Anyone can claim to be an appeals attorney. Board certification tells you that I’m an expert appellate lawyer.
Board-certified lawyers have dedicated themselves to achieving a heightened level of excellence through character, professionalism, ethics, and credibility in the practice of law.
The words Board Certified, Specialist, Expert, and the letters B.C.S. for Board Certified Specialist mean that a Florida lawyer has special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in a specific field of law. In Florida, only board certified lawyers may identify themselves by using these terms or the board certification logo.
Board certification is Florida’s official, independent determination of a lawyer’s expertise to practice in a specialty field of law. It is the gold standard for Florida lawyers, representing a recognition by a lawyer’s peers that they have attained a level of professional expertise in their chosen fields.
The Supreme Court of Florida established Florida's board certification program so that consumers can identify qualified legal specialists. Board certification's stringent requirements for legal expertise and professional conduct give the public objective standards by which to evaluate attorneys.
More than 100,000 lawyers are eligible to practice law in Florida … with more entering the field each year. As the legal landscape grows increasingly competitive, board-certified lawyers use their status to set themselves apart from peers.
The Florida Bar has put this short video on YouTube for educational purposes.
“There are lawyers, and then there are board-certified lawyers.”