What is board certification?
Most members of the public are still unaware that the Florida Bar has a certification (specialization) program not unlike that used in the medical profession. Board certification exists in many areas of law including marital and family law, tax law, civil trial law, and others.
What qualifications are required to become board certified?
To become board certified an attorney must have a minimum tenure as an attorney and a minimum level of experience, including trials, in his or her particular specialty. Further, an extensive written examination is required to gain admittance as a specialist. At the time of this writing in 2006 there are 18 board certified marital and family law lawyers in Fort Lauderdale. There are thirty board certified marital and family law lawyers in Broward County out of some 5,000 to 6,000 attorneys in the county. There are slighly over 250 board certified marital and family law lawyers in the State of Florida.
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Who is affiliated with the Academy? The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is a volunteer organization composed of approximately 2,000 of the most pre-eminent marital and family law lawyers in the United States. There are approximately 90 members in the State of Florida and 14 members in Broward County. Admission to the Academy may only be obtained by application (only board certified marital and family law lawyers may apply) which is followed by both a written and oral exam as well as the review and scrutiny of the applicant by the existing members. The Academy is heavily involved in family law issues and family law lawyer education; the Florida Chapter is most noted for creating and presenting an extensive seminar each year for lawyer training, which is attended by over 600 Family Law Lawyers throughout the State.