What do students get out of a semester working with the SBL Clinic?

The Small Business Law Clinic (SBL Clinic) is a hybrid experiential option that allows students to explore business law while meeting the needs of Vermont business communities. Students provide legal education and assistance to small business owners and organizations. They create helpful legal guides, and take the lead in educating entrepreneurs on myriad legal issues. They contribute to statewide public panels on relevant legal topics. And, students in a field placement work with mentoring attorneys and provide direct services to small businesses in the community. We work with JD and Masters students both, and offer pro bono hours for those who require them for their licensure. Business experience and exposure to business law topics is preferred, but may not be necessary.

Our students leave the Clinic with general practice experience serving small businesses, including:

Broad knowledge of many legal topics

Experience in direct client work, including learning how to lead when educating clients and the public on legal topics

Practice issue spotting on many bar-tested topics, including contracts, torts, corporations, real property, and wills, trusts, and estates

Experience assessing and adapting to individual client needs and knowledge, and providing layperson explanations for many different legal topics

A strong start to a professional network in Vermont and the New England region, including connecting with the Vermont Bar Association, the Vermont Small Business Development Center, and several other community partners supporting small businesses in Vermont

Our Field Placement Mentors

Mentoring attorneys take our students under their wing part-time or full-time in a field placement that resembles a traditional apprenticeship. Students are embedded in the attorneys' practice, and are expected to contribute to the work of the practice and provide direct services to the mentor's clients. Mentoring attorneys are expected to provide opportunities for the student to observe and participate in all aspects of their work. They may also take referrals from VLSell Clinic clients to provide direct services, either paid at a low bono rate or pro bono with the student's assistance.

Students are enrolled in an academic course associated with their Clinic work, and receive credit for their field placement work toward their law degree. Their coursework requires various meetings with and input from the mentoring attorney.

Courses, Credits, Options, and Applications

The SBL Clinic's curriculum combines clinical and field placement educational opportunities, and features three distinct courses: Introduction to Start Up Law, SBL Clinic, and Advanced SBL Clinic. The Clinic provides anywhere between 3-12 credit options. Applications are submitted through the Common Application process for VLGS clinics.

Introduction to Start Up Law

A lecture and simulation course that provides a survey of business law taught by professors, practicing attorneys, and judges. Prerequisite for SBL Clinic, but may be waived if a student has taken Corporations, Intellectual Property, Securities, or Social Enterprise Law.

SBL Clinic

An experiential course (available for anywhere between 3-12 credits) that offers a hybrid clinical/field placement experience and features live client work, public presentations, and community and small business education. Students must apply by August 1 (for Fall) or November 1 (for Spring) if they wish to pursue a field placement as part of their credits.

Advanced SBL Clinic

An advanced option for students wishing to stay on for a second semester, work in a field placement, serve as mentors for first-semester clinicians, and take the lead on Clinic events and educational consults. Students should apply by August 1 (for Fall), November 1 (for Spring), or April 1 (for Summer), if they wish to pursue a field placement as part of their credits.

Applications

Applications to work with the SBL Clinic in Fall or Spring will be submitted primarily through the Common Application process. The Fall '24 round of the Common Application (for Spring '25 and Summer '25) is closed. It will reopen during the Spring semester for Summer and Fall '25, if there are any spots available in the Clinic.

Students interested in discussing the SBL Clinic or applying outside of the Common Application process may write to us at sblc@vermontlaw.edu, or to the Director, Nicole Killoran, at nakilloran@vermontlaw.edu.