State Status Report on Lawyer Specialty Certification

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Alabama	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Civil Trial Advocacy Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Business Bankruptcy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy	Edward M. Patterson, Director of Programs Alabama State Bar 415 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, AL 36101 Phone: (334) 269-1515 Fax: (334) 261-6310 edpatter@alabar.org Alabama State Bar - Specialization
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct permit lawyers to indicate that they are certified specialists where the certifying organization has been "previously approved by the Alabama State Bar Board of Legal Specialization..." [Rule 7.4(c)]. The comment to Rule 7.4 requires that communications regarding specialty certification include the name of the certifying entity. While there is presumptive approval for ABA accredited certification programs, these programs must show proof of accreditation and pay a registration fee to the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. ABA accredited programs sponsored by the American Board of Certification, the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the National Elder Law Foundation are recognized in Alabama. Non-Accredited programs must apply directly to the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and pay a registration fee. (11/2004)

Alaska	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Stephen J. Van Goor Bar Counsel Alaska Bar Association 510 L Strret Suite 602 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 272-7469 Fax: (907) 272-2932 vangoors@alaskabar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Under state ethics rules, lawyers are permitted to communicate information concerning specialty certification only if the certification is granted by an organization or authority whose specialty certification is accredited by the ABA. [Rule 7.4(b)]. (11/2004)

Arizona	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification Private Certification Approval	State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization Programs Bankruptcy Criminal Law Estate &Trust Family Law Injury & Wrongful Death Real Estate Taxation Workers’ Compensation	Marnie Leinberger Specialization Administrator State Bar of Arizona - Board of Legal Specialization 111 W. Monroe – Suite 1800 Phoenix, AZ 85003-1742 Phone: (602) 340-7327 Fax: (602) 271-4930 marnie.leinberger@staff.azbar.org State Bar of Arizona - Find a Certified Specialist
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: State ethics rules allow attorneys to state that they are specialists in particular fields of practice where "the lawyer has been certified by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization or … by a national entity which has standards for certification substantially the same as those established by the Board" [Rule 7.4]. At this time, no national certification programs are recognized in Arizona, which has a 50% substantial involvement requirement. (11/2004)

Arkansas	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Larry Brady Legal Specialization Comm. Justice Building 625 Marshall Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: (501) 682-7995
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Arkansas Supreme Court amended Rule 7.4 to recognize ABA accreditation. The comment states "certification signifies that an objective entity has recognized an advanced degree of knowledge and experience in the specialty area greater than is suggested by general licensure to practice law." The Court created an Arkansas Legal Specialization Task Force to assist lawyers currently certified during the transition to a new system. (11/2004)

California	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification Private Certification Approval	State Bar of California Certification Programs Appellate Practice Bankruptcy Criminal Law Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Family Law Immigration & Nationality Taxation Workers’ Compensation Private Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Elder Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Medical, Legal & Accounting Malpractice	Phyllis Culp Director State Bar of California Board of Legal Certification 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 538-2120 Fax: (415) 538-2211 Lorna Maynard lorna.maynard@calsb.ca.gov California Specialist
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: California Rules of Professional Conduct permit communications that state that a lawyer is a certified specialist, as long as "the member holds a current certificate as a specialist issued by the Board of Legal Specialization, or any other entity accredited by the State Bar to designate specialists…" [Rule 1-400(D)(6)]. In addition to its own certification programs, the State Bar of California accredits private certifying entities. ABA accredited programs qualify for an abridged accreditation process, but must demonstrate that the attorneys they certify meet California standards with respect to task, experience and examination requirements. ABA accredited programs sponsored by the American Board of Certification, the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the National Elder Law Foundation are accredited in California. (11/2004)

Colorado	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Charles C. Turner Executive Director Colorado Bar Association 1900 Grant St. – Suite #950 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 860-1115 Fax: (303) 894-0821
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Ethics Rule 7.4 permits lawyers to state or imply that they specialize as long as such statements comply with Rule 7.1, which prohibits false or misleading statements in communications regarding lawyers’ services. However, advertisements referencing specialty certification must also include the following disclaimer: "Colorado does not certify attorneys as specialists in any field" [Rule 7.4(f)]. The disclaimer is not required where the information concerning the lawyer's services is contained in a law list, law directory or a publication intended primarily for use of the legal profession. The comment to Rule 7.4 indicates that a claim of certification contained in a lawyer's letterhead does not require the disclaimer unless the letterhead is used in an advertisement. (11/2004)

