NJSBA rule change benefits military spouses Published Aug. 27, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A volunteer attorney in the 87th Air Base Wing Legal Office recently went in front of the New Jersey Supreme Court to adapt the New Jersey Rules of Court to help military spouses in the judicial field. The Military Spouse Juris Doctorate Network asked Mary Acevedo to represent the New Jersey State Bar Association in order to pass a rule which will permit military spouses in New Jersey to work as attorneys without taking the state's bar examination. Acevedo, who is also chair of the Military Law and Veterans Affairs of New Jersey, achieved in advancing the rule to becoming a finalized amendment. "I honestly thought we weren't going to get it passed because the Supreme Court justices would ask questions I hadn't anticipated and they said New Jersey already has too many attorneys," said Acevedo. "When I heard they'd passed it I was totally shocked." The new rule allows military spouses to become temporarily licensed to practice law in New Jersey. Stipulations for the rule include being certified to in another state, the spouse must become associated with an already established New Jersey lawyer or firm and they must be on the employers insurance. "You can't just come here and say, 'I want to practice in this state because my spouse happens to be stationed here,' it doesn't work that way," said Acevedo. "It's a very good rule. There are still further processes spouses must undergo, but this just makes it one step easier so they don't have to go through the bar process." New Jersey is one of 11 states that have adopted this rule allowing spouses to practice their trade, while still moving with their families. The rule was released as part of the 2014 Omnibus Rule Amendment Order, named R. 1:27-4, and will be effective Sept. 1, 2014. For more information on the progress of the MSJDN and their campaign for licensing accommodations for military spouses, visit www.msjdn.org.