I am pleased to announce that as of June 1, 2012 I am Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Civil Trial Law. According to the Florida Bar:
Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of competency and experience within an area of law, and professionalism and ethics in practice. More than 4,500 Florida lawyers are recognized as specialists in one or more of 24 certification areas.
Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law andprofessionalism and ethics in practice.
So, what exactly does “Board Certification in Civil Trial Law” mean, and what did I have to do to get Board Certified? Here’s the explanation from the Florida Bar website:
Certified lawyers in civil trial law deal with litigation of civil controversies in all areas of substantive law before state and federal courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators. In addition to actual pretrial and trial process, civil trial law includes evaluating, handling and resolving civil controversies prior to the initiation of suit.
Every board certified civil trial lawyer has practiced law for at least five years and been substantially involved — 30 percent or more — in the area of civil trial law during the three years preceding application. To be certified, the lawyer is required to have conducted at least 15 contested civil cases in courts of general jurisdiction during the lawyer’s practice, including cases before a jury and as lead counsel. Credit is given to the lawyer if he or she has served as a judge.
Each certified lawyer must also have passed peer review, completed 50 hours of continuing legal education within the three years preceding application and passed a written examination demonstrating knowledge, skills and proficiency in the field of civil trial law to justify the representation of special competence.
I have to admit that I am proud and honored to be able to call myself a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer.
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