The Firm Welcomes Intern Jill Perras
Starting on March 1, Jill Perras began an internship with the firm. She has fifteen years of experience as a legal administrative assistant, including three years with Mark’s former firm, and is returning to the legal profession after eight years of raising her children and running her own business. Jill's internship is a component of Duke University’s paralegal certificate program in which she is enrolled.
Free Legal Clinic
The next free legal clinic at First Congregational Church of Burlington will be held on Sunday, March 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Both Mark and Rob regularly provide legal services at these monthly clinics. They welcome any type of legal inquiry and primarily provide services to clients who would otherwise have extreme difficulty in obtaining access to justice.
Andy Montroll
Andy serves as Chair of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and was highlighted in the “Board Member Spotlights” in the RPC’s February newsletter. Regarding the RPC, Andy says he enjoys helping to develop the vision for our region’s future and then helping to carry out that vision. He also enjoys working with such a great staff at the RPC and with the representatives from all of the other member municipalities and partners. Read Andy’s complete “Spotlight” here.
Rob Backus
Rob is supervising our new intern, Elias Dean, who is a junior at Saint Michael’s College, majoring in political science. Elias is assisting Rob with his legal research and accompanying Rob to court observe various proceedings.
Rob has had a series of successful outcomes in cases involving traffic tickets, especially CDL licenses. Rob continues to increase the number of his professional licensing cases and is helping clients in a variety of licensed professions, including pharmacy and education.
Mark Oettinger
In January Mark traveled to New York City to meet with Mitra Vasisht, former Secretary of State of India and India’s former ambassador to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. They discussed the establishment of the World Court of Human Rights through the United Nations’ Third Committee process. Mark serves as Director of the World Court of Human Rights Development Project and Ambassador Vasisht currently serves as Senior Adviser to the United Nations.
Mark continues to provide free initial consultations on import, export, and inbound/outbound foreign investments as Vermont’s Export Legal Network (ELAN) representative.
Mark and our intern, Puspa Luitel, recently attended a Federal Defender brown-bag presentation regarding the recent Supreme Court case of Johnson v. United States, which limits the scope of “violent felonies” in the context of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA).
Michelle Mraz
In February Michelle celebrated two years as office manager and paralegal with Montroll, Backus & Oettinger. She continues to find a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment assisting our attorneys and their clients. “This is a wonderful office environment and my co-workers are the best I could ask for,” she remarked at a recent celebratory staff meeting.