BOARD CERTIFICATION Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

Certification is the highest level of evaluation 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. Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

Only Board Certified Specialists have taken the extra steps to have their competence and expertise evaluated. Board Certification establishes an independent measure of Competence Professionalism and Peer Acknowledgement. Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

Certification means that an attorney’s expertise can be verified by both prospective clients and counsel seeking to refer legal matters and can help lawyers grow their practice utilizing their expertise. Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

WHY SEEK BOARD CERTIFICATION? Certification serves both prospective clients and counsel seeking to refer legal matters to an expert. Certification provides an objective measure that a corporate executive, hiring partner, government official, or other leader may justifiably rely upon when selecting a lawyer and explaining the course to stockholders, clients, citizens, or others to whom the leader is accountable. Certification enhances the stature of a law firm or office, as tangibly demonstrated by lower malpractice insurance rates for certified lawyers. Certification demonstrates commitment for practitioners who vary their practice styles from the traditional mode, and helps validate the commitment of a lawyer who chooses to work alternative hours, or from home, to accommodate health, family, or other personal demands. Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

BENEFITS OF BEING BOARD CERTIFIED Online directory and Florida Bar web page Discounts on malpractice insurance Designations in Super Lawyers and Legal Elite online listings Capstone Newsletter Statewide Communications Campaign Lawyer Marketing Resources LinkedIn Group Excellent Referral Networks Area Specific Logos Use initials “B.C.S.” on pleadings Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS  A minimum of five years in law practice.  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 certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. A lawyer must be a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and meet the area’s prescribed standards to become board certified. Standards for each area vary but each area maintains common minimum standards including:

RECERTIFICATION Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar approved continuing education courses. To be recertified lawyers must meet requirements similar to those for initial certification. Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Certified Recertified

WHAT IS JUVENILE LAW? Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Juvenile Law is the area of law that inherently and directly impacts children. It includes, but is not limited to, dependency, delinquency, and termination of parental rights matters.

EXAMINATION - PURPOSE Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. The Juvenile Law Certification Exam is intended to test whether an applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, abilities, ethics, and judgments that are common to specialists in juvenile law and is also intended to be a valid and reliable measurement to justify the representation of special competence and professionalism that distinguishes a “Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer.”

EXAMINATION - CONTENT Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.  40%: JL Topics of Concern to All Practitioners  30%: Delinquency  30%: Dependency  Topics NOT tested: Family Law, Probate Guardianship, Adoption of Non-Child Welfare Involved Children  Date Range of Law: In affect as of January of the year in which the exam is administered

THE APPLICATION PROCESS Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Download Application: Submit the completed application and $250 filing fee by October 31, 2016.

QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Rule , Rules Regulating The Florida Bar Peer Review – Exhibit A, Rule (c) Substantial Involvement – Exhibit B, Rule (b) Continuing Legal Education – Exhibit C, Rule (d) 20 Year Exemption – Exhibit D Exam Subspecialty - Exhibit E

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES 2017 Exam Application Filing Period: September 1 – October 31, 2016 CLE Date Range: September 1, 2013 – October 31, 2016 Deadline to Complete All Requirements: October 31, 2016 Notification of Exam Eligibility: March 31, 2017 Exam Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017 Notification of Exam Results: July 31, 2017 Certification Date: August 1, 2017 Recertification: July 31, 2022 Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise.

GRANDFATHERING Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Only available to applicants for the 2017 and 2018 examinations. All other requirements for certification must be met. Notices of exemption will be mailed by March 31, 2017 for the 2017 examination.

EXAM SUBSPECIALTY Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Exam Format: 2 parts, 3 hours each. Part I: 75 multiple choice questions and one essay. The multiple choice questions in Part I may relate to any of the juvenile law topics. The essay will be an ethics/cross jurisdictional essay. Part II (Subspecialty): 25 multiple choice questions and 2 essays. Examinees will answer question sets on delinquency OR dependency, tested at a higher level. Selected in Exhibit E in Application for Certification at time of filing.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (CLE) Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Applicants must complete 50 credit hours of approved continuing legal education between September 1, 2013 and October 31, 2016 to apply for the 2017 exam. 200 Series of Standing Committee Policies:  Topics for juvenile law CLE activities  Approved providers  Evaluation of individual credit requests

Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. Odds And Ends

ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? For applications, area requirements, filing deadlines, exam information and more, contact your Staff Liaison Julie Coiro at The Florida Bar today! Board certified attorneys are evaluated for professionalism, tested for expertise. U.S. Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit, Jan. 19, 2011 “The Florida Bar’s certification program seeks to honor and identify to the public the most exceptional attorneys practicing in their chosen field.”