Under 27 NCAC 01D Section .2501, the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization established criminal law as a specialty area of law. For purposes of the board certification program criminal law includes both federal and state criminal law and the subspecialty of juvenile delinquency law.
Lawyer Legion maintains a directory of North Carolina board-certified specialists in:
This directory is included along with a broader directory of certified and both certified and non-certified criminal defense lawyers in North Carolina and NC attorneys practicing in other areas of law across the state and throughout the U.S. This directory provides the public with a valuable resource allowing them to narrow their search to local attorneys who have earned their status as board certified in State Criminal Law by North Carolina State Bar.
Lawyer Legion is the only commercial lawyer directory to properly acknowledge all ABA-accredited specialization programs and provide a dynamic directory of virtually every lawyer who has earned each certification.
Use this directory to connect with lawyers who are board-certified State Criminal Law specialists in North Carolina. Start by choosing your county from the list below.
The specialty of criminal law is defined for North Carolina's board certification program as the practice of law dealing with "the defense or prosecution of those charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes in state and federal trial courts."
The term state criminal law is defined as the "practice of criminal law in state trial and appellate courts." The term "juvenile delinquency law" is defined as the "practice of law in state juvenile delinquency courts."
Lawyers that qualify can use the term "Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law." If a lawyer qualifies as a specialist for the subspecialty of state criminal law, then the lawyer can use the term "Board Certified Specialist in State Criminal Law."
Similarly, lawyers that qualify can use the term "Board Certified Specialist in Federal Criminal Law." If a lawyer qualifies as a specialist for the subspecialty of juvenile delinquency law, then the lawyer can use the term "Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law – Juvenile Delinquency."
The attorney that applies for certification as a specialist in criminal law or the subspecialty of state criminal law or juvenile delinquency must show substantial involvement in the specialty area through the performance of substantive legal work including significant criminal trial experiences through a certain number of criminal jury trials.
A portion of the substantial involvement requirements might be met through a practice equivalent such as:
The attorney must show that he or she has completed certain tasks proving the attorney's significant criminal trial experience including:
The attorney must show that he or she has completed a certain number and type of continuing legal education (CLE) credits in the field of criminal law (including evidence, substantive criminal law, criminal procedure, criminal trial advocacy, and criminal trial tactics), as well as a specified number of hours in ethics.
The attorney must submit to peer review from other attorneys and judges in the community familiar with the attorney's practice.
The attorney must pass a written examination testing the attorney's knowledge on certain criminal law topics including:
Certification is in effect for five years. During that time the attorney must apply for continued certification within certain time limits.
Although no written examination is required, the attorney must show substantial involvement in the specialty area, completion of certain continuing legal education (CLE) credits, and peer review.
