The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education is now accepting nominations for two awards that will recognize lawyers or firms who have best demonstrated the board certification program’s professionalism and excellence principles.
Nomination forms are available at FloridaBar.org/certification and must be returned by 5 p.m. on April 27.
The Justice Harry Lee Anstead Award for Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer of the Year is presented annually to a Florida board-certified lawyer or judge. The award recognizes exemplary professionalism, excellence, character and commitment to The Florida Bar’s certification program and to the practice of law.
The Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Board Certification is a newly-created award to recognize creativity by a Florida Bar board certified lawyer or a Florida law firm in advancing the public’s knowledge of and appreciation for legal board certification. Accepted entries are newsletters, brochures, news stories, speeches, PowerPoint presentations, mementoes, special events, and print, radio and television advertisements.
Both awards will be presented in June at the BLSE reception at the Florida Bar Convention.
Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified,” as specialists or as experts. Certification is The Florida Bar’s highest level of recognition of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.
A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the Supreme Court standards may become board certified in one or more of 22 specialized fields. Approximately 4,200 Florida lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements for certification include:
• A minimum of five years in law practice.
• A satisfactory demonstration 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.
• Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements.
Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, lawyers must meet requirements similar to those for initial certification.
Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have their competence and experience recognized.
Application deadlines and information on Florida’s 22 legal specialty areas are available at FloridaBar.org/certification or by calling The Legal Specialization & Education Department at 850-561-5842.