Connecticut	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Criminal Trial Advocacy State Bar of CT Certification Programs Workers’ Compensation	Donna Fiorentino Certification Program Advisor Connecticut Bar Association 30 Bank St. P.O. Box 350 New Britain, CT 06050-0350 Phone: (860) 612-2032 Fax: (860) 223-4488 fiorentino@ctbar.org Legal Certification Programs in Connecticut
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Connecticut Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4A permits attorneys to state or imply that they are certified specialists where certification is granted "by a board or other entity which is approved by the Rules Committee of the Superior Court…" [Rule 7.4A]. ABA accredited programs sponsored by the American Board of Certification and the National Board of Trial Advocacy have been approved by the Rules Committee. Additionally, the Connecticut Bar Association has approved standards, procedures and rules in the area of Workers’ Compensation law and is certifying attorneys directly in this area of practice. (11/2004)

Delaware	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Mary M. Johnston Chief Disciplinary Counsel Delaware Supreme Court Office of Disciplinary Counsel P.O. Box 472 Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone: (302) 577-7042 Fax: (302) 577-7048
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Delaware has adopted Section 7 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rule 7.4 ("Communications of Fields of Practice"). Under this rule, Delaware lawyers are permitted to communicate information regarding specialty certification – without a disclaimer – where the certification is awarded by an organization whose program is accredited by the ABA. Such communications must include the name of the certifying entity. (11/2004)

District of Columbia	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Ernest Lindberg Ethics Counsel District of Columbia Bar 1250 H Street, NW – 6^th Floor Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 626-3431 Fax: (202) 626-3473 elingberg@dcbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The District of Columbia’s ethics rules permit wide-ranging communications concerning lawyers’ services, provided that the communications are neither false nor misleading [Rule 7.1(a)]. The Rules of Professional Conduct are otherwise silent with respect to lawyer specialization and certification. (11/2004)

Florida	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification	The Florida Bar - Board of Legal Specialization & Education Certification Programs Admiralty/Maritime Antitrust & Trade Regulation Appellate Practice Aviation Law Business Litigation City, County &; Local Government Civil Trial Construction Law Criminal Appellate Criminal Trial Elder Law Health Law Immigration & Nationality International Law Labor & Employment Law Marital & Family Law Real Estate Law Tax Law Wills, Trusts & Estates Workers' Compensation Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors' Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Dawna G. Bicknell, Director The Florida Bar - Board of Legal Specialization & Educ. 651 East Jefferson St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300 Phone: (850) 561-5655 Fax: (850) 561-5660 dbicknell@flabar.org The Florida Bar - Certification
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Florida Rules of Professional Conduct permit lawyers certified by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization or those certified by another State Bar Association with "standards reasonably comparable to the standards of the Florida certification plan as set forth in chapter 6" may inform the public and other lawyers about such certification. Rule 4-7.2(c)(3). As amended effective May 20, 2004. (5/2005)

Georgia	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		General Counsel's Office State Bar of Georgia 104 Marietta St. NW Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 527-8720 Fax: (404) 527-8741
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Code of Professional Responsibility in Georgia has been overhauled to more closely parallel the ABA Model Rules. Under Georgia Model Rule 7.4 a lawyer may communicate a specialty gained by "experience, specialized training or education" or "certified by a recognized and bona fide professional entity", so long as the statement is not false or misleading. (11/2004)

Hawaii	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Secondary Certification	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts 417 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813-2902 Phone: (808) 539-4900
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Pursuant to Rule 7.4 of the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct, Hawaii lawyers are permitted to communicate information regarding specialty certification provided the communication is not false or misleading, clearly states the name of the certifying organization, and includes a statement indicating that "The Supreme Court of Hawaii grants … certification only to lawyers in good standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the American Bar Association" [Rule 7.4(c)]. Supreme Court Rule 1.13 calls for lawyers who are awarded certification by an ABA accredited program to petition the court for a ‘Hawaii Certificate of Specialization’ in the specialty area, which must be renewed every five years. (11/2004)

