In July’s issue of Bench & Bar, we provided the current roster of all MSBA Certified Legal Specialists in the areas of Civil Trial (189 Minnesota attorneys), Criminal Law (56), Labor & Employment Law (103), and Real Property Law (272). The designation “certified specialist” provides the professional with a time-honored method of informing the public and their peers that their specialty qualifications have been tested, documented, and certified by an accrediting organization.
The MSBA has been an accredited agency of the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification since 1987, but did you know that there are five other entities that certify Minnesota attorneys in other specialty areas? The other agencies include the American Board of Certification, whose certification areas include Business Bankruptcy (5 Minnesota attorneys), Consumer Bankruptcy (2), and Creditors’ Rights (1); the International Association of Privacy Professionals, which certifies in Privacy Law (5); the National Board of Trial Advocacy, which certifies in the areas of Civil Trial (57), Criminal Law (7), Family Law Trial Advocacy (12), and Truck Accident Law (1); the National Association of Counsel for Children, which certifies in Child Welfare Law (0); and the National Elder Law Foundation, which certifies in Elder Law (3).
Many of our members are certified in these areas and we’d like to congratulate them on their achievements as well. You can find more information on these other certifying bodies and the certification process at www.blc.mn.gov/accredited-agencies.