The Florida Bar awards certification to 178 lawyers.

Almost 200 Florida lawyers in 2012 earned Florida Bar board certification, the Bar's highest evaluation of attorneys' competence and experience, in one of the 24 areas of law approved for certification by the Florida Supreme Court. Board certified attorneys are the only Florida lawyers allowed to identify themselves as "specialists" or "experts," or to use the initials "B.C.S." to indicate Board Certified Specialist. Board certification evaluates attorneys' special knowledge, skills, and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.

"The Florida Bar's board certification program is one of the best in the country," said Florida Bar President Gwynne Young of Carlton Fields in Tampa. "It assists the public in locating lawyers who have demonstrated their level of skill, excellence, and commitment to professionalism." Florida Bar President-elect Eugene Pettis, a board certified education lawyer who practices with Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm in Ft. Lauderdale, believes that board certification is becoming a standard of preference for an increasing number of clients.

"In an ever-crowded field of over 93,000 lawyers, the achievement of board certification is the only way of distinguishing yourself as an expert or a specialist," said Pettis. "I highly encourage lawyers to demonstrate their competence and experience through seeking board certification in their professional areas."

Board of Legal Specialization & Education Chair Timon V. Sullivan believes that board certification is a significant professional distinction that is invaluable to the public.

"Florida Bar board certification is a legal credential which signifies that a lawyer has been evaluated for experience, expertise, and professionalism," said Sullivan, a board certified civil trial lawyer with Ogden & Sullivan P.A. in Tampa. "Informed legal consumers understand that board certification is as meaningful in hiring a lawyer as it is in selecting a doctor."

The following lawyers, listed by specialty areas and cities, have attained board certification:

Admiralty and Maritime Law

Raul Julio Chacon, Jr., Miami

F. David Famulari, Miami

Adoption Law

Nicole Ward Moore, Orlando

Appellate Practice

Craig Dennis Feiser, Jacksonville

Shannon Patricia McKenna, Hollywood

Jamie Billotte Moses, Orlando

Michael Joseph Park, Clearwater

Rolando Antonio Soler, Hollywood

Business Litigation

Jarrett Evan Cooper, Ft. Lauderdale

Charles G. Geitner, Tampa

Hanklin Edwin Jackson, West Palm Beach

Kevin Francis Jursinski, Ft. Myers

Karen Judith Lane, Daytona Beach

Rachael Spring Loukonen, Naples

Kevin Markow, Ft. Lauderdale

Scott Alan McLaren, Tampa

Gary Michael Schaaf, Clearwater

Steven Edward Sellers, Tallahassee

John Joseph Shahady, Ft. Lauderdale

Leslie Dean Sheekley, Ft. Walton Beach

Natly Torres-Alvarado, Ft. Myers

City, County and Local Government

Robert Milner Bradley, Jr., Orange Park

Natileene Wise Cassel, Key...