Idaho	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability Trial Specialist ITLA Programs Civil Trial Specialist Criminal Trial Specialist Workers Compensation	Bar Counsel Idaho State Bar 525 West Jefferson St P.O. Box 895 Boise, ID 83701 Phone: (208) 334-4500 Fax: (208) 334-4515 Idaho Trial Lawyers Association 1517 W. Hays Boise, ID 83701 Phone: (208) 345-1890 Certification of Specialization Program
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Idaho Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 permits lawyers to communicate information regarding certification as long as the certification is awarded by the Idaho State Bar or "an organization which has been approved by the Idaho State Bar" [Rule 7.4]. Communications must also state the name of the certifying organization. The state bar does not directly certify lawyers as specialists, but presumptively recognizes ABA accredited programs. The bar has also approved programs sponsored by the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association. There are enhanced CLE requirements for attorneys holding themselves out as specialists or certified specialists. New Rules have been proposed that permit a lawyer to state he or she is certified if the certifying organization is approved by the Idaho State Bar pursuant to Section X of the Idaho Bar Commission Rules. The changes were effective 7/1/04. (11/2004)

Illinois	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Mary McDermott General Counsel Illinois State Bar Association Suite 900 20 S. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: (312) 726-8775 Fax: (312) 726-9071
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Ethics Rule 7.4 permits lawyers to use the terms ‘certified,’ ‘specialist,’ ‘expert’ or similar terms to describe their qualifications and to identify "certificates, awards or recognitions…." However, where such terms are used to reference one’s status as a board certified lawyer, the statement must be truthful and verifiable and must also include the following disclaimer: "The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law and the certificate, award or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in Illinois" [Rule 7.4(c)]. (11/2004)

Indiana	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors' Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Elder Law Family Law Section, Indiana State Bar Association Family Law	Julia Orzeske Executive Director Indiana Commission for CLE 1065 Merchants Plaza – South Tower 115 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204-3417 Phone: (317) 232-1943 Fax: (317) 233-1442 pwood@courts.state.in.us Indiana Commission for CLE
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 allows communication "that the lawyer is certified as a specialist in a field of practice when the certification and communication are authorized under Admission and Discipline Rule 30." The state rules of professional conduct delegate to the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education the responsibility for authorizing rules governing attorney certification. A lawyer certified through a program approved by the Commission for Continuing Legal Education may communicate "the fact that [he or she] is certified … as a specialist in the area of law involved." The Commission has approved programs sponsored by the American Board of Certification, the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the National Elder Law Foundation. Public comment period ended 4/23/04. (11/2004)

Iowa	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Norman G. Bastemeyer Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics & Conduct 521 East Locust St. Des Moines, IA 50309 Phone: (515) 243-0027 Fax: (515) 243-2511
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Disciplinary Rule 2-105 limits lawyers’ claims of practice and claims of limitation of practice. DR 2-105 (E) states that a lawyer certified by an agency or a program formally recognized by the Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics and Conduct may identify the certifying entity and describe the field of practice in accordance with the certification. 2003 Strategic Plan recommends further study of specialization. (11/2004)

Kansas	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Jeffrey Alderman Executive Director Kansas Bar Association 1200 SW Harrison Street Topeka, KS 66612-1806 Phone: (785) 234-5696 Fax: (785) 234-3813 Kansas Bar Association
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Kansas Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 does not specifically address communications of specialization or board certification. It does, however, state that a "lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law" [Rule 7.4]. The commentary suggests that the rule would be amended in the event that the Kansas Supreme Court adopts "provisions pertaining to designation of specialization…" (11/2004)

Kentucky	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Bruce K. Davis Executive Director Kentucky Bar Association 514 West Main Street Frankfort, KY 40601-1883 Phone: (502) 564-3795 Fax: (502) 564-3225 Kentucky Bar Association
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Under the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers may state that they have been certified as specialists by bona fide certifying organizations – as Rule 7.40 states, "by an organization qualifying under Peel v. Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission of Illinois." Communications referencing specialty certification must include the name of the certifying organization [Rule 7.40(3)]. (11/2004)

Louisiana	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification Private Certification Approval	State Bar of Louisiana – Board of Specialization Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Consumer Bankruptcy Estate Planning & Administration Family Law Tax Law	Catherine S. Zulli Executive Director State Bar of Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization 601 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 619-0128 Fax: (425) 940-0470 Louisiana Bar - Lawyer Specialization
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Rule 7.4 permits statements pertaining to specialty certification where the "certification, specialization or expertise has been recognized or approved in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization" [Rule 7.4]. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization operates a direct certification program and also approves private certifying organizations. Lawyers certified by the Board or by an approved organization may state: "Board Certified (Field of Practice) Specialist– Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization" or "Certified by (Name of Certifying Entity) as a (Field of Practice) Specialist" [Louisiana State Bar Association Plan of Legal Specialization, Section 12(C)(1)]. (11/2004)

