The license of Barack and Michelle Obama were not revoked. They voluntarily chose to “retire” from the practice of law and surrendered their active licenses.
The obvious reason for doing so is that an attorney is no longer engaged in the practice of law. The advantage of doing so is that one is no longer obligated to pay annual fees, to comply with continuing education requirements, or subject to legal discipline from the bar.
For both of the Obamas, their law licenses were largely empty credentials used to advance themselves in politics. Neither one was actually a significant attorney.
She ‘retired’ long before coming to Washington, DC. Lawyers, even those who don’t practice law, tend to keep their licenses, especially relatively young lawyers, as Michelle Obama was at the time she ‘retired’ her license. Most bars allow lawyers to take ‘inactive’ status. No really viable reason for a young attorney to just ‘retire’ her license.
Even before coming to DC, Michelle Obama was a community outreach shill for U of Chicago hospital, making $300K+ a year. Certainly a few hundred $ bar dues would not be an issue. Excuse away all you will. There is something ‘fishy’ here.