Mark Roman | September 21, 2018 | Firm News, Personal Injury
Did you know that lawyers, like doctors, can become Board Certified? But what does this mean, and, more importantly, why does it matter? Read on to learn more.
Experience the Benefits of Hiring a Board Certified Trial Attorney
As defined by the Florida Bar, board certification “recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.” It’s a status only 2% of all practicing attorneys in the state have achieved, and it’s the ultimate mark of professional expertise as a law practitioner.
Board Certified lawyers are recognized as specialists in their fields. These are the legal professionals who have repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty; who have been objectively evaluated on their experience, competence, and expertise; and who have been distinguished as the best the state has to offer. Characteristics and qualifications of Board Certified attorneys include but are not limited to:
- 5+ years of professional practice
- Continuing legal education requirements
- Substantive jury trial experience
- Rigorous testing of legal knowledge and field trial advocacy
- Satisfactory peer review of character and ethics
- Specialization in respective field(s) of practice
Working with a Board Certified civil trial lawyer will ensure you have an expert on your side. Board Certified trial attorneys like ours strive for professional excellence in all that they do; and, after an accident that has left you or someone you love seriously injured, why settle for anything less?
Backed by more than 50 years of combined experience handling personal injury and wrongful death cases in Florida, our expert trial attorneys at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to show you firsthand the difference it can make to have a Board Certified attorney working on your case. Contact us today to learn more.
What it Takes to Become Board Certified in Civil Trial Law
Board certification is the single best way to determine whether or not a lawyer has the experience and expertise you need.
A trial lawyer can only become Board Certified if they do the following:
- Regularly appear in jury trials: In Florida, lawyers have to dedicate themselves to trial practice, and they need to have taken a minimum of 15 cases to court over a certain period of time.
- Pass comprehensive peer reviews: From legal ethics to practice area specifics, attorneys are graded by their peers on past cases.
- Specialize in a specific practice area: According to the Florida Bar Association, lawyers seeking certification “must demonstrate substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought.”
- Practice law for a baseline of 5 or more years: This is true not just in Florida, but in all states. Lawyers must have 5 years of experience to become Board Certified – no exceptions.
- Pursue continuing legal education: Board Certification is more than just a piece of paper: It means the lawyer is a true specialist in their field. As such, they must continually pursue further legal education and keep up-to-date with the industry, as defined by their unique certification program.
- Pass an approved examination: Finally, after completing all the steps listed above and other potential criteria, the attorney seeking certification must pass an official examination approved by the Florida Bar.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm Of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers To Get The Help You Deserve
Because it’s such a rigorous process, fewer than 7% of eligible Florida Bar Association members are Board Certified. Even fewer are Board Certified trial lawyers specializing in the practice areas of personal injury or wrongful death. The best way to determine if a lawyer is Board Certified is to check with the Florida Bar, but you can also identify them by the letters “B.C.S.,” or Board Certified Specialist, on their print materials.
If you need help with your injury case or you want to learn more information, please call the Personal Injury law firm of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers at (727) 787-2500 or visit the nearest location to schedule a free case evaluation today.
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