Specialization Home Page
MSBA Home Page

Newsletter

The MSBA certifies specialists in two fields:

Civil Trial

• Find a specialist
• Program requirements and forms
• Approved CLEs

• Find a specialist
• Program requirements and forms
• Approved CLEs

FAQ

• General Questions
• Applicants
• Current Specialists
• Advertising: Logos & Standards

Contact:
Jessica Thomas
Certified Specialist Manager
Minnesota State Bar Association
600 Nicollet Mall #380
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612/278-6318
800/882-6722

Certification
When you're on top of things

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 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 specialist may refer clients and referring attorneys to the American Bar Association's specialization website, www.abanet.org/legalservices/specialization/your.html. The MSBA certification program is listed as a certification source on the website.

Here are some comments about the benefits of certification from MSBA certified specialists:

"By setting some standards, we can expect the consuming public to feel more comfortable in dealing with those who are certified. In addition, it shows the public and other members of the bar that those who have been certified are willing to meet those standards and work at keeping themselves up to those standards."

"…it adds credibility to any attorney's resume."

"The requirements are sufficiently stringent that not everyone can attain certification. Thus, it has value to separate the certified lawyer as one with bona fide experience."

"It is a pleasure to be associated with lawyers whose lawyering abilities have been tested and have passed that test."

What are the requirements for certification and how can I get forms?

Please see the Program requirements and forms link on the certification website. Or call 612 - 278 - 6318 (800-882-6722).

Are there length of practice, practice involvement and CLE requirements I will need prior to my certification application?

Yes. Civil Trial applicants must have been in practice for five years. They must have devoted 50% of their practice to Civil Trial law. They must have attended 45 CLE credits in the area of Civil Trial practice in the three years prior to application.

Real Property applicants must have been in practice at least three years. They must have devoted 25% and not less than 300 hours per year of their practice to Real Property law. They must have attended 30 CLE credits in the area of Real Property practice in the three years prior to application.

What will happen when I file an application and how long is the application process?

You will be sent an acknowledgment that your application has been received. Your application will be reviewed for completeness and your statement that you are in compliance with certification standards. Any disclosure of ethical or professional misconduct will be reviewed by the Council and you will be notified if your application has been accepted. You will have to take the certification examination for your specialty area. Exams are offered twice a year by the Civil Trial program and once in even-numbered years by the Real Property program. The next Civil Trial examinations are April 12, 2008, and October 18, 2008. You are allowed to retake any portion of the Civil Trial examination you did not pass. After you have passed the examination, you will be asked to complete attachments documenting your compliance with program standards. Applicants have two years from the date of their initial filing to complete the process. You will be notified and receive a certificate suitable for framing once you have been certified as a MSBA specialist.

Will becoming certified result in increased malpractice premiums?

"The reality, …is that there is no statistical evidence certified lawyers incur increased premiums as a consequence of heightened credentials."

-- Stephin Nagin, April 2003 Florida Bar Journal, p. 27.

Prolegia also confirms that certification does not affect underwriting and does not have an impact on premium assessment.