--- title: "Mighty Milspouse: When a lawyer fell in love with a soldier" description: "Briana Stolley graduated from law school and was getting started as an associate attorney when it happened. She fell in love with a soldier." date: "2023-05-31" modified: "2023-05-31" authors: - name: "Jessica Manfre" job_title: "Coast Guard Spouse, Contributor" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/jessicamanfre/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/briana-stolley-lawyer-holland-and-knight/" categories: - "Family" - "Mighty MilSpouse" --- # Mighty Milspouse: When a lawyer fell in love with a soldier ![Briana Stolley]() Briana Stolley graduated from [Ohio State Law School]() in 2001 and was just getting her feet wet as an associate attorney in Cincinnati when *it* happened. She fell in love with a soldier. “We met doing a 5k run of all things,” she laughed. “He was working on a green to gold program [enlisted to officer] at the university and I had no background knowledge of the military. Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about moving or how getting involved with him could impact my career.” In 2003, her soldier got a 90-day notice he was [deploying to Iraq](). “I was young and in love. We cobbled together a wedding in nine days and thought we’d just do something bigger and better when he got back. But we never did because it was so perfect,” she shared. ![Briana Stolley and husband]() *Brianna Stolley courtesy photo* With her husband deployed for a year, Stolley made the decision to stay in Ohio and continue working. When he retired, she relocated to [Fort Benning, Georgia](). It wasn’t easy. “During that time moving and shifting my career again as an attorney and military spouse was like climbing a mountain,” she admitted. “For every single move we made I had to continue to retake the bar exam. So I took it in Ohio, Georgia, Virginia and Oklahoma.” In 2011, she joined the Military Spouse J.D. Network to champion licensure reciprocity for military spouses. Through their work, more than 40 states now have exemptions in place for military spouses so they don’t have to go through what she and so many other attorneys like her did. ![Briana Stolley with her family]() ![Briana Stolley ski trip]() ![Briana Stolley and family]() *Courtesy photo* “People used to ask me why I kept doing this but I just kept telling myself it was going to get easier and we’d get over it. I wouldn’t let myself quit,” she explained. Stolley had always been passionate about the law but it started with a love for writing. “I was always a good writer and loved my English classes. I actually majored in English for college,” she shared. “My dad was an attorney and I very much admired him. I don't know that I really ever thought about any other career. I sort of always knew that it was the direction I would go.” Prior to the pandemic taking work remotely, she had championed the concept within her law firms. It was the move to Oklahoma that had her speaking up about the need for more flexibility in the workplace. It worked. Briana Stolley is proud to be a real estate attorney and partner with [Holland & Knight](). She shared that the firm has a strong reputation for serving veterans and military families, a factor that led her to sign with them in the first place. In 2020, she won the pro-bono All Star award for her work for those in need. Navigating the challenges of making a law career portable before military spouse employment was a topic that wasn't for the faint of heart but Stolley said she wouldn’t change a thing. She and her husband just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Her advice to other aspiring or practicing [military spouse]() lawyers was direct. “Believe in yourself,” Stolley implored. “And don’t take no for an answer.” ## Author Jessica is a clinical social worker, writer, and military advocate whose work for We Are The Mighty focuses on the lived realities of military service, especially the moments that come after the uniform comes off. Her writing centers on veterans, military spouses, and families navigating transition, identity, resilience, and healing, often blending clinical insight with deeply human storytelling. She covers leadership, service, community impact, and the cultural shifts shaping today’s military-connected population, frequently drawing from interviews with senior military leaders, influencers, and grassroots voices across the space. Beyond writing, Jessica serves as Director of MilSpouseFest and works as a Military Events Manager, leading national campaigns and large-scale events that bring military communities together. She is the author of Never Alone (Moody Publishers) and is currently developing her next book, After the Battle. When she’s not writing or advocating, Jessica can usually be found with a good cup of coffee in hand, tackling her ever-growing TBR, hiking with her dog, or spending quality time with her family. She is a proud military spouse of an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard member and draws inspiration from the resilience, humor, and heart of military life every day. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]()