Opinion …
I am optimistic that change is on the horizon. Recent White House serve the legal needs of military families and veterans. I very much initiatives led by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the Vice would have liked to join that bar, but as the rules currently exist, it President, have brought much-needed attention to the employment simply was not feasible. challenges facing military spouses. The Military Spouse JD Network Although military spouses serve willingly, we also sacrifice (“MSJDN”) formed last summer to help military spouse attorneys greatly in our chosen role. Each state bar examination often costs network with and support one another. In February between $4,000 and $5,000 for preparation materials the American Bar Association House of Delegates and fees. Licensing may take up to a year for the passed Resolution 108 at the midyear meeting in application process, the character review, the two- to As we seek to balance New Orleans. Resolution 108 encourages state bar three-day examination and waiting for the results. I support for our authorities to adopt rules that accommodate the have given up working as a lawyer at times, because unique needs of military spouse attorneys who move the licensing barriers have been too high. At other spouse’s career with frequently in the nation’s defense. Idaho became times, I have worked behind the scenes, or been our personal and the first state in the nation to adopt a rule change underpaid, or worked for free. At all times, I have allowing qualified military spouses to practice law the continued expense of maintaining annual bar professional goals, without the burden of an additional bar license. fees in the several states where I am licensed, so there are many simple MSJDN has submitted rule change proposals in that I do not lose my status in the event the military Virginia, California, Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, North sends us back to one of those locations. solutions that would Carolina, and New York. Military spouses are simply asking for state make our jobs easier. Every day, I am grateful for my husband, for licensing rules that minimize the inherent burdens his service, and for this country that I love. It seems that come with our military service. As we seek to appropriate that we also acknowledge the hardbalance support for our spouse’s career with our working military spouses who sacrifice as well. But personal and professional goals, there are many more than just saying “thank you,” it is time to take the simple steps simple solutions that would make our jobs easier. One simple fix would to lower licensing barriers and to improve access to employment be the ability to waive into a state bar if we already are licensed and opportunities for our military spouses. n in good standing elsewhere. Another easy solution would be reduced bar fees for military spouses who maintain multiple licenses. Many states offer a reduced rate for lawyers who serve in the judiciary. It Eleanor Magers Vuono currently is an adjunct professor at Catholic Law would be a simple matter to expand that category to include military School in Washington D.C., while her husband, Col. Tim Vuono, works on spouses. Military spouse attorneys are a talented bunch. Our legal the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. She also works as a freelance writer for small skills can make a positive difference in the communities where we law firms, handling trial and appellate briefs. She is an active member of the live, particularly in the unique world of military families and veterans. MSJDN. We just need the opportunity to serve.
80 UVA Lawyer / spring 2012