Frequently Asked Questions: Legal Specialization

Are you licensed with the State Bar of California? Have you practiced in your specialty area for at least 25 percent of the time for each of the last three years?

If the answer is yes to each question, then you are ready to begin the process. Once open, you can register for the exam, which will be held every other year. Please visit the information on Becoming a Certified Specialist and the specific requirements for each specialty area.

The State Bar also accredits the following organizations, which certify attorneys in eleven additional practice areas: 

 American Board of Certification

• Business Bankruptcy Law
• Consumer Bankruptcy Law
• Creditors' Rights Law

National Board of Trial Advocacy

• Civil Trial Advocacy
• Criminal Trial Advocacy 
• Family Law Trial Advocacy
• Social Security Disability Law

National Elder Law Foundation

• Elder Law

American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

• Legal Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice

National Association of Counsel for Children

• Juvenile Law (Child Welfare)

To search for certified specialists, please visit the Attorney Search webpage, select the Certified Specialists link, and use the drop down to search by certified legal specialty.  You can further refine the results by adding geographic limitations (e.g., city or county). 

California attorneys who are certified as specialists have taken and passed a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.

Only these attorneys can identify themselves as certified specialists in California because they are the only attorneys who are certified either by the California Board of Legal Specialization or by an organization whose certification program has been accredited by the State Bar. Such an organization must have requirements for certification that are at least equal to those of the State Bar's program.

Eleven areas:

1. Admiralty and Maritime Law
2. Appellate Law
3. Bankruptcy Law
4. Criminal Law
5. Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
6. Family Law
7. Franchise and Distribution Law
8. Immigration and Nationality Law
9. Legal Malpractice Law
10. Taxation Law
11. Workers' Compensation Law