Under 27 NCAC 01D .2105, the Standards for Certification as a Specialist in Real Property Law in North Carolina provide that each applicant for certification must meet certain standards including:
- Showing substantial involvement in the practice of real estate law. The practice of real estate law means substantive legal work done primarily for the purpose of legal advice or representation. Alternatively, the applicant might show substantial involvement through a practice equivalent which could include service as a law professor concentrating in the teaching of real property law for part of the experience requirement.
- Completion of certain continuing legal education (CLE) credits in real property law (either commercial or residential) and other related areas of the law such as business organizations, elder law, environmental law, taxation, estate planning, and probate law.
- A showing of qualifications through peer review by other lawyers or judges who are familiar with the attorney's practice.
- Passing a written examination designed to test the attorney's knowledge and ability in real property law for the following areas:
- title examinations, property transfers, financing, leases, and determination of property rights;
- the acquisition, ownership, leasing, financing, use, transfer, and disposition of residential real property by individuals;
- the acquisition, ownership, leasing, management, financing, development, use, transfer, and disposition of residential, business, commercial, and industrial real property.
Under 27 NCAC 01D .2106, the standards for continued certification as a specialist in real estate law provide that the period of certification is five years. During those five years, the attorney must apply for continued certification. Part of the recertification process for a real estate law attorney in North Carolina includes showing:
- continuing substantial involvement in real property law;
- continuing legal education (CLE) focused on real property law and related fields such as environmental law, taxation, business organizations, estate planning and probate law, and elder law; and
- peer review.
