Become a Certified Legal Specialist

We are now accepting applications for the Certified Civil Trial Law Specialist exam taking place on April 20, 2013 (deadline is March 29, 2013). Applications can be found on our website at www.mnbar.org/certify or by contacting Jessica Thomas at jthomas@mnbar.org or at 612-278-6318.

Although there are many attorney ratings systems, only certain lawyers may use the designation “Specialist”. These lawyers have been certified by a Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification accredited agency. Since the program began in 1988, attorneys in Civil Trial, Real Property,  Labor and Employment and Criminal Law have established the objective qualifications that define a “MSBA Certified Specialist” and have overseen certifying agencies in their specialties.

Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (MLM), with the approval and support of the Minnesota Board of Legal Certification, has created the Specialty Certification Credit program.  For Minnesota attorneys only, MLM will offer a 5% credit on professional liability insurance to attorneys that are certified.

We hope you consider joining the 796 MSBA Board Certified Specialist attorneys.

What are the benefits of becoming board certified?

Professionalism: Certification encourages attorneys to achieve and maintain a high level of experience and skill as a specialist.

Professional Recognition: Certification validates the lawyer's specialty. It allows the lawyer to explain the objective standards he has complied with in order to claim he is a legal specialist. Well recognized in other professional fields, certification allows discerning clients and referring attorneys to seek an attorney with proven credentials.

National Recognition: A MSBA Certified Legal Specialist may refer clients and referring attorneys to the American Bar Association's specialization website: www.abanet.org/legalservices/specialization/your.html

The MSBA Certified Legal Specialist program is listed as a certification source on the website.

What are the requirements for certification?

• Civil Trial Law Standards
• Criminal Law Standards
• Labor and Employment Law Standards
• Real Property Law Standards

When are the next exams?

Will becoming certified result in increased malpractice premiums?

Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (MLM), with the approval and support of the Minnesota Board of Legal Certification, has created the Specialty Certification Credit program. Launched on April 1, 2008, for Minnesota attorneys only, MLM will offer a 5% credit on professional liability insurance to attorneys that are certified in Civil Trial Law, Criminal Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Real Property Law.

To take advantage of this credit an attorney must notify MLM of their certification prior to obtaining a quote for coverage. The credit will only be applied to policies in Minnesota with effective dates of April 1, 2008 or later.