Rule 306 - Admission of Military Spouse Attorneys (a) Due to the unique mobility requirements of military families who support the defense of our nation, an attorney who is a spouse or a registered domestic partner of a member of the United States Uniformed Services ("service member"), stationed within this jurisdiction, may obtain a license to practice law pursuant to the terms of this rule. (b) Eligibility. An applicant who meets this rule must: (1) have been admitted to practice law in another U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia; (2) have been awarded a juris doctor (JD) by a law school accredited by the American Bar Association; (3) establish that the applicant is currently a member in good standing in all jurisdictions where admitted; (4) establish that the applicant is not currently subject to attorney discipline or the subject of a pending disciplinary matter in any jurisdiction; (5) establish that the applicant possesses the character and fitness to practice law in this jurisdiction; and (6) demonstrate presence in Wyoming as a spouse or registered domestic partner of a member of the United States Uniformed Services. (c) All applicants for admission pursuant to this rule shall complete an application prescribed by the Board and shall submit to a character investigation performed by or for the NCBE. Completed applications are to be filed with the Clerk of the Court. The Clerk shall not collect an application fee from applicants seeking admission pursuant to this rule. Incomplete applications will not be accepted for filing. The application shall be accompanied by all supporting data required by the Board to determine eligibility under this rule. Supporting data to the application shall include the following: (1) A certificate of good standing from the highest court for each jurisdiction in which the applicant is admitted to practice law issued within the last 90 days; (2) Evidence of compliance with the continuing legal education requirements of all jurisdictions in which the applicant is admitted to practice law, if applicable; (3) An authorization and release form; and (4) Proof the applicant has passed the MPRE with a scaled score of 85 points or greater. (d) Applications for admission pursuant to this rule shall be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's Request for Preparation of a Character Report to the NCBE. (e) The Board shall notify the Court of an applicant's eligibility for admission after the Committee has made its recommendation regarding the applicant's good moral character and fitness to practice law. (f) The Court shall notify each applicant of the applicant's admission status as promptly as feasible following receipt of the Board's and the Committee's recommendations regarding the applicant's eligibility for admission. (g) Attorneys licensed under this rule shall be entitled to all privileges, rights, and benefits and subject to all duties, obligations, and responsibilities of active members of the Bar. (h) The license to practice law under this rule shall terminate sixty (60) days after the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) the service member is no longer a member of the United States Uniformed Services; (2) the attorney admitted pursuant to this rule is no longer married to, or a registered domestic partner of, the service member; or (3) the service member receives a permanent transfer outside Wyoming, except that if the service member has been assigned to an unaccompanied or remote assignment with no dependents authorized, the attorney admitted pursuant to this rule may continue to practice pursuant to the provisions of this rule until the service member is assigned to a location with dependents authorized. In the event that any of the events listed in this paragraph occur, the attorney admitted pursuant to this rule shall notify the Court of the event in writing within thirty (30) days of the date upon which the event occurs. If the event occurs because the service member is deceased or disabled, the attorney shall notify the Court within sixty (60) days of the date upon which the event occurs.
Wyo. R. State Bar, Att'y Cond. & Prac. 306
Adopted June 9, 2018, effective October 1, 2018.