Ohio State Bar Association's Specialization Certification Program

The specific requirements to become a certified attorney specialist in Ohio vary depending on the specialty area. After the attorney is certified, the attorney must file a written report each year. The attorney must also renew the certification every four to seven years.

The general requirements to become a certified specialist include:

• Passing a written examination that will test the attorney's knowledge about the specialty area of the law;
• Showing continuing and substantial involvement in the specialty area of law;
• Maintain professional liability insurance with a specified amount of coverage;
• Providing proof that the attorney has attended or taught continuing legal eduction (CLE) classes on topics closely related to the specialty area of practice; and
• Submitting references from judges and attorneys familiar with the attorney's practice who can attest to the attorney's competence in the specialty field.

Board-certified Ohio lawyers are permitted under the Bar Rules in Ohio to use certain phrases in their marketing efforts that other attorneys are not permitted to use. For example, the attorneys can use the phrase “certified by the Ohio State Bar Association.” Those statements can be used in advertising and on the attorney's business cards and letterhead. Ohio Bar Rules prevent attorneys from using the term "specialist" or "expert" or "board certified" unless they have been certified in that specialty area of the law.