Maine	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Civil Trial Advocacy Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Business Bankruptcy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	J. Scott Davis, Esq. Bar Counsel Maine Bar Board of Overseers 97 Winthrop Street P.O. Box 527 Augusta, ME 04332-1527 Phone: (207) 623-1121 Fax: (207) 623-4175 Board of Overseers of the Bar
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Maine’s code of professional responsibility permits lawyers to make truthful statements identifying fields of specialty practice or "reporting certification or other recognition of expertise conferred by a named organization that has been approved by the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar…" [Rule 3.8(b)]. The state plan of specialization permits the Board to "approve without further investigation an organization that has been approved by the American Bar Association…" [Maine Bar Rules – Rule 4(d)(24)]. (11/2004)

Maryland	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Paul V. Carlin Executive Director Maryland State Bar Assn. Maryland Bar Center 520 W. Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: (410) 685-7878 Fax: (410) 837-0518 pcarlin@msba.org Maryland State Bar Association Harry Siegel mdlawyer@aol.com
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit lawyers from holding themselves out as specialists [Rule 7.4a]. (11/2004)

Massachusetts	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Abigail Shaine Executive Director Massachusetts Bar Assn. 20 West Street Boston, MA 02111-1218 Phone: (617) 338-0500 Fax: (617) 338-0650 Massachusetts Bar Association
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Massachusetts Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 permits lawyers to hold themselves out as specialists and to state that they "concentrate in," "specialize in," are "certified in" or have "expertise in" a particular field of law as long as such statements are not deceptive, name the certifying entity and also include the following disclaimer: "(Name of Certifying Organization) is a private organization whose standards for certification are not regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." In addition, the rules indicate that lawyers holding themselves out as specialists are implying expertise and, as a result, should be "held to the standard of performance of specialists in (the) … particular area." (11/2004)

Michigan	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		John T. Berry Executive Director State Bar of Michigan 306 Townsend St Lansing, MI 48933-2083 Phone: (800) 968-1442 Fax: (517) 482-6248 State Bar of Michigan
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Michigan Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 does not mention lawyer specialization or board certification. The rule states that a "lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law" [Rule 7.4]. New Rules have been proposed that will recognize ABA accredited organizations. Public comment period expires 2/1/05. (11/2004)

Minnesota	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Approved Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Practice (NBTA) Civil Trial Practice (MSBA) Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law (NBTA) Elder Law (NELF) Family Law Trial Advocacy (NBTA) Real Property (MSBA)	Cleone R. Brazil Minn. Board of Legal Cert. Galtier Plaza, Suite 201 St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: (651) 282-5689 Fax: (651) 296-5866 State Board of Legal Certification Meaghan Harper Minn. State Bar Assn. 600 Nicollet Mall, #380 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Phone: (612) 278-6318 Fax: (612) 333-4927 Legal Specialist Certification
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: State Rules of Professional Conduct allow lawyers to state that they are specialists if they are currently certified or approved as a specialist in a field of law by an organization that is approved by the State Board of Legal Certification. The Minnesota Board of Legal Certification has approved programs sponsored by the following certifying entities: The American Board of Certification, the National Board of Trial Advocacy, the National Elder Law Foundation, and the Real Property and Civil Trial Sections of the Minnesota State Bar Association. (11/2004)

Mississippi	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Michael B. Martz General Counsel Mississippi State Bar Assn. P.O. Box 2168 Jackson, MS 39225-2168 Phone: (601) 948-4471 Fax: (601) 355-8635
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Mississippi ethics rules (7.6) permit lawyers to communicate information regarding certification, without a disclaimer, where the certification has been awarded by an organization whose program is accredited by the ABA. Lawyers certified by non-accredited organizations must disclose this fact and further state that "there is no procedure in Mississippi for approving, certifying or designating organizations or authorities." (11/2004)

Missouri	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Chris Janku Director of Programs The Missouri Bar 326 Monroe P.O. Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Phone: (314) 638-2231 Fax: (314) 635-2811
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Lawyers may state or imply that they are specialists, but must include the following disclaimer: "(N)either the Supreme Court of Missouri nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations" [Rules of Professional Conduct 4-7.4]. (11/2004)

