a seat at the large, oak counsel’s table in the federal courtroom in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The cavernous chamber made the two public interest attorneys feel small. So did the scene at the table for opposing counsel, where 15 attorneys jockeyed for space. They included lawyers from the U.S. Departments of Justice and Interior and a clutch of attorneys representing the oil and gas industry who had flown in from New York and Washington, D.C.
It was, Tisdel recalls of the 2015 court appearance, “a David and Goliath situation.” Read more »
2) Out of the Haze
In January 2019, four men were pulled over by police in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and found to be carrying nearly 20,000 pounds of what smelled like marijuana in the back of a big rig. The men claimed they were transporting industrial hemp, but the officers on the scene weren't taking any chances and subsequently booked them all into the Osage County Jail. Even Matthew L. Lyons JD'99, who went on to represent two of the men, was initially skeptical of their claim. Read more »
3) Top 5 Tips for LSAT Success
Professor Joe Brennan is a Professor of Law and Director of the Academic Success Program. He gives exclusive insight into how to be successful on the LSAT. Read more »
4) With Help from Environmental Advocacy Clinic, NY Community Stands Up to Polluters
Does filling a person’s body with toxic chemicals constitute injury?
That’s the question residents of Hoosick Falls, New York raised when they sought justice from the companies that contaminated their drinking water. Supported with an amicus brief from Vermont Law School’s Environmental Advocacy Clinic (EAC) and partners at Earthjustice, the community argued that the answer is yes—and on Tuesday, a court ruled in their favor. Read more »
5) Four Can't Miss Summer Courses
With courses taught by world-renowned visiting scholars and experts, Vermont Law School’s Summer Session is open to students from schools around the country. This summer the classes will move online due to the COVID-19 campus closure. But with 24 environmental law courses on deck, there is no shortage of exciting topics to choose from. Associate Dean and Professor Jenny Rushlow weighs in on four she’s especially excited about. Read more »