Staff

The staff at Vermont Legal Aid brings impressive credentials and experience together with a deep commitment to making a difference in the lives of our clients to create a powerful force for justice in Vermont.

Burlington

Eric Avildsen, Executive Director

Devon Ayers, Testing Coordinator

Kate Bailey, Health Care Advocate

Rachel Batterson, HDLP Director

Annalee Beaulieu, Health Care Advocate

Emily Bens, Health Care Advocate

Michael Benvenuto, ELP Director

Laura Bierley, Attorney

Jim Brown, Chief Financial Officer

Sherrie Brunelle, Paralegal

Grace Cherouny, VISTA MLP Development Project

William R. Dysart, Attorney

Noura Eltabbakh, Attorney

Michael Fisher, Chief Health Care Advocate

Jennifer Fredette, Support Staff

Maria Gamache, Health Care Advocate

Laura Gans, Attorney

Ryan Gauthier, IT and Network Administrator

Olivia Graffeo-Cohen, Attorney

Erika Johnson, Attorney

Emily Kenyon, Poverty Law Fellow

David Koeninger, Deputy Director

Laurie Larson, Health Care Advocate

Zachary Lees, Attorney

Sean Londergan, State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Jeffrey Maier, Health Care Advocate

Mandy McDermott, Human Resources Administrator

Anson Montgomery, Sr. IT & Network Administrator

Alicia Moyer, Ombudsman

Kelly Murphy Moreton, MAP Case Coordinator

Jesse Norford, Support Staff

Mairead O'Reilly, Attorney

Barbara Prine, Attorney

Jessica Radbord, Attorney

Emma Riggs, Health Care Advocate

Alicia Roderigue, Health Care Communications Coordinator

Rachel Seelig, Attorney

Olivia Sharrow, Health Care Advocate

Marjorie Stinchcombe, Attorney

Brianna Sturgeon, Senior Accountant

Leslie Thayer, HR/Accounting

Rebecca Wells, Accounting Assistant

Betsy Whyte, Executive Assistant

Wendy Xu, Attorney

Montpelier

Berry Carroll, Support Staff

Michelle Carter, Ombudsman

Maguire Curran, Attorney

Carolyn Jarrett, Attorney

Kaili Kuiper, Attorney

Jean Murray, Attorney

Cammie Naylor, Attorney

Sandy Paritz, PLP Director

Grace Pazdan, Attorney

Rebecca Plummer, Attorney

Eric Schultheis, Attorney

Montpelier - Mental Health Law Project

Élène Surdel, Office Manager

Wendy Hoffman, Attorney

Jack McCullough, Director

Gail Sophrin, Attorney

Rutland

Charles Becker, Attorney

Nancy Breiden, DLP Director

Jane Callahan, Paralegal

Jane Munroe, Ombudsman

Maureen O'Reilly, Attorney

Jennifer Philo, Support Staff

Rebecca Smith, Attorney

Springfield

Katrina Boemig, Ombudsman

Leah Burdick, Attorney

Sara Kagle, Attorney

Leslie Kreek, Paralegal

Jeannette Lachapelle, Support Staff

Brigid Lynch, Attorney

Marilyn Mahusky, Attorney

St. Johnsbury

Stephanie Berube, Support Staff

Maryellen Griffin, Attorney

Alice Harter, Ombudsman

Kelli Kazmarski, Attorney

Wendy Morgan, Attorney

News

Warrant Clinic for Chittenden County

Do you think you may have an arrest warrant for a Chittenden County court case?

The Chittenden County Public Defender’s Office will partner with the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office and Vermont Legal Aid to host a warrant clinic from now until June 25, 2021, to help Vermonters clear up arrest warrants and re-connect them with criminal court dates.

During the pandemic, court closures, sickness, changes in court dates and other hardships related to COVID-19 created confusion over court dates. As a result, arrest warrants have been issued. When defendants have an outstanding arrest warrant, interactions with law enforcement, an arrest, and a night in jail could be the end result. Walking into the courthouse to check on an arrest warrant and clear it up has been more complicated during pandemic-related court closures.

The free clinic will focus on helping people clear up outstanding warrants and get a new court date. It will be open to the public by telephone appointment through June 25. If you have questions about your arrest warrant status or you want to sign up for the clinic, contact Grace at Vermont Legal Aid at 802-503-0005 ext. 255.

Statement on April 21 about Conviction for Murder of George Floyd

Yesterday’s verdict did not bring justice for all the Black and Brown lives that have been lost due to police violence and systemic racism. However, it is cause for hope that, thanks to the courage of the Floyd family, the fortitude of the jurors, the skill and dedication of the team of attorneys assembled by Attorney General Ellison, and the persistence of all those who have raised their voices in protest in the streets, we may have taken a first step toward greater accountability in our policing practices, and that we can through continued efforts, in the words of Amanda Gorman, “rebuild, reconcile and recover.” With this hope in mind, we at Vermont Legal Aid re-dedicate ourselves today to calling out racism when we see it — in our country, in our state, and in our own organization— and to dismantling white supremacy in Vermont.

VLA Response to Statement by VT APIDA for Black Lives

In posting the statement from the VT APIDA for Black Lives Group, Vermont Legal Aid humbly acknowledges that we are among those who are called out and called upon to act by it. We accept that we have been too quiet and too slow to act and vow to change. We see you; we hear you; you are vital members of our communities, and we will not ignore what has been happening. We denounce the attacks, hate crimes, and murders against the Asian American community. As members of a law firm, we acknowledge with some shame the hesitancy of lawyers and members of the legal community around the country to call the Atlanta killings a hate crime. We vow to call out racism when we see it: in our country, in our state, and in our own organization. We publicly announce our support for H.397, H. 245, H.428, H. 320, H.329, and H.210 and commit ourselves and our organization to dismantling white supremacy in Vermont. Read the letter from the VT APIDA for Black Lives Group.

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