North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 27 - STATE BAR › Chapter 01 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR › Subchapter D - RULES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR › Section .2400 - CERTIFICATION STANDARDS FOR THE FAMILY LAW SPECIALTY › Section 01D .2406 - STANDARDS FOR CONTINUED CERTIFICATION AS A SPECIALIST

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
The period of certification is five years. Prior to the
					 expiration of the certification period, a certified specialist who desires
					 continued certification must apply for continued certification within the time
					 limit described in Rule .2406(d) below. No examination will be required for
					 continued certification. However, each applicant for continued certification as
					 a specialist shall comply with the specific requirements set forth below in
					 addition to any general standards required by the board of all applicants for
					 continued certification.
(a)
				  Substantial Involvement - The specialist must demonstrate that, for each of the
				  five years preceding application, he or she has had substantial involvement in
				  the specialty as defined in Rule .2405(b) of this subchapter; however, for the
				  purpose of continued certification, service as a district court judge in North
				  Carolina hearing a substantial number of family law cases may be substituted,
				  year for year, for the experience required to meet the five-year
				  requirement.
(b) Continuing Legal
				  Education - Since last certified, a specialist must have earned no less than 60
				  hours of accredited continuing legal education credits in family law or related
				  fields. Not less than nine credits may be earned in any one year, and no more
				  than twelve credits may be in related fields. Related fields shall include
				  taxation, trial advocacy, evidence, negotiations (including training in
				  mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law), juvenile law, real property,
				  estate planning and probate law, business organizations, employee benefits,
				  bankruptcy, elder law, and immigration law. Only nine hours of CLE credit will
				  be recognized for attendance at an extended negotiation or mediation training
				  course. Parenting coordinator training will not qualify for family law or
				  related field hours.
(c) Peer
				  Review - The applicant must provide, as references, the names of at least six
				  lawyers or judges, all of whom are licensed and currently in good standing to
				  practice law in this state and familiar with the competence and qualification
				  of the applicant as a specialist. For an application to be considered,
				  completed peer reference forms must be received from at least three of the
				  references. All other requirements relative to peer review set forth in Rule
				  .2405(d) of this subchapter apply to this standard.
(d) Time for Application - Application for
				  continued certification shall be made not more than 180 days nor less than 90
				  days prior to the expiration of the prior period of certification.
(e) Lapse of Certification - Failure of a
				  specialist to apply for continued certification in a timely fashion will result
				  in a lapse of certification. Following such lapse, recertification will require
				  compliance with all requirements of Rule .2405 of this subchapter, including
				  the examination.
(f) Suspension or
				  Revocation of Certification - If an applicant's certification has been
				  suspended or revoked during the period of certification, then the application
				  shall be treated as if it were for initial certification under Rule .2405 of
				  this subchapter.
Authority
					 G.S.
					 84-23;
Readopted Effective
					 December 8, 1994;
Amendments Approved by the Supreme Court:
					 February 27, 2003; October 9, 2008; September 22, 2016; March 27,
					 2019.