Atlanta, November 9, 2023 – The Supreme Court of Georgia has issued revised rules governing provisional admission to the practice of law, which includes for the first time a process for military spouses who already are licensed to practice law in a state other than Georgia.
“This Veteran’s Day, as we honor those who have served and are currently serving our nation, I’m pleased on behalf of the Supreme Court to announce updates to the provisional admission rules that will offer greater certainty to spouses of active-duty military service members and save them considerable time and money as they continue their legal careers,” Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs said. “Our Court’s efforts to update these rules are part of our ongoing review of the Georgia Lawyer Competency Task Force’s final report, which included the recommendation of provisional admission for Georgia-stationed military-spouse lawyers already admitted to practice in another jurisdiction.”
Under Section XVII of the revised provisional admission rules, the lawyer spouse of an active-duty service member of the United States Uniformed Services who is currently assigned to a post in Georgia may obtain a provisional license to practice law in Georgia under certain conditions without having to sit for the bar exam in Georgia. The new rules will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and may be found currently on the Court’s website HERE.
“Oftentimes, service members aren’t given a choice about where they are going to be stationed, and that can make it difficult for their spouses who are lawyers to become really established in their careers. Military couples in these situations often must choose to live apart or for one of them to give up their career path,” said Mercer University Law School Adjunct Professor Harold Heck, who also counsels students as the law school’s Academic Success and Bar Preparation Specialist.
Prof. Heck served two years in the United States Navy as an enlisted electronics technician in the naval nuclear power program. He later attended college and law school using the GI Bill and has been a licensed attorney in Georgia since 2014.
“I think these new provisional admission rules for Georgia-based military spouses are going to be very helpful because they will make it so much easier for military couples to stay in their professions,” Prof. Heck said. “And the spouses who are lawyers can get to work much faster, without having to go through a new testing process after moving to Georgia.”