Adoption and education law approved for certification.

The Florida Supreme Court has approved standards for adoption law and education law as the 23rd and 24th areas available to attorneys for Florida Bar board certification.

Attorneys may apply later this year for the two new certification areas on The Florida Bar Web site at www. FloridaBar.org/certification.

The Supreme Court order, issued June 11, amends Florida Bar rules to add the two new areas to the existing certification program, which was established as a way for consumers to identify lawyers who have met established standards in particular practice areas.

Certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as specialists or experts. Board certification evaluates attorneys' special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.

"Florida's board certification program continues to diversify its array of available practice areas to benefit lawyers who want to be recognized as experts in their fields," said Joni Armstrong Coffey, who chairs The Florida Bar's Board of Legal Specialization and Education. "Court approval for two additional certification areas also will give consumers greater access to specialists for legal counsel."

The BLSE oversees Florida's board-certification program.

Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Florida offers the greatest number of state-approved certification areas in the nation.

A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state's Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of 24 certification fields. About 4,300 of Florida's 86,000 lawyers are board certified.

Lawyers certified in adoption law deal with complexities and legalities in interstate and intrastate adoption placements, civil controversies arising from termination of biological parents' parental rights, and the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Amy Hickman, who headed up the Family Law Section's efforts to get certification for adoption practitioners, said the new certification area is a boon for prospective adoptive parents because it will assist them in finding qualified lawyers.

"Florida has a fairly complicated adoption statute and it has fairly complicated procedures," she said. "I just think it's so exciting for adoptive parents for...

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