Certified Family Law Specialist

What is a Certified Family Law Specialist?

The California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge, skill, and experience in the practice of family law. To qualify for certification, an attorney must have practiced family law for a minimum of five years and satisfy rigorous standards established by the State Bar. Certified Family Law Specialists have demonstrated substantial expertise across the full spectrum of California family law, including divorce, legal separation, annulment, property characterization and division, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, domestic violence, parentage, tax issues related to divorce, and other complex family law matters.

The Certification Standards

Before an attorney may become certified, he or she must successfully complete what is often described as a “2nd bar exam”—a comprehensive written specialization examination administered by the California State Bar that focuses exclusively on family law.

In addition to passing this demanding examination, an attorney must:

• Demonstrate practical experience in family law over a minimum of 5 years, including participation in a significant number of trials, evidentiary hearings, settlements, mediations, and negotiated resolutions.
• Obtain favorable confidential evaluations and recommendations from fellow attorneys (usually previous opposing counsels) and judges who are familiar with the attorney’s legal ability, ethics, professionalism, and experience in family law.
• Complete significantly more continuing legal education in family law than is required of attorneys who are not certified specialists, ensuring they remain current on changes in the law and developments affecting the family law practice.
• Continue to satisfy the State Bar’s ongoing educational and professional requirements to maintain certification.

Certification is not a one-time achievement. To maintain their designation, Certified Family Law Specialists must apply for recertification every 5 years.  As part of the recertification process, specialists must continue to demonstrate substantial family law experience, satisfy ongoing education requirements, and once again obtain favorable confidential evaluations from fellow attorneys and judges familiar with their work before the State Bar renews their certification.

Because of these rigorous initial and ongoing requirements, relatively few California family law attorneys earn and maintain the designation of Certified Family Law Specialist. The certification reflects a demonstrated commitment to excellence, professionalism, continuing education, and specialized expertise in California family law.