Montana	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Chris Manos Executive Director State Bar of Montana 46 N. Last Chance Gulch Suite 2A P.O. Box 577 Helena, MT 59624 Phone: (406) 442-7660 Fax: (406) 442-7763
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Montana Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 follows the ABA Model Rule and allows certified specialists to so indicate as long as the certifying organization is approved by an appropriate state authority or the ABA and the certifying organization is clearly identified. New Rules became effective 4/1/04. (11/2004)

Nebraska	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Sam Clinch Associate Executive Director Nebraska State Bar Assn. 635 South 14^th Street Second Floor P.O. Box 81809 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 475-7091 Fax: (402) 475-7098 Nebraska State Bar Association
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Ethical Consideration 2-14 currently forbids lawyers from holding themselves out as specialists until the state implements regulatory controls "to insure the existence of special competence." Lawyers may, however, indicate fields of law in which they practice or to which they limit their practice, as long as there is no implication of certification or official recognition as a specialist. New Rules have been proposed that would allow lawyers to advertise certification granted by ABA accredited certifying organizations. (11/2004)

Nevada	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Allen Kimbrough Executive Director State Bar of Nevada 600 East Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89104 Phone: (702) 382-2200 Fax: (702) 385-2878 State Bar of Nevada - Specialization
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Nevada has revised their Supreme Court Rules and Board of Governors Governing Rules to allow for communication of specialty certification under certain circumstances. Pursuant to Governing Rule #3, the Board of Governors reciprocally approves all certifying organizations accredited by the ABA. (11/2004)

New Hampshire	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Dave Peck New Hampshire Supreme Ct. Frank Rowe Kenison Building Concord, NH 03301 Phone: (603) 271-2646 Fax: (603) 271-6630
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The New Hampshire Rules of Professional Conduct permit communication of specialty certification if certified by an ABA accredited organization. (11/2004)

New Jersey	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification	Programs Sponsored by the Supreme Court Board on Attorney Certification Civil Trial Criminal Trial Matrimonial Workers’ Compensation Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Wendy L. Weiss Staff Attorney New Jersey Supreme Court Bd. on Attorney Certification 25 West Market Street Trenton, NJ 08625 Phone: (609) 984-3077 Fax: (609) 396-9056 New Jersey Board on Attorney Certification
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Lawyers may communicate information regarding certification subject to the following requirements: (1) The communication must not be false or misleading and (2) must state the name of the certifying organization, including certification granted by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or by an ABA accredited organization. Where the organization has not been approved or has been denied approval by either the New Jersey Supreme Court or the ABA, such information must be "clearly identified in each such communication by the lawyer" [Rule 7.4(b)]. (11/2004)

New Mexico	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification	New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization Certification Programs Appellate Practice Bankruptcy-Business Bankruptcy-Consumer Civil Trial Consumer Criminal Trial Employment & Labor Law Environmental Estate Planning, Probate & Trusts Family Law Federal Indian Law Local Government Law Natural Resources Real Estate Taxation Workers’ Compensation	Jenny Oram Court Related Programs Assistant Director N.M. Board of Legal Spec. 5125 Masthead NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 Phone: (505) 797-6057 Fax: (505) 797-6097 ls@nmbar.org State Bar of New Mexico - Legal Specialization
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: New Mexico Rule of Professional Conduct 16-704 permits lawyers to state that they are specialists in particular fields of law. However, an attorney who is certified by an entity other than the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization must include "a prominent disclaimer that such certification does not constitute recognition by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization" unless the lawyer is also recognized by the board as a specialist in that area of the law or the board does not recognize specialization in that area. [Rule 16-704(C)]. (11/2004)

New York	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Kathleen Baxter Counsel New York State Bar Assn. One Elk Street Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 463-3200 Fax: (518) 487-5694 ethics@nysba.org www.nysba.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes, but with a discalimer.
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Disciplinary Rule 2-105 allows lawyers to identify themselves as specialists if they have been certified by an organization approved by the Appellate Division of the state court or accredited by the ABA. However, the rule requires lawyers who identify themselves as specialists to include the following disclaimer: "The [Name of Private Certifying Organization] is not affiliated with any governmental authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law." The rule also permits lawyers certified through other state affiliated certification programs to identify themselves as specialists, but requires a similar disclaimer: "Certification granted by the [Name of State Certification Program] is not recognized by any governmental authority within the State of New York. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law." (11/2004)

