Paul S. Gillies

Paul S. Gillies is an attorney at Tarrant, Gillies & Shems in Montpelier, Vermont. His civil practice includes municipal law, zoning and land use, property matters, trial work, and appeals. He has a particular interest in old roads, boundaries, rights-of-way, and other easements. His work often concerns the relationship between legal rights and historical records, where understanding earlier decisions or land arrangements can be important to a present dispute.

Gillies earned a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 1978. He received an M.A. in English from the University of Vermont in 1975 and a B.A. in English from Case-Western Reserve University in 1970. He was admitted in Vermont in 1979. His academic background supports close reading and clear writing, skills relevant to interpreting statutes, property documents, historical materials, and the record in litigation.

Gillies joined the firm in January 1993 after serving for 12 years as Vermont’s Deputy Secretary of State. His practice includes civil proceedings involving municipalities, land use, and property rights, together with appellate advocacy. His background in public administration adds context to questions about government authority and local responsibilities. In property matters, his interest in Vermont legal history complements the examination of boundaries, roads, and access arrangements.

Paul S. Gillies has written extensively on Vermont legal history, including Uncommon Law, Ancient Roads, and Other Ruminations on Vermont Legal History and The Law of the Hills. His public service includes roles with the Vermont Judicial History Society and the Town of Berlin. His practice brings legal analysis and historical inquiry together, helping clients examine the records, public decisions, and property relationships that bear on their current legal questions.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Law Offices of Tarrant, Gillies & Shems
• Member, Vermont Bar Association
• Chair, Vermont Judicial History Society (1993-Present)
• Chair, Vermont Institute for Government (1993-2015)
• Chair and member, Berlin Selectboard (1993-1999)
• Board Member, Vermont Historical Society (1995-2001)
• Moderator, Town and Town School District of Berlin (2003-Present)
• Honorary member, Vermont Clerks and Treasurers Association
• Honorary member, Vermont Surveyors Association

Licensed State

• Vermont

Education

• University of Maine School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Vermont
  Master of Arts (MA) in English
• Case-Western Reserve University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English

Awards & Badges