Maybe you have never needed the services of an attorney before; but now you do. Obviously, you want a lawyer who is able to handle your particular legal situation, and who has experience in the area of law relating to your legal needs.
To assist you in finding such a lawyer, the Supreme Court of Florida directed The Florida Bar to offer a "Board Certification" program for Florida Bar members. The program is designed to help the public make an informed decision when seeking and selecting a lawyer.
While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified" or as a specialist. Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law Approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.
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 disagreements prior to the institution of a lawsuit.
Every board certified civil trial lawyer has practiced law on a full time basis for at least five years and been substantially involved in the area of civil trial law during the three years preceding application. To be eligible to be certified the lawyer is required to have conducted at least fifteen contested civil cases in courts of general jurisdiction during the lawyer's practice, including cases before a jury and as lead counsel. Credit may be given to the lawyer is he or she has served as a judge.
Each certified lawyer must also have passed peer review evaluations by fellow trial lawyers, as well as judges before whom the lawyer has appeared. Finally, the lawyer must also complete fifty hours of continuing legal education within the three years preceding the application, and pass a rigorous written examination designed to demonstrate knowledge, skills and proficiency in the field of civil trial law to justify the representation of special competence.
Prospective clients should always ask about their lawyer's qualifications and experience to handle a particular legal problem. This will help to ensure that the client is making an informed decision as to who should represent their interest as their attorney.