Cecily Zamora
Michelle Obama, an American attorney and author, is not authorized to practice law as of 2024. She was admitted to the Illinois bar on May 12, 1989, and was last registered in 1993. She is listed as voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law. However, it is important to note that Obama could return to practicing law if she desired to do so. She would need to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status, and she would only have to pay the registration fee for the year she requested to become active again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama |
| Maiden Name | Michelle LaVaughn Robinson |
| Date Admitted to the Bar | May 12, 1989 |
| Last Registered Year | 1993 |
| Illinois Registration Status | Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law |
| Reason for Surrendering Law License | To avoid standing trial for insurance fraud |
| Possibility of Returning to Active Status | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Michelle Obama's law career
Michelle Obama is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband, former US President Barack Obama.
Michelle Obama was admitted to the Illinois bar on May 12, 1989, and was last registered in 1993. She is currently listed as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law". However, this is not due to any disciplinary action or wrongdoing. Before 1999, an Illinois Supreme Court rule required active lawyers who wanted to change their registration status to do so by petitioning the court. Obama's motion seeking a transfer to inactive status was filed on June 8, 1994, and was granted the following month.
Michelle Obama could return to practising law if she desired. To do so, she would have to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status. She would also only have to pay the registration fee for the year that she requested to return to active status.
Despite not actively practising law, Michelle Obama has had a successful career in public service. She campaigned for her husband's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and was the first African-American woman to serve as First Lady. She has also worked in nonprofits and academia, serving as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago and as vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
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Michelle Obama's qualifications
Michelle Obama, born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, is a lawyer and writer. She is the wife of the 44th US President, Barack Obama, and served as the first African-American First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1985. She then went on to attend Harvard Law School, receiving her Juris Doctor in 1988. After graduating from Harvard, she returned to her hometown of Chicago to pursue a career in law at the firm of Sidley & Austin (also known as Sidley Austin LLP), where she met her future husband, Barack Obama.
Michelle Obama is a qualified lawyer, but she does not currently hold an active license to practise law. She voluntarily surrendered her law license and is listed as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practise law" by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois. However, it has been noted that she could return to practising law if she decided to by filing a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court to regain active status.
In addition to her legal qualifications, Michelle Obama has had a significant career in public service. She has served in various roles, including assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago's City Hall, founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, and vice president of Community and External Affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Center. As First Lady, she advocated for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating, and launched several initiatives, including "Let's Move!", "Joining Forces", "Reach Higher", and "Let Girls Learn". She has also written three books, including the New York Times bestselling memoir "Becoming".
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Michelle Obama's registration status
Michelle Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin. However, according to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, she is listed as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law".
Michelle Obama was admitted to the Illinois bar on May 12, 1989, and was last registered in 1993. She is on "voluntarily inactive" status and is not authorized to practice law. However, this does not mean that she surrendered her license due to misconduct or malpractice. In fact, according to the Illinois ARDC, neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has ever been the subject of attorney disciplinary proceedings in Illinois.
The reason for Michelle Obama's inactive status is that before 1999, an Illinois Supreme Court rule required active lawyers who wanted to change their registration status to do so by petitioning the court. Obama's motion seeking a transfer to inactive status was filed on June 8, 1994, and the court granted the request the following month.
It is important to note that lawyers who voluntarily change their registration status to inactive or retired "may not practice law based upon their Illinois license or hold themselves out as being so authorized". However, this does not mean that Michelle Obama is permanently barred from practicing law. According to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756, an attorney on retired status may later move their status back to active if they desire. Those on “voluntary inactive status" under a rule that existed before November 1, 1999, can ask the court for restoration to active status.
Therefore, while Michelle Obama is currently listed as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law", she could potentially return to active status and practice law if she desired.
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Michelle Obama's eligibility to practice law
Michelle Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Illinois bar on May 12, 1989. She worked at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband, former US President Barack Obama.
However, Michelle Obama does not currently hold an active license to practice law. She is listed as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law" by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois. This status means that she cannot practice law based on her Illinois license.
There were false claims that Michelle Obama surrendered her law license in 1993 to avoid standing trial for insurance fraud. The Illinois ARDC has confirmed that neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has ever been the subject of attorney disciplinary proceedings in Illinois. The online registration record previously listed Michelle Obama as being "on court-ordered inactive status," but this was changed because other inactive lawyers had complained of being suspected of wrongdoing.
Michelle Obama could return to practicing law if she desired. To do so, she would have to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status.
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Michelle Obama's misconduct allegations
There are no records of any misconduct allegations against Michelle Obama. However, there were false claims that she and her husband, Barack Obama, surrendered their law licenses to escape misconduct proceedings. The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois lists Michelle Obama as "voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law".
Before 1999, an Illinois Supreme Court rule required active lawyers who wanted to change their registration status to do so by petitioning the court. Michelle Obama's motion seeking a transfer to inactive status was filed on June 8, 1994, and the court granted the request the following month. Claims that she went on inactive status to avoid disbarment are false.
Michelle Obama is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband. She later worked in nonprofits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago.
In a 2017 speech in Connecticut, Michelle Obama shared her thoughts about the recent wave of allegations of sexual assault, harassment, and misconduct against powerful men:
> "I can't tell you how sick it makes me, the more I see the uncovering of the truth that all us women know has been out there, that there is an ugliness there... If we want young women to be strong and have voices and advocate for themselves, then we have to realize how much work we have to do. And I'm talking to the men out there, who cannot be innocent bystanders and complacent, watching this happen."
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Frequently asked questions
No, Michelle Obama is currently not authorized to practice law. She is on "voluntarily inactive" status.
Michelle Obama changed her status under old Supreme Court Rule 770. She would have to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status to practice law.
No, that is false. There have never been any disciplinary actions against Michelle Obama.