North Carolina	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification	North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Law Consumer Bankruptcy Law Criminal Appellate Practice Federal Criminal Law State Criminal Law Estate Planning & Probate Law Family Law Immigration Law Real Property Law: Business, Commercial & Industrial Real Property Law: Residential Transactions Workers' Compensation Law Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Alice Neece Mine Assistant Executive Director North Carolina State Bar – Board of Legal Specialization 208 Fayetteville Street Mall P.O. Box 25908 Raleigh, NC 27611-5908 Phone: (919) 828-4620 Fax: (919) 821-9168 www.nclawspecialists.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Rule 7.4 permits lawyers to communicate information regarding certification where awarded by the North Carolina State Bar, organizations approved by the state bar or organizations accredited by the ABA. Such communications must state the name of the certifying organization and must not be false or misleading. (11/2004)

North Dakota	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Christine Hogan Executive Director State Bar Assn. of N.D. P.O. Box 2136 Bismarck, ND 58502-2136 Phone: (701) 255-1404 Fax: (701) 224-1621 www.sband.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct do not mention lawyer specialization or certification. Rule 7.1 prohibits lawyers from making "false or misleading" statements – e.g. those containing material misrepresentations or assertions that cannot be substantiated – in communications [Rule 7.1(a)]. (11/2004)

Ohio	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Programs Accredited by the Supreme Court Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists Private Certifying organizations Business Bankruptcy Consumer Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Criminal Trial Advocacy Creditors Rights/Debt Collection Elder Law Family Law Advocacy OSBA Programs Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Family Relations Federal Taxation Labor & Employment Real Property - Business, Commercial & Industrial Real Property - Residential Ohio Workers' Compensation	Diane Chesley-Lahm The Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists 30 East Broad Street Columbus, OH 43266-0419 Phone: (614) 728-0991 www.sconet.state.oh.us Melissa Quick Specialization & Certification Manager Ohio State Bar Association 1700 Lake Shore Dr. Columbus, OH 43204 (800) 282-0556 ext. 4411 Ohio State Bar - Specialization Program
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Disciplinary Rule 2-105 permits lawyers to hold themselves out as specialists in accordance with rules issued by the state supreme court [DR 2-105(A)(1)]. Lawyers may communicate information regarding certification awarded by unapproved "bona fide" private organizations, but such communications must include "a statement that the certifying organization is not approved by the Supreme Court Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists" [DR 2-105(A)(5)]. (11/2004)

Oklahoma	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		William Sullivan Executive Director Oklahoma Bar Assn. 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036 Phone: (405) 416-7000 Fax: (405) 416-7001 www.okbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Oklahoma Rule of Professional Conduct prohibits lawyers from indicating that they are specialists unless certified by the state supreme court. To date, the state supreme court has not implemented a plan to either certify attorneys directly or approve certifying organizations. Rule 7.4(4) allows lawyers certified under another state's licensing authority to communicate the fact with a disclaimer that such certification is not recognized by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. (11/2004)

Oregon	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Karen Garst Executive Director Oregon State Bar 5200 SW Meadows Road P.O. Box 1689 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 Phone: (503) 620-0222 Fax: (503) 684-1366 www.osbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Not Needed
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Disciplinary Rule 2-101 does not permit lawyers to state or imply that they specialize, concentrate or limit their practice if the statement or implication is false or misleading [DR 2-101(A)(4)]. A proposal to change to the Model Rules would not result in a change in treatment of certified specialists. (11/2004)

Pennsylvania	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Civil Trial Advocacy Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Business Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Consumer Bankruptcy Elder Law Family Law Trial Advocacy	Diann Stinney Pennsylvania Bar Association 100 South Street P.O. Box 186 Harrisburg, PA 17108-0186 Phone: (717) 238-6715 Fax: (717) 238-1207 www.pabar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: A lawyer may not state that he or she is a certified specialist unless the certification is awarded by an organization approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – through the Pennsylvania Bar Association – or by a direct certification program established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court [Rule 7.4(a)]. Pennsylvania does not offer direct certification, but accredits programs sponsored by private certifying entities. Programs sponsored by the American Board of Certification and the National Board of Trial Advocacy have been approved. (11/2004)

