Living in Vermont/ Practicing Law in Vermont

[OlympiaGirl]

Hi All,
I'm a 30 year old third year law student living in the NY metro area, and i'm strongly considering taking the Vt bar and moving up there.

Do any lawyers on here have any advice for me? I've been focused mainly on family law, and am interested in moving to Rutland.

Any thoughts/ advice in general about moving to Vermont? Should I look elsewhere than Rutland? Is it difficult to meet new people?

Jen

[junior]

You're coming to K-Zone for advice on a life altering decision?

[Nevada West]

You're coming to K-Zone for advice on a life altering decision?

Code 4 indeed.

[Bubba]

Hopefully KZone is only one of many sources of information.

As for living in VT, I've been here for 9 years in Killington and love living here. I'm not sure I'd say the same if I was living in Rutland. You might want to check out the Burlington area as it has a lot more to offer culturally and socially and it's still close enough to skiing with Stowe about 45 minutes away.

[rogman]

I suspect your career at Killington would consist of providing legal representation for the buyers or sellers of real-estate and defending people against DUI's. Might as well throw in a couple of wills, too. However, since you're talking Rutland, that's a bit different: it's a poorer community with a larger population. It is apparently the heroin capital of Vermont, so drug traffickers should provide you with a steady work, but probably not steady income. There's an occasional murder (last was 2008?), and a half dozen rapes or so a year, if your lucky enough to get to defend one of them. More likely, you'll have to settle for defending petty thieves, but since there's roughly 2 burglaries a day, it could be a volume business. Perhaps your best bet is a job in the DA's office, but it probably won't pay enough to even settle your loans.

[Ski_the_Moguls]

A friend of mine moved to Burlington from CT about a decade ago. Bolton is closest. Then you have Stowe, Smuggs, MRG & Sugarbush within an hour drive. Finally, his favorite is Jay about 1.5 hours away. Very nice big town, or little city. Three colleges to keep it young and active. He loves it, and has been making me jealous ever since. Definitely check it out before you decide.

[Ski_the_Moguls]

I suspect your career at Killington would consist of providing legal representation for the buyers or sellers of real-estate and defending people against DUI's. Might as well throw in a couple of wills, too. However, since you're talking Rutland, that's a bit different: it's a poorer community with a larger population. It is apparently the heroin capital of Vermont, so drug traffickers should provide you with a steady work, but probably not steady income. There's an occasional murder (last was 2008?), and a half dozen rapes or so a year, if your lucky enough to get to defend one of them. More likely, you'll have to settle for defending petty thieves, but since there's roughly 2 burglaries a day, it could be a volume business. Perhaps your best bet is a job in the DA's office, but it probably won't pay enough to even settle your loans.

Don't sugar coat it Rogman, tell it to her straight!
Family Law? Isn't that more about divorces, child custody and stuff like that.

[OlympiaGirl]

Family Law? Isn't that more about divorces, child custody and stuff like that.

Moguls, that is correct. I am focusing mostly on divorce and custody. I guess I didn't realize how depressed Rutland is, and I am going to start looking more into burlington.

How difficult are the winters up there? I know its one thing to come up to Killington every other weekend to ski, but how is it to live?

[Mister Moose]

I am focusing mostly on divorce and custody. I guess I didn't realize how depressed Rutland is, and I am going to start looking more into burlington.

How difficult are the winters up there? I know its one thing to come up to Killington every other weekend to ski, but how is it to live?

I would think in any Vermont town short of Burlington, and perhaps even there, you will need to practice a broader range of law that you expect.

And if you need to ask how 'difficult' the winters are, I think you will have some serious adjusting to do. Mostly dealing with 'difficult' is about attitude. After that is skill. The fact that you are asking implies a lack of total enthusiasm at the prospect of living in the mountains.

[rogman]

Family Law? Isn't that more about divorces, child custody and stuff like that.

Moguls, that is correct. I am focusing mostly on divorce and custody. I guess I didn't realize how depressed Rutland is, and I am going to start looking more into burlington.

How difficult are the winters up there? I know its one thing to come up to Killington every other weekend to ski, but how is it to live?

Stowe is affluent, and has a strong summer season. You might look there. And seriously, there are some nice sections of Rutland. Are you looking to open your own practice or join an existing firm?

[icedtea]

I would suggest becoming an architect...

[OlympiaGirl]

I would think in any Vermont town short of Burlington, and perhaps even there, you will need to practice a broader range of law that you expect.

And if you need to ask how 'difficult' the winters are, I think you will have some serious adjusting to do. Mostly dealing with 'difficult' is about attitude. After that is skill. The fact that you are asking implies a lack of total enthusiasm at the prospect of living in the mountains.

Excuse me Moose? I believe you are fairly mistaken. What you are prematurely calling a "total lack of enthusiasm" is also known as realism. I'm very excited about the prospect of moving to Vermont but I also know that winters are very different in New York City than they are up there. I drive a prius. I don't even know if that's a practical car up there. I don't appreciate your unwarranted negativity when I'm asking an innocent and necessary question.

I'm looking to join an existing firm. And while I have focused on family law, I've also studied wills and estates and real estate which rounds things out quite nicely, I hope.

[tt431]

If I had the chance to make a major move to satisfy my ski obsession, I would probably contemplate moving out west or Europe. I'm sure you have your own reasons to stay in the east coast. If I had to do that, I would probably try to stay some place slope side in Killington or one of the big resorts in Vermont. Otherwise if I had to live in a city because of my job, I would choose Burlington as other people already recommended.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. See you on the slopes.

[Coydog]

See Coming to Vermont for an old but probably still relevant little article about moving to Vermont to practice law.

Don't come to Vermont for the money and you probably won't want to drive the Prius to the mountain.

[junior]

I am focusing mostly on divorce and custody. I guess I didn't realize how depressed Rutland is, and I am going to start looking more into burlington.

How difficult are the winters up there? I know its one thing to come up to Killington every other weekend to ski, but how is it to live?

I would think in any Vermont town short of Burlington, and perhaps even there, you will need to practice a broader range of law that you expect.

And if you need to ask how 'difficult' the winters are, I think you will have some serious adjusting to do. Mostly dealing with 'difficult' is about attitude. After that is skill. The fact that you are asking implies a lack of total enthusiasm at the prospect of living in the mountains.

Be careful Moose. She may pass the bar and then sue you for harassment.