How The Florida Bar Certifies a Lawyer as a Specialist
Q: Why does The Florida Bar have a program for certifying a lawyer as a specialist in an area of law?
A: Board certification helps consumers find a lawyer who has demonstrated ability and experience in specialized fields of law. Certification helps lawyers, too, by giving them a way to make known their experience to the public and other lawyers. By requiring a lawyer to continue his or her legal education in speciality fields, certification also helps improve competence.
Q: In what areas of the law can a lawyer be certified as as a specialist?
A:
- Admiralty and Maritime
- Appellate Law
- Aviation Law
- Business Litigation
- Civil Trial
- City, County and Local Government
- Criminal Law
- Trial
- Appellate
- Elder Law
- Health Law
- Immigration and Nationality
- Marital and Family Law
- Real Estate Law
- Tax Law
- Wills, Trusts and Estates
- Workers' Compensation
Q: How does a lawyer qualify?
A: To become a certified specialist, a lawyer must:
- be an active member in good standing of The Florida Bar
- have practiced 1aw for a minimum of five years
- pass a written examination in the speciality area
- demonstrate substantial experience in the speciality area
- complete approved continuing legal education programs
- have the ability and experience in the speciality field favorably evaluated by judges and other lawyers
Q: How long is a lawyer certified?
A: Certification is granted for five years. To be re-certified, requirements similar to those for initial certification must be met.
Q: How many Florida lawyers have attained board certification as a specialist?
A: More than 3,300 lawyers are currently certified by the Board of Legal Specialization and Education, which administers the certification Program.
Q: How can consumers know whether a lawyer is a certified specialist?
A: Only a lawyer certified by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education is entitled to state that he or she is "board certified" or a "specialist" on business cards, letterhead, in legal directories and yellow pages of telephone directories. In addition, certified lawyer directories are published annually and sent to libraries and local bar associations throughout Florida. Consumers may also contact the office of The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.
For more information, please contact:
The Florida Bar
Legal Specialization & Education Department
650 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2300
800/342-8060 or 850/561-5842
