A network of military Spouses who are also attorney’s have submitted a report to the Kansas Board of Law Examiners asking for a rule change that would allow Military Spouse Attorney’s to practice in the state of Kansas without taking the Kansas Bar Exam.

The Military Spouse J.D. Network has been going state to state seeking the rule change. Earlier this month the Network submitted a report to the Kansas Board of Examiners.

Brooke Nattkemper, the spouse of a Fort Riley Soldier is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida, but she hasn’t lived there since her husband got stationed at Fort Riley last October. She explained that if she wanted to become licensed in Kansas she would have to take the Kansas Bar Exam which is only offered twice a year and is very costly to take. The requested rule change by the MSJDN would change that.

“The suggestion for these changes is not anything easier, it’s not allowing anyone to get in any easier,” said Nattkemper. “It actually makes sure that you don’t have any disciplinary action in any of the jurisdictions that you’ve been admitted to.  Most of theses Spouses are very good at what they do. We are very careful about the rules of professional responsibility. We have very strong history’s of what we’ve done in our legal careers, and this is just an opportunity for us to be able to bring that to the state of Kansas.”

Nattkemper said the report and rule change request has received favorable support from the local law community.

It is unclear when or if the Kansas Board of Law Examiners will make a decision on the request.