The standards for certification of lawyers specializing in family law was lasted revised on January 1, 2013. In accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (BLS) established by the Arizona Board of Governors, the Arizona BLS prescribes the following standards and requirements for certification of lawyers specializing in family law in Arizona.
The Family Law Advisory Commission ("FLAC") of the BLS makes recommendations in setting these objective standards. Earning board specialty certification in family law is not a requirement for family law attorneys in Arizona. Additionally, attorneys who have earned this certification are not restricted to practicing only in this specialty field of law.
Before an Arizona family law attorney can become a certified specialist, the attorney must meet the following general requirements:
In addition to the general requirements, in order to become a certified specialist in family law, the attorney must:
The attorney must demonstrate substantial involvement in the field of Family Law by listing all hearings within the past 24 months in which the applicant acted as lead counsel. The term hearing includes "orders to appear, evidentiary proceedings on orders of protection, trials, or other evidentiary proceedings whereby one or more issues are decided by the Court." Other task requirements apply.
The attorney "must demonstrate honesty and integrity, professionalism as defined by the Lawyer’s Creed of Professionalism of the State Bar of Arizona, and a high degree of competence in the practice of Family Law."
In order to demonstrate a “high degree of competence” the attorney must:
The attorney must provide references from five Arizona attorneys who practice in Family Law or judges before whom the attorney has appeared, who are familiar with the applicant’s practice.
The names of the attorneys who have applied to become certified specialist in family law shall be published in a State Bar of Arizona publication, providing an opportunity for comment, at least 30 days before consideration of applications Family Law Advisory Committee.
The attorney must show that during the specified period he has completed at least 50 hours of continuing legal education in Family Law.
If you need to find a qualified family law attorney in Arizona, then consider Arizona's board specialty certification program in family law. These programs set objective standards for measuring an attorneys dedication to a specialty practice area of the law like family law.