Richard Bothfeld
Richard Bothfeld’s practice over the past 30 years has focused on criminal defense in federal and state courts, civil litigation and family law, including divorces, paternity and juvenile matters. Rick has had the opportunity during his 30 year practice to represent clients in nearly 40 jury trials, both criminal and civil, and has handled appeals in the United States Supreme Court, Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the Vermont Supreme Court.
Rick graduated from the University of Vermont in 1976 and clerked for the Vermont bar with a small, distinguished litigation firm in Burlington. Upon admission to the bar in 1984, Rick immediately began a busy criminal and civil trial practice. In 1988 Rick joined an existing real estate law practice as their litigation partner where he practiced for three years before forming his own firm in 1991. After meeting Debbie Volk in a federal detention cell, where they were each representing alleged criminal co-defendants, Rick’s solo practice became Bothfeld & Volk, PC in 1995.
Rick is a long-standing member of the federal court CJA panel, representing indigent defendants in federal court criminal proceedings. He also volunteers as a guardian ad litem for minors in Chittenden County Family Court proceedings, and has served as an acting judge in the Chittenden County District Court and Small Claims Court.
Deborah P. Volk
Deborah P. Volk’s practice encompasses all aspects of immigration and nationality issues. She represents people all over the world and in many different parts of the United States. Debbie is an internationally renowned authority who has been practicing immigration law for close to 30 years, tirelessly advocating for the rights of her clients. Her expertise is in her ability to understand her clients’ personal compelling histories and present their cases to the United States immigration authorities, with positive results.
Debbie is active in her community, donating her time and skill to advise governmental agencies, elected state and federal representatives, and students and faculty members at local universities and colleges. She is a long-standing expert consultant to attorneys and judges both in the United States and abroad. Debbie was appointed by the Vermont Bar Association to serve on the Human Trafficking Task Force to draft Vermont’s anti-human trafficking law, and she is a member of Attorney General T.J. Donovan's Immigration Task Force to advise on immigration matters effecting Vermont. Debbie has contributed her time serving as Vice President and Board Member of Give Way to Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping survivors of human trafficking. Debbie has addressed Members of Parliament, justice officials, members of the judiciary and other government policy-makers at the Canadian National Forum on Criminal Records. She has been a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1990.
Debbie serves a range of clients including spouses, children and fiancés of U.S. citizens, spouses and children of permanent residents, applicants for U.S. citizenship, immigrant and non-immigrant professionals, ambassadors, United Nations delegates, entertainers, priority workers, employers, students, professors, schools and colleges, people who have violated their status, people whose vehicles have been seized, battered men and women, people facing criminal or immigration proceedings, businesses facing sanctions, treaty traders and investors, and multinational executives.