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The Supreme Court of Ohio
& The Ohio Judicial System

Military and 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

Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. I, Section 18, an attorney present in Ohio who is an active service member or 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

Application documents must be submitted to the Bar Admissions Section in person, by mail, or by email to baradmissions@sc.ohio.gov.

All notarized documents must be properly notarized within the last 60 days.

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

  1. Application for Military and Military Spouse Attorneys Admission
    The application must be properly signed and executed.
  2. Affidavit of Applicant
    The affidavit required under Section 18, Division (B)(1), must be properly executed on the form provided using the link above.
  3. United States Military Orders
    A copy of the active service member's United States Military Orders, establishing that you are in Ohio due to military orders.
  4. Marriage Certificate
    If the applicant is the spouse of a service member, a copy of your marriage certificate.
    If the applicant is the service member, this item is not required.

The Application Process

If your application is incomplete when submitted, a deficiency email will be sent. An application is deemed incomplete if it does not have the necessary documents attached; if any portion of it is not properly executed; if any portion of it is missing; or in any questions are unanswered, incompletely answered, or missing any required details.

Upon a preliminary eligibility determination of your submitted application, the Bar Admissions Section may issue a provisional temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio. The applicant will then have 30 days to register with the Attorney Registration and CLE Section.

Upon further review, the Bar Admissions Section may conduct a background check. If the application is disapproved, the applicant will be notified, and the provisional temporary admission will be terminated.

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). You are required to notify the Bar Admissions Section in writing within thirty days of any such occurrence.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

An attorney who is present in Ohio and is either an active service member of the United States Armed Forces assigned to a military installation in Ohio or the spouse of such a service member may be eligible for temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio if the attorney: 

  • Is admitted in at least one other jurisdiction;
  • Is in good standing in all jurisdictions of licensure;
  • Is not subject to discipline and does not have pending discipline in any jurisdiction;
  • Has not resigned from the practice of law or voluntarily relinquished a law license with discipline pending in any jurisdiction; and
  • Has not been disciplined or disbarred in any jurisdiction.

An application will be disapproved if the attorney does not meet the basic eligibility criteria.  A background check may be performed to confirm that the attorney meets the requirements of Gov.Bar R. I, Sec. 18.

Yes.  Attorneys approved for Military or Military Spouse Attorneys Admission are required to register with the Attorney Registration and CLE Section as prescribed under Gov.Bar R. VI, and complete continuing legal education pursuant to Gov.Bar R. X.  Once a provisional temporary admission certificate is issued, additional information will be sent regarding registration and CLE requirements.

Pursuant to Gov.Bar R. I, Sec. 18(F), if any of the following occur, the applicant’s authority to temporarily practice law in Ohio shall automatically terminate, and the applicant is required to notify the Bar Admissions Section in writing within thirty days:

  • The military attorney or the attorney’s military spouse is no longer an active service member;
  • The attorney spouse is no longer married to the active service member;
  • There is a change in the military orders reflecting a permanent change of station to a military installment outside of Ohio, except in situations where the service member was assigned to an unaccompanied or remote assignment with no dependents authorized, in which case the temporary license may continue until dependents are authorized at the new location;
  • The attorney is admitted to the Ohio bar through another application;
  • The attorney is suspended or disbarred in any jurisdiction;
  • The attorney permanently relocates outside of Ohio; or
  • The attorney would like to request termination of the temporary licensure.

Additionally, a Notice of Termination of Military Spouse Attorney Admission must be filed with the Registration and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Section by email to attyreg@sc.ohio.gov in order to end all attorney registration and CLE requirements.

Admission Applications

Contact Information

Bar Admissions Section
The Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street, 5th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Director:
Michel Jendretzky, Esq.

Deputy Director:
Tiffany Kline, Esq.

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