Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Fall 2014, Vol. 40, No. 3 | Page 12

Vermont Bar Foundation 2013/2014 ATJ Campaign

Hon. J. Garvan Murtha and Nicole Y.
Murtha
Salmon & Nostrand
Diane S. Shamas
Alexander Shriver
James A. Valente
Hon. John P. Wesley
Windham County Bar Association
-in memory of Doug Wilson

WINDSOR
Anonymous
Alexander Banks
Margaret Barry
Patricia G. Benelli
Susan M. Buckholz, P.C.
Dakin & Benelli, P.C.
Davis Steadman & Ford
Stephen D. Ellis
Eric Goldwarg
John C. Holme, Jr.
Hershenson Carter Scott & McGee
Robert Manby
- in memory of Frank Berk
James C. and Natalia E. May
Scott McGee
Marc Mihaly
Laura Murphy
Obuchowski & Emens-Butler, P.C.
Brian Porto
Barbara Rodgers
Jan Sensenich
Jacob Speidel
Hon. Mary Miles Teachout and Peter
Teachout
Vitt Brannen & Loftus, PLC
Tom Wright
Maryann Zavez

OUT OF STATE
Christopher M. Bennett
Paul Benoit
Joyce Brenner
Decato Law Office
Pamela P. Little
D. Michael and Marcia Mathes
- in honor of Ralph A. Foote
David C. Stewart
Holly Wheeler
Elizabeth Woodcock

Bankers and Lawyers Help the
Needy Through the IOLTA Program
Did you know that Vermont financial institutions play an important role in helping a battered woman get protective court
orders to shield herself and her children
from a violent partner? Banks and credit
unions also have helped to provide legal
services and education to elders and the
disabled, among others. All this happens
because of a partnership between Vermont’s financial institutions and the Vermont Bar Foundation. This partnership,
known as the “Interest on Lawyers’ Trust
Account” Program (IOLTA), began in 1984
when the Vermont Supreme Court enacted rules establishing the Program. IOLTA is
an unique and innovative way to increase
access to justice for those living in poverty
and to improve our justice system without
taxing the public, at no cost to lawyers or
their clients, and all through the community service of attorneys and bankers.
The IOLTA Program makes it possible to
harness the accumulated interest in lawyer
trust accounts for charitable purposes. In
Vermont, the funds collected through the
IOLTA Program are distributed by the Vermont Bar Foundation. (“Foundation”) Financial institutions offer IOLTA accounts to
participating lawyers, track the interest on
those trust accounts, and remit that interest to the IOLTA Program, which is administered by the Foundation. Historically, the
Foundation has awarded more than 90% of
the IOLTA funds to organizations providing
civil legal services to low-income citizens.
In 2014, the Foundation awarded almost
$1 million to 14 different organizations:
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Burlington College
Have Justice-Will Travel
Legal Services Law Line of VT
Migrant Justice
Project Against Violent Encounters
The Community Restorative Justice
Center
VT Bar Association’s Legal Access Coordinator & Legal Assistance Projects
VT Immigration and Asylum Advocates
VLS- So. Royalton Legal Clinic
Vermont Legal Aid, Inc.
Voices Against Violence
Women Helping Battered Women
Women’s Freedom Center
WomenSafe

TA leadership program, which recognizes
the financial institutions offering a higher
net yield as their part in advancing access
to justice for Vermonters in their communities. Currently there are nine leadership financial institutions. The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following institutions:
Gold Level (2.00% and tied to a market
indicator):
• Brattleboro Savings and Loan
• Mascoma Savings Bank
• New England Federal Credit Union
• Passumpsic Savings Bank
• The Bank of Bennington
• VSECU
Silver Level (1.50%):
• Merchants Bank
• NorthCountry
• People’s United Bank
The legal community is well-aware of
the key role that banks and credit unions
play as community partners in the Program and seek out those who participate.
And, the President of Vermont Bankers Association has been an active participant,
first as a member of the Grants Committee, and now as Treasurer on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Foundation and its members wish
to thank the Vermont Bankers Association
for its strong and continued involvement in
the IOLTA Program. It is through this partnership that X[