In February 1971, California became the first state in the country to approve a legal certification program. The California Board of Legal Specialization (“CBLS”) began operations in 1973. Most clients think their wishes regarding their estate planning are simple. All they want to do is make sure their loved ones legally inherit their hard-earned fortune. However, due to the complexity of the legal system, there are many issues that comprehensive estate planning should address. Whether it`s ensuring that a living trust is fully funded and actually avoids the veranda and estate, as advertised, providing detailed estate tax planning for future generations, protecting beneficiaries from future creditors, lawsuits and divorces, or ensuring that all beneficiary designations for pension plans and life insurance policies are up to date, Proper carefully reviewed estate planning and a knowledgeable lawyer to help you navigate the process. All California licensees have an up-to-date Applicant Portal account. Note that a new account should not be registered or created. Please email legalspec@calbar.ca.gov if you need help registering for the Applicant Portal, if you are having difficulty accessing your account, or if you would like to confirm your username. The Certified Legal Specialist is a way for the public to identify lawyers who have demonstrated knowledge in their area of expertise and to find a lawyer whose qualifications match their legal needs.

The board`s certification demonstrates a strong commitment in the field to potential clients and the wider legal community. The first three areas of activity of the certification as a specialized lawyer were tax law, criminal law and employee compensation. Under California Rule 1-400(D)(6), an attorney may only claim to be a specialist if he or she is certified by the Legal Specialization Board of the California State Bar or by an agency approved by the Board of Governors. Attorneys certified by the Board of Directors in California may apply for and receive more than one certification if they are otherwise qualified. The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) began operating in 1973 as the first program in the country to offer a specialized legal certification program at the state level. The program includes eleven areas of specialization certified directly by the California State Bar and eleven other areas certified by five different national organizations accredited by the American Bar Association. Read the State Bar Journal`s latest specialization profile with Kimberly R. Coward, residential real estate law specialist and former chair of the Board of Legal Specialization.

After certification, specialists must maintain their certification by: The California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) consists of 15 members who meet approximately six times a year in California State Bar Associations. Members also participate in at least one subcommittee by requiring a conference call. CBLS members recommend rules and provide guidelines and guidelines for the certification of specialists. How does it work? The State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (BLS) certifies specialists in ten (10) areas of law that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Arizona Supreme Court (Rule 44, Ariz. R. Sup. Ct.) and is subject to the rules and regulations of the Board of Legal Specialization (BLS Rules & Regulations). An Advisory Commission (AC) will be set up for each area of specialisation and the AC will be responsible for managing the programme in its respective field in cooperation with and under the direction of BLS.

Click here to learn more about our advisory committees. Lawyers limit the type of issues they deal with in order to gain expertise in a particular area of law. Board certification provides formal recognition of this concentration of knowledge and experience. Certification requires a lawyer to demonstrate special training, experience and knowledge to ensure that recognition as a certified specialist in a field of law is a meaningful and reliable qualification. Special certification also helps to improve and maintain the competence of the members of the Bar Association by creating an additional incentive for lawyers to continue to learn and develop in the specific area of law. One of the goals of the California Board of Legal Specialization is to provide consumers with another tool to use when choosing a lawyer. Certified legal specialists are automatically listed by area of expertise on the State Bar website, and only certified specialists can search by area of practice on the California State Bar website with advanced search capabilities. The website also includes a separate search function to find a specialist per county. Users can search for a lawyer per certified jurisdiction and county in just two simple steps. Visit the California State Bar`s Certified Specialist Search page and choose from 11 areas of law, both inside and outside the state.

General requirements for becoming a certified specialist include: Rule 9.35, which was passed by the California Supreme Court, includes a provision authorizing the California State Bar to issue rules to establish and administer a certification program for legal professionals. The rules of the California State Bar Association`s Legal Specialist Certification Program, adopted by the Board of Governors, detail how the program works. Certification and recertification standards for each specialty have been adopted by the Governing Council. For the public, the NC Specialization Program identifies North Carolina attorneys who are experienced and competent in the areas of consumer legal needs. It provides an objective and verifiable reference that a consumer can use to make a more informed decision about legal representation. Rule 7.4 of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct allows a certified attorney to communicate a specialty certification to the public. California Court Rule 9.35 served as the basis for the creation of the State Bar`s Legal Specialization Program. The program should provide a method for lawyers to obtain the designation of a certified specialist in certain areas of law, to increase the protection of the public and to promote the competence of lawyers. Through the Applicant Portal, licensees can register for the Legal Specialist exam, apply for initial certification or recertification, report compliance with the Continuing Legal Education of Legal Specialists (LSCLE), or submit other applications for legal specialization. Current certified specialists can find initial certification data, current certification requirements, and LSCLE compliance data in the applicant portal.

Eleven (11) areas of law are certified by five different organizations accredited by the California State Bar, including: The program was the first of its kind in the United States and served as a model for other state programs to certify legal professionals across the country. The cost of the legal specialization program is paid in full by an annual fee, as well as certification, recertification and accreditation fees. Section 20.8 of the Rules states that California`s specialization program must be self-sustaining. The program is not subsidized by fees charged by the California State Bar by attorneys. The annual budget of the program is prepared in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the State Bar Association and is submitted to the Board of Governors of the State Bar for approval. According to the 23. Total CBLS expenditures for the 2009 calendar year in the May 2010 Annual Report were $1,188,254, compared to the budget of $1,529,052. The state bar certifies lawyers as specialists who go beyond standard licensing requirements. Only attorneys certified by the Board of Legal Specialization or a national body accredited by the Arizona State Bar Are allowed to apply as Board-certified specialists in a particular field.

Are you interested in starting a new area of legal specialization? Contact your BLS administrator at specialization@staff.azbar.org to find out how. Certification shows that a lawyer takes care of their clients. The California State Bar must approve each attorney`s application. Organizations whose certification program is accredited by the state bar may also certify attorneys, but their certification requirements must match or exceed those of the California State Bar program. Learn more about how to become a certified specialist by the Arizona State Bar Board of Directors here. After passing the exam, you can apply for certification on AIMS after the exam. Your application for certification requires the following information for the California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) to review: Randal WestburyBoard of Legal Specialization AdministratorPhone: 602.340.7326E-mail: Randal.Westbury@staff.azbar.org To be considered a california state attorney certified by the California State Bar, an attorney must: One of the goals of the California Board of Legal Specialization is to provide consumers with another tool for: which they can use when choosing a lawyer. Some lawyers only “try” with estate planning, which can be ineffective and even dangerous. How do I know if a lawyer is an expert in a particular field? A strong clue is whether the attorney is a certified legal specialist at the California State Bar. Being a specialist certified by the Arizona State Bar Board of Directors is a sign of excellence and exceptional achievement.