Yes. An L-2 spouse is authorized to work incident to status and does not need a separate employment document, though many obtain one for employer convenience. Children in L-2 may study but not work.
L-2 spouses may work; children may not
Hypothetical example: Marcus's wife, an accounts clerk at a Logan Lake supplier, can take a U.S. job once she is admitted in L-2 status. USCIS treats L-2 spouses as employment-authorized incident to status, and an admission record annotated for a spouse serves as evidence of that authorization. She may still apply for an employment authorization document if an employer prefers to see one. She can work for any employer or for herself, in any field, and is not limited to the petitioning company. Their children hold L-2 status as dependants and may attend school, but the incident-to-status work authorization applies only to spouses. A child who turns 21 no longer qualifies as a dependant and must change to another status or depart. The family's status is tied to Marcus's L-1A, so if his petition is not extended or he changes employers without a new approval, their authorization ends with his.
Hypothetical example: A marine-parts distribution executive plans to relocate with a spouse who has a remote accounting offer and a nineteen-year-old child. The family should confirm each person’s relationship evidence, passport validity, and anticipated work or school plans before booking travel. An L-2S I-94 is the key work-authorization evidence, while the dependant’s age plus unmarried status control eligibility. A family calendar is useful because a later extension may not solve a child’s age-out issue.