Certification helps consumers to identify lawyers who have experience and skill in a certain area of practice. Certification also helps lawyers by encouraging them to improve their expertise in particular areas of practice and providing them with a legitimate way of informing the public and other lawyers of this expertise. The specialization program is administered by the Board of Legal Specialization, a standing committee of the State Bar that was created in 1985. The standards for certification in these practice areas are set forth in 27 NCAC 1D, Sections .2100 through .2700. The certification applications are included in the forms section of this website .
Certification is effective for five years.
At the end of five years, a specialist must apply for recertification. The standards for recertification are similar to the standards for initial certification but no written examination is required. The recertification applications are included in the forms section of this website .