Tickets Are Now Available for the Second Annual Justice Gala!
Hosted in partnership with the Vermont Bar Foundation, Vermont Legal Aid, and Legal Services Vermont, the Second Annual Justice Gala will be even bigger and better—bringing together leaders, advocates, attorneys, and supporters from across Vermont’s legal and justice community.
đź“… Thursday, November 5, 2026
đź“Ť Burlington Beer Company | Burlington, Vermont
Join us for an evening of music, great food, and meaningful connection as we celebrate the people and organizations working every day to expand access to justice for Vermonters.
Following a successful inaugural Justice Gala that welcomed more than 300 members of Vermont’s legal and broader community, this year’s event will bring together leaders from the legal, nonprofit, business, and civic sectors for an inspiring evening dedicated to advancing access to justice.
Across Vermont, individuals and families face legal challenges that affect their ability to remain housed, stay safe, access healthcare, and achieve financial stability. For many, navigating the legal system without legal assistance is overwhelming—and often impossible.
Civil legal services providers, advocates, and community organizations work every day to ensure Vermonters can access the legal help they need during some of life’s most difficult moments. Their work strengthens communities, protects fundamental rights, and helps create a more fair and accessible justice system for everyone.
The Justice Gala is an opportunity to come together in celebration of this important work while raising critical support for the organizations and advocates expanding access to justice across Vermont.
We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable evening in support of justice for all Vermonters.
Thank you to our Champion of Justice sponsor:
After completing your purchase, you will receive a payment receipt from Stripe via email within a few minutes. Your registration is confirmed once your payment has been successfully processed. Additional event information will be sent to all attendees closer to the event.
The Guen Gifford Award recognizes a member of the staff/former member at Legal Services Vermont or Vermont Legal Aid who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to providing free legal assistance to vulnerable and low-income Vermonters throughout their career.
The award honors the attorneys, paralegals, advocates, and supporting staff whose work makes Vermont’s civil legal services system possible. These individuals provide critical assistance to Vermonters facing some of the most consequential challenges of their lives, often working behind the scenes and without recognition. Their skill, compassion, and sustained dedication make a profound difference for individuals, families, and communities throughout Vermont.
The award is given in grateful memory of Guen Gifford, a staff attorney at Legal Services Vermont whose career exemplified a deep passion for public service and an unwavering commitment to making justice a reality for people who might otherwise be shut out of the legal system.
Nominations are due October 9th.
The Rich Cassidy Award recognizes a member of Vermont’s legal community whose career exemplifies exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to the legal profession and the people of Vermont. The award honors an individual who has strengthened Vermont’s legal community through professional leadership, mentorship, public and community service, advocacy, institution-building, or other meaningful contributions to the profession.
Recipients embody the belief that leadership in the law extends beyond individual practice. They use their experience, influence, and commitment to strengthen the profession, support their colleagues and communities, and advance a legal system that serves Vermonters with integrity and purpose.
The award honors the distinguished career of Rich Cassidy, whose decades of service were marked by leadership within the bar, advocacy on behalf of the profession and the public, and an enduring commitment to strengthening Vermont’s legal community.
Nominations are due October 9th.
The Sandra Baird Award recognizes a law firm, organization, business, or institution that has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to supporting and serving low-income, marginalized, and underserved Vermonters.
 The award celebrates those that have gone beyond their everyday work to use their resources, expertise, influence, and time in service of individuals and communities who too often face barriers to opportunity, support, and justice.
That commitment may take many forms, including pro bono and volunteer service, community partnerships, charitable support, advocacy, philanthropy, or sustained investment in organizations and initiatives serving Vermonters in need. At its heart, the award recognizes an organization that has made service to others a meaningful part of its identity and has demonstrated a willingness to step up when its community needs it.
The award honors the remarkable legacy of Sandy Baird, whose career and community involvement reflected an extraordinary commitment to serving others. Sandy provided countless hours of free legal assistance to Vermonters in need and, for many years, singlehandedly operated a free Saturday morning walk-in legal clinic at the Legal Services Vermont office. Her belief in showing up, giving back, and using one’s skills in service of others embodies the spirit this award seeks to recognize.
Nominations are due October 9th.
