Military Spouse Attorneys Admission Application

Before completing this application, please review the following:

Rule I, of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar

Definitions of Essential Eligibility Requirements

Supreme Court Decisions Relating to Character and Fitness

Pursuant to Gov. Bar R. I, Section 18, an attorney present in Ohio who is the spouse of an active service member of the United States Armed Forces assigned to a military installation within Ohio may be eligible for temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio.

Filing a Complete Application

Beginning Jan. 26, 2022, all applications for admission to the practice of law in Ohio must be filed using the Bar Admissions Portal. The Office of Bar Admissions will not accept paper applications after this date.

In order to file a Military Spouse Admissions Application, you must submit the following:

1. Applicant’s Character Questionnaire
   Before submitting an application, you must create an account with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (“NCBE”) and complete the Applicant’s Character Questionnaire and pay the required NCBE fee. The NCBE number and barcode number are required to create an account on the Bar Admissions Portal.
2. 7A Authorization and Release Form
     The release form must be properly executed and uploaded on the Bar Admissions Portal.
3. Affidavit of Applicant
   The affidavit required under Section 18, Division (B)(1), executed on the form provided.
4. Certificate of Admission
   A Certificate of Admission by Bar Examination as an attorney at law from the jurisdiction from which you are seeking admission demonstrating that you have taken and passed a bar examination and have been admitted to the practice of law in that jurisdiction.
5. Certificate(s) of Good Standing
   Certificates of good standing from all jurisdictions in which you are admitted, dated no earlier than 60 days prior to submission of the application, must be uploaded on the Bar Admissions Portal.  Please find a list of official agencies that issue certificates of good standing for each jurisdiction at the link above.
6. Undergraduate Transcript
   A certified transcript of college credits evidencing that you earned a bachelor’s degree or a certificate from the dean of the law school you are attending, certifying that you are participating in a three-plus-three program must be submitted.  You may mail the original transcript to our office, or the institution may email the transcript directly to transcripts@sc.ohio.gov. NOTE: We do not require a transcript from each institution you attended, only from the institution that awarded a bachelor’s degree.
7. Law School Transcript
   A certified law school transcript or certified letter evidencing that you earned a J.D. degree from an ABA approved law school.  You may mail the original transcript to our office, or the institution may email the form directly to transcripts@sc.ohio.gov. NOTE: We do not require a transcript from each institution you attended, only from the institution that awarded a J.D. degree.
8. Spouse’s United States Military Orders
   A copy of your spouse's United States Military Orders, establishing that your spouse is in Ohio due to military orders.
9. Marriage Certificate
   A copy of your marriage certificate.
10. Non-refundable application fee in the amount of $75. 
11. If applicable, supplemental documentation.
12. If applicable, petition and non-refundable fee of $30.

Fee Payment

Applicants must pay all Supreme Court of Ohio application fees on the Bar Admissions Portal at the  time an application is submitted.  Supreme Court of Ohio fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Applicants must pay all NCBE application fees to the NCBE directly.  The fee schedule for the NCBE can be found here: Ohio Character and Fitness Investigations.

Additional Required Documents

All applicants must upload the NCBE Authorization and Release form directly to the NCBE.  If applicable, the following forms may need to be submitted to the NCBE: 7B Authorization to Release Medical Information, 7C Authorization to Release Information, and Law Enforcement Form.  If the additional forms are required, they will generate when you finalize your Applicant’s Character Questionnaire.

The Application Process

As you prepare your application, please note the following:

• You must complete every form and answer each question in the Applicant's Character Questionnaire fully and truthfully. Any omission, untruthful answer or incomplete answer may result in your being denied the privilege of admission to the practice of law in the State of Ohio. Questions on the Applicant's Character Questionnaire “must be fully answered regardless of expungements, bond forfeitures, dismissals or similar terminations and must include all actions or legal proceedings occurring in any court including juvenile court.” In re Application of Watson, 31 Ohio St. 3d 220, 221.
• If you have any doubts about whether any matter should be reported in this application, report it. If you are not sure of dates, times, places, or other information requested, you should consult the court, governmental agency, or other entity involved to obtain the correct and full information.

If your application is incomplete when submitted, it will not be accepted and part or all of it will be returned to you for completion. An application is deemed incomplete if it does not have the necessary documents attached; if any portion of it is not properly executed; if it is missing the appropriate fee(s); if any portion of it is missing; or if any questions are unanswered, incompletely answered or missing any required details.

Applicants have a continuous reporting obligation while their application is pending, unless and until the applicant is admitted to the practice of law. The applicant is required to notify the Office of Bar Admissions in writing of any changes or updates to an application. Applicant may amend their application on the Bar Admissions Portal or by emailing baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.

Upon receipt of your complete application, the Office of Bar Admissions will issue to you a provisional temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio as a military spouse attorney. The Office of Bar Admissions will forward your Applicant's Questionnaire to the NCBE.  The NCBE will verify your background information, check character references and provide additional background review.

When the NCBE submits the results of its investigation to the court, your application and the NCBE report will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness, which shall review the report and the application.  The Board may request additional information or materials from you and may conduct a personal interview to determine your character, fitness, and moral qualifications to practice law.  The Board may recommend you be approved as possessing the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualifications for admission or may submit a recommendation to the Court as to your disapproval in accordance with Gov. Bar R. I, Section 14.  Your provisional temporary admission to the practice of law shall expire upon your approval or disapproval by the Board.

NOTE: Your authority as a military spouse temporarily licensed to practice law in Ohio shall automatically terminate upon the occurrence of any of the events noted in Section 18(F).

A Notice of Termination of Miliary Spouse Attorney Admission must be filed with the Office at Attorney Services by email to attyreg@sc.ohio.gov in order to end all attorney registration and CLE requirements.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact the Office of Bar Admissions at 614.387.9340 or baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.