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Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification
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Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification

The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) established its specialty certification program for attorneys which offers board certification in four (4) specialty areas for lawyers practicing in Minnesota. The MSBA has been accredited by the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Attorneys who become board certified as a legal specialist, have demonstrated to the public their proficiency in the specialty area.

For any specialty certification by the MSBA, the lawyer must pass a written exam, complete hours of continuing legal education (CLE), and various other specific requirements the MSBA has set for each specialty area.

Search for a Board Certified Specialist Lawyer

About the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification

Overview

  • Director: Emily Eschweiler
  • Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Board Certification in Minnesota

The Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification, appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court, accredits independent agencies to certify lawyers as specialists. Attorneys may seek certification from non-accredited agencies but must clearly communicate that the agency is not accredited.

In 1988, the Minnesota State Bar Association established a specialty certification program for attorneys. It is currently the only Minnesota-specific organization accredited in the state to certify lawyers. The program was designed to establish objective qualifications to identify attorneys qualified for special recognition as a legal specialist.

Currently, four organizations are accredited to certify in Minnesota including three national organizations and the Minnesota State Bar Association. As of February 25, 2014, there were 940 attorneys in Minnesota who had earned the designation as a certified specialist from one of the four (4) organizations.

Details

Specialty Areas of Certification

The MSBA is accredited to certify lawyers in four practice areas:

The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) announced on November 18, 2019, that its Truck Accident Law certification has been granted accreditation in Minnesota.

People

Board Members of Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification

V. John Ella
V. John Ella
Chair
Minneapolis, MN
Thomas Alan Jacobson
Alexandria, MN
Andrew John Pratt
Minneapolis, MN
Bruce Michael Rivers
Minneapolis, MN
Brendan Robert Tupa
Minneapolis, MN

Board Certified Minnesota Lawyers Active on Lawyer Legion

John Michael Dornik
Siegel Brill PA
Minneapolis, MN
View Profile
Bruce Norman Ringstrom Jr
Ringstrom Law
Moorhead, MN
View Profile
Clayton Dean Halunen
Halunen & Associates
Minneapolis, MN
View Profile
James A Lavoie
Lindell & Lavoie, L.L.P.
Minneapolis, MN
View Profile
Jeremy Ronald Stevens
Bird Jacobsen & Stevens PC
Rochester, MN
View Profile

Directory of Board Certified Lawyers in Minnesota

Lawyer Legion maintains a statewide directory of board certified lawyers in Minnesota. The public is able to browse the directory and narrow their search by specialty area, county or city to and connect with board certified lawyers to help with their case. Lawyer Legion is the only commercial lawyer directory to properly acknowledge all ABA-accredited specialization programs for both national and state-level board certifications, including those granted by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Use this directory to find board-certified lawyers who are specialized in their respective areas of law. Start by choosing your county from the list below.


Lawyers by County

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Contact

Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification
180 E. 5th Street Suite 950
Saint Paul, MN 55101
www.blc.mn.gov
Office: (651) 297-1857
Fax: (651) 297-1196

More About Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification

Requirements for Board Certifications

For any specialty certification by the MSBA, the lawyer must:

  • Provide evidence of substantial involvement in the specialty area, along with references;
  • Pass a written exam;
  • Be admitted to practice, and be in good standing in Minnesota;
  • Complete at least 30 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) in the previous three years for the specialty area in which he or she is seeking to become certified; and
  • Complete any specific requirements the MSBA has set for his or her specialty area.

Benefits of Becoming a Board Certified Attorney

For Minnesota attorneys, the benefits of becoming board certified include:

  • Important advantages when it comes to attorney advertising because only board certified attorneys can use the term "specialist;"
  • Recognition on the Minnesota Bar website where members of the public might begin a search for an attorney; and
  • 5% credit on professional liability insurance through a program developed by the Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (MLM) with the support of the Minnesota Board of Legal Certification.

National Organizations Accredited in Minnesota

Finding a Board Certified Specialist in Minnesota

At Lawyer Legion, we recognize the important role that specialty certification programs play in helping the public find a qualified attorney. Use our directory to find a board certified specialist in Minnesota.

These specialty certification programs establish an independent measure of competence, professionalism, and peer acknowledgment.

Lawyer Legion is not endorsed or approved by any state or national board certification program or by any bar association, including the State Bar of Minnesota, but our directory can help you find a board certified lawyer.


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