Earlier this year, the Military Spouse JD Network put out a call for nominations for the 2015 MSJDN Exceptional Service Award to recognize a member for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve others. Many deserving military spouse attorneys doing incredible work in their communities and workplaces were put forth as candidates. However, one nomination stood out amidst the others.

Lizanne Carlson, an Air Force spouse and legal aid attorney, was described as “selfless, compassionate, tender-hearted, and willing” in her nomination. The nominator went on to say, “To Lizanne, practicing law is more than just a job, it is a calling.” This sentiment is more than just words when it comes to Lizanne’s work. While employed with a corporate firm, Lizanne realized her true desire was to help low income families, so she transitioned over to North Mississippi Legal Services within the last year. Lizanne now works with abused women to assist them in obtaining protection orders, single mothers to obtain child support, and military families seeking guardianships, along with other legal assistance matters. She was recently profiled in Task and Purpose for refusing to allow the demands of the military lifestyle to interfere with her career goals.

The nomination summed up Lizanne beautifully: “Her heart beats for serving others, and she does not allow the temporary life that comes with marrying into the military keep her from working and making a difference where she is. She is fearless and relentless in her pursuit to assist and advocate for others. Her ultimate objective in attending law school was to serve and advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves, and I hope that you can see, based on this description, that she has remained steadfast in her original calling to serve others.”

During MSJDN’s annual career development conference in Seattle, Lizanne was presented with the 2015 Exceptional Service Award. The other military spouse attorneys and supporters in attendance were honored to come together to recognize Lizanne and the amazing work she does for her community. With MSJDN members scattered around the globe, the opportunity to celebrate with Lizanne in person was cherished.

Thank you, Lizanne, for representing the military spouse attorney values of excellence and service through your dedication to aiding those in need. Please join us in congratulating Lizanne on this recognition!