Rhode Island	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Helen Desmond McDonald Executive Director Rhode Island State Bar Assn. 115 Cedar Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 421-5740 Fax: (401) 421-2703 www.ribar.com
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Rhode Island Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 provides that a lawyer may not state or imply that he or she is a specialist, except in the areas of patent and admiralty law. Lawyers are permitted to state that their practices are "limited to or concentrated in particular fields of law" as long as the communication contains a disclaimer indicating that "the Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The court does not license or certify a lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice" [Rule 7.4]. (11/2004)

South Carolina	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification Private Certification Approval	South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on CLE & Specialization Certification Programs Bankruptcy & Debtor/Creditor Estate Planning & Probate Employment & Labor Taxation Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Civil Trial Advocacy Criminal Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Mary A. Germack Executive Director S.C. Supreme Ct. Comm’n. on CLE & Specialization 950 Taylor St, Suite 120 Columbia, SC 29202 Phone: (803) 799-5578 Fax: (803) 799-4118 www.commcle.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Pursuant to Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4, a lawyer certified under the Rules of Lawyer Competence may "advertise or state publicly … that (he or she) is certified as a specialist in the pertinent specialty field by the Supreme Court of South Carolina" [Rule 7.4(a)]. Non-Certified lawyers who indicate that they concentrate or limit their practices are prohibited from using the words "certified," "specialist," "expert" or "authority" in advertisements and other statements referring to their qualifications [Rule 7.4(b)]. The Supreme Court Commission selects the fields of practice in which certification is offered and is also authorized to approve "organizations which certify lawyers as specialists in specialty fields in which the Supreme Court of South Carolina does not certify specialists" [Rule 408(b)(2)(G)]. Under this authority, South Carolina recognizes ABA accreditation of private certifying organizations in specialty areas that it does not directly certify. (11/2004)

South Dakota	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Law Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Laurence J. Zastrow Bar Counsel State Bar of South Dakota 222 East Capitol Pierre, SD 57501-2596 Phone: (605) 224-7554 Fax: (605) 224-0282
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: South Dakota Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 designates the ABA as the appropriate regulatory authority to accredit certifying organizations and provides for lawyers’ communication of information regarding certification where the certification is awarded by an ABA accredited program. While lawyers certified by non-accredited programs may reference information regarding certification, they must include a disclaimer clearly stating the absence or denial of ABA accreditation [Rule 7.4(c)(2)]. (11/2004)

Tennessee	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Private Certification Approval	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	David Shearon Executive Director TN Supreme Court Comm’n. on CLE & Specialization Nashville City Center 221 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 300 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 741-3096 Fax: (615) 532-2477 www.cletn.com
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: The Tennessee Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization is authorized to establish programs and to accredit programs that certify lawyers in designated areas of law. Rule 7.4 provides that lawyers certified as specialists by the Supreme Court Commission may state, "Certified as a (Area of Practice) Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization." Lawyers certified by the Commission may also reference other certifications, provided that the certifying entity is recognized or accredited by the Commission and that the certifying organization is listed. To advertise as a certified specialist, an attorney must be certified by the Commission. Certification by a national agency alone is not sufficient. (11/2004)

Texas	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	Direct Certification Private Certification Approval	Texas Board of Legal SpecializationCertification Programs Administrative Law Business Bankruptcy Civil Appellate Civil Trial Commercial Real Estate Consumer Bankruptcy Consumer & Commercial Law Criminal Law Estate Planning & Probate Family Law Farm & Ranch Real Estate Health Law Immigration & Nationality Juvenile Law Labor & Employment Oil, Gas & Mineral Personal Injury Trial Residential Real Estate Tax Worker's Compensation Private Certification Programs Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Trial Advocacy Elder Law	Gary W. McNeil Executive Director Texas Board of Legal Specialization 505 E. Huntland Drive Suite 400 Austin, TX 78752 Phone: (512) 453-7266 (800) 204-2222 ext. 1454 Fax: (512) 453-7220 www.tbls.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Rule 7.04 prohibits lawyers from advertising that they are certified except where the certification has been awarded by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization [TBLS] or an entity accredited by the TBLS [Rule 7.04(b)(2)]. Lawyers certified by the TBLS may state, "Board Certified, (Area of Specialization) – Texas Board of Legal Specialization" and lawyers certified through programs accredited by the TBLS may state, "Certified (Area of Specialization), (Name of Certifying Organization)" [Rule 7.04(b)(2)(i),(ii)]. Other specializations require a disclaimer either that the area advertised is "Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization" or that "No designation has been made by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for a Certificate of Special Competence in this area", whichever is appropriate. (11/2004)

