Saturday, October 9, 2010 - Criminal Law Certification Exam Review Course

Labor and Employment certification: Frequently Asked Questions

Minneapolis Attorneys Join Elite Group of Certified Specialists

The Minnesota State Bar Association announces the certification of Andrew S. Birrell, Birrell and Newmark, Minneapolis; John W. Lundquist, Fredrikson & Byron, Minneapolis; William J. Mauzy, Law Offices of William J. Mauzy, Minneapolis; and Nancy Norman Sommer, Anoka County Attorneys Office, as the first MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists.  This new Certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification.

The certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. Certified attorneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their specific field and can use the designation of specialist to advertise their credentials. The MSBA has been accredited as an independent professional organization for certifying attorneys as Criminal Law Specialists, Real Property Law Specialists, Civil Trial Law Specialists and Labor and Employment Law Specialists. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 2% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. More information about Certified Legal Specialists is at http://www2.mnbar.org/certify.

With over 16,000 members, the MSBA is the state's largest and most influential voluntary organization of attorneys, providing continuing legal education and public service opportunities for lawyers, and assistance to the legal system. The MSBA has been accredited as an independent professional organization for certifying attorneys as Criminal Law Specialists since 2009.

The MSBA announces the certification of 17 attorneys as MSBA Board Certified Real Property Specialists, an achievement earned by fewer than 2% of licensed Minnesota attorneys. This certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification.

The newly certified specialists are:
Jeffrey R. Benson, Fredrikson & Byron
Katie L. Cole, Fredrikson & Byron
Robert F. Devolve, Leonard, Street and Deinard
Thomas Ross Donely, Severson, Sheldon, Dougherty & Molenda
Wayne E. Gilbert, River City Holdings
Bradley James Hintze, Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren
Brandi S. Kerber, Moor, Costello & Hart
Gregory E. Korstad, Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren
Cynthia C. Monturiol, General <ills
Travis M. Ohly, Ohly Law Office
Eric T. Olson, Law Office of Otten & Seymour
David K. Porter, David K. Porter Law Office
Catherine L. Sjoberg, Felhaber Larson Fenlon & Vogt
Patrick J. Stevens, TenA Companies
Paul H. Tanis, Jr., MacKenzie & Gustafson
Brian J. Taurinskas, Taurinskas Law Firm
Michael J. Viola, Hellmuth & Johnson

This certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification.

The certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. Certified attorneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their specific field and can use the designation of specialist to advertise their credentials.

MSBA Certified Legal Specialists

Many people seek out professionals who are board certified in their fields. Discerning clients expect proven credentials. Since 1987, the Minnesota State Bar Association has been approved as an independent professional organization for certifying lawyers as specialists.

Through testing, peer review from lawyers and judges, and documenting experience, the MSBA Legal Specialist Certification Program measures a lawyer's expertise in the specialty area. Although many lawyers limit their practice areas, only lawyers who successfully complete the application process and continue to meet all program standards may call themselves MSBA Certified Legal Specialists.

The Certified Legal Specialist designation is one way for the public to identify those attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in their specialty area and to find an attorney whose qualifications match their legal needs.

The goal of MSBA Certified Legal Specialist programs is to assist the public by identifying attorneys who meet objective specialty area standards for reliable knowledge and experience.