U.S.News & World Report has released its rankings for the Best Law Schools for 2015, and has rated Vermont Law School as the No. 1 environmental law school in the nation for an unprecedented sixth consecutive year.
In addition, U.S.News ranked Vermont Law No. 18 nationally for clinical training. This category recognizes the best law schools for providing “hands-on experience.”
“We are extremely proud and humbled by this ranking as the number one school for environmental law,” said President and Dean Marc Mihaly. “I applaud our faculty, students, staff, and alumni who use the power of the law to make a difference in their communities and the world. This ranking reflects their unwavering commitment.”
For the past 24 years, Vermont Law School has been ranked No. 1 for a total of 17 years and never ranked lower than No. 2. This year, Vermont Law shares the No. 1 position with Lewis & Clark Law School, with whom it shared the top ranking in 1996.
“Vermont Law uniquely provides students with more environmental law classes and faculty than any other law school, and we’re located in a state that remains at the forefront of green policies,” said Associate Dean Melissa Scanlan, director of the Environmental Law Center. “Climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water, land use, or the rapidly growing Asian Pacific region—in each of these areas and more, we have incredible faculty, courses, and research to offer students.”
Mihaly also congratulated faculty and students for being nationally ranked in clinical training. “Vermont Law has been at the forefront of clinical education since our founding,” he said. “We believe that an excellent legal education requires engagement in what lawyers do.”
“Vermont Law offers five different ways for students to learn by doing,” said Professor Margaret Barry, associate dean for Clinical and Experiential Programs. “These include four in-house clinics, four external clinics, a wide array of externships (including Semesters-In-Practice), the General Practice Program, and opportunities in our research centers and institutes. There is something here for everyone.”