ABA House of Delegates Resolution 108 | Military Spouses

TL;DR

The American Bar Association has passed Resolution 108 to address the challenges faced by military spouse attorneys, allowing them to practice law more easily.

Transcript

They had sky-high hopes of taking on the world with their law degrees. But they fell in love and married into the military. "I am a Coast Guard wife and I am a federal administrative law judge." "I am a military spouse married to a pilot in the U.S. Airforce and I am a California-licensed attorney and I practice in-house." Forced to move every two ... Read More

Key Insights

• ☠️ The unemployment rate for military spouses is significantly higher than that of civilians due to frequent relocations.
• 😖 The Military Spouse J.D. Network was founded to address the specific challenges faced by military spouse attorneys.
• 🧭 Resolution 108 passed by the American Bar Association has been instrumental in advocating for license reciprocity and employment opportunities for military spouse attorneys.
• 🤗 The ABA policy has had a significant impact, opening doors for military spouse attorneys in multiple states.
• 🎖️ The support of the American Bar Association has brought attention to the issue of military spouse employment.
• 🎖️ License reciprocity is crucial for military spouse attorneys to maintain their careers and professional identities.
• 🥡 The actions taken by the ABA and its members have positively impacted the lives and careers of military spouse attorneys.

Questions & Answers

Q: What challenges do military spouse attorneys face in pursuing a career?

Military spouse attorneys face the challenge of frequent relocations, which require them to adapt to new jurisdictions and often hinder their ability to maintain a stable law practice.

Q: What is the Military Spouse J.D. Network?

The Military Spouse J.D. Network is an organization co-founded by Erin Wirth and Mary Reding, aiming to address the employment challenges faced by military spouse attorneys and advocate for license reciprocity.

Q: How has the American Bar Association contributed to supporting military spouse attorneys?

The American Bar Association passed Resolution 108, which urges bar admissions authorities to accommodate the unique needs of military spouse attorneys, enabling easier license reciprocity and employment opportunities.

Q: In how many states has the ABA policy opened doors for military spouse attorneys?

The ABA policy has opened doors in 41 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where bar membership burdens have been relaxed for military spouse attorneys.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Military spouses face difficulty pursuing a career due to frequent relocations, resulting in a three times higher unemployment rate compared to civilians.

• Erin Wirth and Mary Reding founded the Military Spouse J.D. Network ten years ago to address the issue of license reciprocity and employment for military spouses.

• The American Bar Association, through Resolution 108, has urged bar admissions authorities to accommodate the unique needs of military spouse attorneys, opening doors in 41 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.