Florida Bar members interested in board certification must submit applications by Friday for 10 of Florida’s 22 legal specialization areas. Applications are available at The Florida Bar Web site at www.floridabar.org/certification, and are due by Friday for the following specialties: Admiralty and Maritime Law, Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Civil Trial, Elder Law, Immigration and Nationality, International Law, Labor and Employment Law, Marital and Family Law and Tax Law.
Lawyers who are members in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meet the standards prescribed by the state’s Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of the 22 certification fields. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
• A minimum of five years in law practice;
• A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought;
• A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants;
• Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law; and
• Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements.
While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only board certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as “specialists” or “experts.”