Section 18 - Military Spouse Attorneys Admission(A) An applicant may apply for temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio as a military spouse attorney pursuant to division (B) of this section if all of the following concerning the applicant apply: (1)Military Spouse Attorneys Admission. Is present in Ohio as the spouse of an active service member of the United States armed forces assigned to a military installation within the state; (2) Has earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or, if not located in the United States, from a college or university evaluated and approved in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section;(3) Has earned a J.D. or an L.L.B. degree from a law school that was approved by the American Bar Association at the time the degree was earned or, if not located in the United States, from a law school evaluated and approved in accordance with division (B)(3) of this section;(4) Has not taken and failed an Ohio bar examination;(5) Is not admitted to the practice of law in this state; (6) Has not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law;(7) Is a citizen or a resident alien of the United States;(8) Has taken and passed a bar examination and has been admitted as an attorney at law in the highest court of another state or in the District of Columbia;(9) Is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the applicant is admitted to the practice of law;(10) Is not currently subject to discipline or the subject of a pending disciplinary matter in any jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted to the practice of law;(11) Has not resigned from the practice of law with discipline pending in any jurisdiction; (12) Has not voluntarily or involuntarily relinquished a license to practice law in any jurisdiction in order to avoid discipline or as a result of discipline imposed by a relevant authority;(13) Has not been disciplined for professional misconduct within the past ten years or been disbarred by any jurisdiction. (B) An applicant for temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio as a military spouse attorney shall file an application with the Office of Bar Admissions. The application shall be on a form furnished by the office and include all of the following: (1)An affidavit from the applicant stating all of the following:(a) The applicant has not engaged in the unauthorized practice of law;(b) The applicant is a citizen or a resident alien of the United States; (c) The applicant has read, is familiar with, and agrees to be bound by the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio and the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and to submit to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court for disciplinary purposes pursuant to Gov. Bar R. V.(2) A copy of the United States Military Orders of the spouse of the applicant, establishing that the spouse is in Ohio due to military orders; (3) Certificates or official transcripts evidencing compliance with division (A)(2) and (3) of this section. If the applicant's undergraduate or legal education was not received in the United States, a one hundred fifty dollar fee shall accompany the application for evaluation of the applicant's education. If the applicant's undergraduate or legal education was not received in the United States, the application shall not be processed until the applicant's education is approved by the Court.(4) A certificate from the admissions authority in the jurisdiction from which the applicant seeks admission, demonstrating that the applicant has taken and passed a bar examination and has been admitted to the practice of law in that jurisdiction;(5) A certificate of good standing from each jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted to practice law, dated no earlier than sixty days prior to the submission of the application;(6) A typed questionnaire for use by the NCBE and the Board of Commissioners on Character and Fitness in conducting a character investigation and report of the applicant;(7) A fee in the amount charged by the NCBE for conducting a character investigation and report of the applicant;(8) A nonrefundable application fee of seventy-five dollars.(C) Upon filing a completed application that demonstrates the applicant's eligibility under this section, the Office of Bar Admissions shall issue the applicant a provisional temporary admission to the practice of law in Ohio as a military spouse attorney. The provisional temporary admission to the practice of law shall expire upon the approval or disapproval of the applicant.(D) Upon receipt of the character report of the applicant by the NCBE, the Office of Bar Admissions shall submit the report and the application 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 the applicant and may conduct a personal interview to determine the applicant's character, fitness, and moral qualifications to practice law. The Board may recommend that the applicant be approved as possessing the requisite character, fitness, and moral qualifications for admission or may submit a recommendation to the Court as to the disapproval of the applicant in accordance with Section 14 of this rule.(E) Both of the following shall apply to a military spouse attorney temporarily licensed to practice law in Ohio pursuant to this section: (1) The attorney shall be entitled to all privileges, rights, and benefits and subject to all duties, obligations, and responsibilities of active members of the bar of this jurisdiction, including but not limited to compliance with the continuing legal education requirements of Gov. Bar R. X and biennial registration and payment of the registration fee pursuant to Gov. Bar R. VI, Section 2; (2) The attorney shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Professional Conduct and agencies of this jurisdiction with respect to the laws and rules of this jurisdiction governing the conduct and discipline of attorneys, to the same extent as members of the bar of this jurisdiction.(F)(1) The authority of a military spouse attorney temporarily licensed to practice law in Ohio pursuant to this section shall automatically terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following: (a) The spouse of the attorney is no longer an active member of the United States armed forces;(b) The attorney is no longer married to the spouse who is an active member of the United States armed forces;(c) A change in the military orders of the spouse reflecting a permanent change of station to a military installation other than Ohio, except that if the spouse has been assigned to an unaccompanied or remote assignment with no dependents authorized, the attorney shall maintain military spouse attorney status until the spouse is assigned to a location with dependents authorized; (d) The attorney is admitted to the practice of law in this state pursuant to any other rule of the Supreme Court;(e) The attorney is suspended or disbarred in any jurisdiction in which the attorney is admitted to the practice of law. (2) Within sixty days of the occurrence of any event listed in division (F)(1) of this section, the attorney shall notify the Office of Bar Admissions of the event in writing. Amended April 4, 2020, effective 6/1/2020; amended January 10, 2024, effective 4/1/2024.