Legalize & Protect
Check out our resources to help you protect your business.
Learn to Protect Your Business From the Best
Military spouse business owners need to protect their businesses just like every other entrepreneur, the coolest part? There are tried and true, vetted resources to help you do just that.
Military Spouse JD Network
Purpose
It is not unusual for military spouse attorneys to have taken 3 or 4 different bar examinations. Less than 1/3 of our members have full-time legal employment. Half of our members are unemployed and actively looking for work, under-employed in non-attorney positions as paralegals/secretaries, or can only find part-time work. MSJDN members report that the biggest challenge to finding and keeping employment is frequent moves and lack of portable employment opportunities.
Military families are geographically insecure, moving every two to three years, often with tours overseas. These moves are based on the needs of the U.S. government, and are mandatory for the service-member. Although the spouse and children may technically refuse to move, this creates obvious hardships on families already often separated due to training and deployments.
Mission
MSJDN supports military spouses in the legal profession by advocating for licensing accommodations for military spouse attorneys; educating the public about the challenges faced by career-minded military spouses and their families; encouraging the hiring of military spouses; and providing a network connecting military spouse attorneys with each other and their supporters.
Hire a Military Spouse Attorney
MSJDN has a public directory where you can hire a military spouse attorney. We’ve included a link to the directory below, and if you’re not sure exactly what type of attorney you need to hire, you can email info@msjdn.org to recieve assistance.
VIP
Mission
Veterans I.P. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps veterans and their families with intellectual property issues. We believe that all veterans should have access to the legal system, which is why we offer legal advice and other forms of intellectual property protection, including copyrights and trademarks. at a reduced rate or pro bono. We are also looking for other practitioners who would like to join us in this effort.
What We Do
How do we help? To start, if you are a veteran or military dependent and you have an idea for an invention, we can help you figure out if it’s patentable and what steps to take next. If you qualify for our program, we can arrange discounted services from attorneys who specialize in patents.
Patenting is important because it allows the inventor to protect their ideas and inventions from being used by other people without permission or compensation. Along with copyrights, trademarks, and other forms of intellectual property protection, patents can greatly increase an inventor’s chances of commercial success.
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency under the Department of Commerce and is responsible for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.
They host free virtual and in-person worshops centered around Patents, Changes to Law & Policy, Guidance & Training, and Trademarks.
The USPTO advises the president of the United States, through the secretary of commerce, and U.S. government agencies on national and certain international intellectual property (IP) policy issues. The USPTO also advises Federal departments and agencies on IP policy matters in the U.S. and other countries.
The USPTO furthers effective IP protection for U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide by working with other agencies to secure strong IP provisions in free trade and other international agreements. It also provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for IP and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.