The California Board of Legal Specialization (BLS), which is part of the State Bar of California, offers a program to certify attorneys who have demonstrated a proficiency in specific fields of law. Attaining the designation of Certified Family Law Specialist signifies that an attorney has met elevated standards of experience, education, and knowledge beyond the general requirements of licensure. This certification provides increased professional recognition and assures the public that the lawyer has independently verified expertise in the complexities of family law. The process requires a serious commitment to specialized practice and a willingness to undergo professional scrutiny.
Meeting the Initial Attorney Eligibility Requirements
The journey toward certification begins with establishing professional status within the state bar system. An applicant must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of California with no disciplinary issues or ethical concerns. This standing is a prerequisite for all subsequent steps in the specialization process.
To qualify, attorneys must also demonstrate continuous practice. An applicant needs to have been actively practicing law for a minimum period of five years before they can apply for the specialist designation. This requirement ensures that candidates possess a baseline level of professional maturity and have accumulated adequate experience in the legal field.
Documenting Substantial Family Law Experience
An attorney must demonstrate substantial involvement in family law practice for a minimum of five years. At least twenty-five percent of their occupational endeavors during the five years preceding the application must be dedicated to the specialty area. This criterion is quantified through a detailed accounting of specific legal tasks and matters handled by the applicant. The BLS reviews this documentation closely to confirm the breadth and depth of the attorney’s practical knowledge.
The experience requirement demands participation as principal counsel in a certain volume and type of proceedings. Applicants must document involvement in a minimum of twenty contested family law hearings, addressing issues such as child custody, support, or property division. Furthermore, the attorney must have served as principal counsel in at least five hearings or trials that were longer than three hours and involved the testimony of witnesses.
Beyond litigation, applicants must also show proficiency in alternative dispute resolution and settlement drafting. This includes acting as principal counsel in a minimum of thirty negotiated family law judgments or complex marital settlement agreements. This task-based approach ensures that the candidate has successfully navigated the full spectrum of family law matters.
Completing the Specialized Continuing Legal Education
Attorneys seeking certification must satisfy a specialized educational requirement that surpasses the standard minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) hours mandated for all California lawyers. The BLS requires applicants to complete a minimum of 45 hours of approved continuing education specifically in family law topics. These courses must be completed within the five years immediately preceding the date the application for certification is submitted.
The courses selected must be accredited by the BLS and focus on substantive areas of family law. This specialized education requirement ensures that the applicant has recent and comprehensive knowledge of the constantly evolving statutory and case law in the field. The educational component complements the attorney’s practical experience, providing a formal framework for continuous learning.
Preparing for and Passing the Certification Examination
Passing a specialized written examination in family law is required for all applicants, regardless of their years of experience. The exam is administered by the State Bar of California and is designed to test an applicant’s proficiency in the substantive law, procedure, and underlying legal theory of the specialty. This one-day test typically runs from morning until late afternoon.
The examination format combines assessment styles to evaluate the applicant’s expertise. It consists of eight short essay questions and 75 multiple-choice questions, covering a broad scope of family law topics. Subject areas include professional responsibility, jurisdiction, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and complex issues surrounding the characterization and division of marital property.
To pass the examination, an applicant must achieve a total scaled score of 453 or higher, calculated based on the combined performance on both the essay and multiple-choice sections. The essay portion is graded by certified specialists to ensure a high standard of legal analysis is demonstrated.
Navigating the Judicial and Attorney Peer Review
The Independent Inquiry and Review process serves as a formal validation of the applicant’s professional competence, integrity, and diligence in their practice. This step requires the applicant to submit a list of references who can attest to the quality of their work and ethical standing. These references typically include judges before whom the attorney has appeared and opposing counsel.
The BLS conducts a confidential inquiry by sending questionnaires to these references to gather feedback on the applicant’s skills and reputation. Reviewers evaluate the attorney’s knowledge of family law, trial advocacy skills, and overall professional demeanor. A favorable evaluation from judicial and attorney peers is a necessary endorsement.
This peer review assesses the qualitative aspects of the attorney’s practice. It confirms that the applicant meets quantitative requirements and maintains a reputation for professionalism and skill within the family law community. The commission uses this inquiry to determine whether the applicant should be recommended for certification to the State Bar.
Understanding Recertification Requirements
The designation of Certified Family Law Specialist is not permanent and must be renewed on a regular basis. The initial certification is granted for a five-year term, and attorneys must apply for recertification before the expiration of that period. Recertification does not require the attorney to take the written specialization examination again.
Maintaining the specialist designation requires a continued commitment to both practice and education. The specialist must demonstrate continued substantial involvement in the practice of family law throughout the preceding five-year term. This is accomplished by reporting the completion of specific task and experience requirements that mirror the initial application process.
Recertification mandates a higher, ongoing requirement for specialized continuing legal education, known as Legal Specialist Continuing Legal Education (LSCLE). Certified specialists must complete 36 hours of LSCLE every three years, which is a separate reporting requirement from the general MCLE compliance. This heightened educational burden ensures that the certified attorney stays abreast of the latest changes in family law.