Utah	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Billy L. Walker Senior Counsel Utah State Bar 645 South 200 Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: (801) 297-7039 Fax: (801) 531-9912 www.utahbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Utah Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 prohibits lawyers from holding themselves out as specialists and forbids them from indicating that they have been certified unless such communications comply with state supreme court rules regulating lawyer specialization [Rule 7.4(b)]. To date, the Utah Supreme Court has not adopted rules to regulate lawyer specialization or certification. (11/2004)

Vermont	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Law Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	Robert Paolini Executive Director Vermont Bar Association P.O. Box 100 Montpelier, VT 05601-0100 Phone: (802) 223-2020 Fax: (802) 223-1573 www.vtbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Vermont has adopted Rule 7.4 of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Under this rule, lawyers are permitted to communicate information regarding specialty certification – without a disclaimer – where the certification is awarded by an organization whose program is accredited by the ABA. Such communications must include the name of the certifying entity. Lawyers certified by non-accredited programs must include the name of the certifying entity as well as a disclaimer stating that "there is no procedure in Vermont for approving certifying organizations" [Rule 7.4(c)]. (11/2004)

Virginia	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		James McCauley Virginia State Bar 707 East Main Street Suite 1500 Richmond, VA 23219-2800 Phone: (804) 775-0565 Fax: (804) 775-0501 mccauley@vsb.org www.vsb.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 permits lawyers to communicate information regarding certification, provided that such communications include the name of the certifying organization and state that "there is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying organizations" [Rule 7.4(d)]. (11/2004)

Washington	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Robert Welden General Counsel Washington State Bar Assn. 2101 Fourth Avenue 4^th Floor Seattle, WA 98121-2330 Phone: (206) 727-8232 Fax: (206) 727-8325 bobw@wsba.org www.wsba.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: State Rule of Professional Conduct 7.4 permits lawyers to use the terms "certified," "specialist," "expert" or similar terms to describe their qualifications. However, communications using the preceding terms to reference board certification must: (1) be truthful and verifiable; (2) not be misleading; (3) identify the entity which granted the certification; and (4) state that the Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law and the certificate, award or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in the state. (11/2004)

West Virginia	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Thomas R. Tinder Executive Director West Virginia State Bar 2006 Kanawha Blvd. East Charleston, WV 25311-2204 Phone: (304) 558-7993 Fax: (304) 558-2467 tindert@wvbar.org www.wvbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: West Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct restricts claims of specialization to lawyers practicing in the fields of patent and admiralty law. The State Bar appointed a commission to explore a new approach to regulating specialization and board certification. The Board of Governors approved the Report and Recommendations, submitting them to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. However, the Court did not approve the proposed lawyer specialization program. (11/2004)

Wisconsin	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None	Private Certification Programs Accounting Professional Liability Business Bankruptcy Civil Trial Advocacy Consumer Bankruptcy Creditors’ Rights Criminal Law Trial Advocacy DUI Defense Law Elder Law Estate Planning Law Family Law Trial Advocacy Juvenile Law - Child Welfare Legal Professional Liability Medical Professional Liability	George Brown Executive Director State Bar of Wisconsin 5203 Eastpark Blvd. Madison, WI 53718-2101 Phone: (608) 257-3838 (800) 728-7788 Fax: (608) 257-5502 www.wisbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	Yes
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 20:7.4 permits lawyers to state or imply that they are "certified" or that they are "specialists" – or use words of similar import – where they have been certified "by an organization or authority whose specialty certification program is accredited by the American Bar Association" [SCR 7.4(c)]. (11/2004)

Wyoming	Program Type	Specialty Areas	Contact Information
	None		Rebecca A. Lewis Chief Bar Counsel Wyoming State Bar 500 Rendall Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: (307) 632-9061 Fax: (307) 632-3737 www.wyomingbar.org
	ABA Accreditation Recognized
	No
Regulatory Scheme & Status: Wyoming Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2 requires lawyers to include the following disclaimer in communications concerning specialization and certification: "The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer’s credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise" [Rule 7.2(g)]. (11/2004)

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State Status Report on Lawyer Specialty Certification

Last updated on: 11/06/2006