5 Reasons You Need a Florida Board Certified Attorney for Construction Law Matters
Rules governing the practice of law allow attorneys to handle client matters in a wide range of areas, as long as they pass the bar and meet other general requirements to remain good standing. However, lawyers can also seek board certification from the Florida Bar Association in specific legal topics. If granted, the distinction means that the person displays appropriate character, ethics, and reputation for professionalism required of any lawyer in any practice area – AND has also met the rigorous standards of knowledge in the relevant niche.
When you work in an exacting, highly regulated industry like construction, you assume that retaining a Florida construction attorney will provide numerous benefits. The following factors demonstrate that your assumption is correct.
- Experience Practicing Law: To be certified as a construction law attorney, an individual must have been practicing law for at least five years. It is not necessary that this person work exclusively in construction law, so any general legal area will suffice. By meeting this requirement, a lawyer will have several years of experience and understanding of essential legal principles.
- In-Depth Knowledge of Florida Construction Laws: Another requirement of board certification is taking and passing a written examination on the key concepts involved with construction law. The test covers a range of federal and state laws governing:
- Planning, design, and construction of public, commercial, and residential projects;
- Workplace safety and employment laws;
- Environmental issues;
- Building codes and zoning issues; and,
- Many others.
- Client Needs: An attorney seeking certification in Florida construction law must have spent three years engaged in “substantial involvement” in the specialty area; lawyers can meet these criteria by dedicating 40 percent of their practice to construction law. This rule aims to ensure the attorney has sufficient experience to serve a construction law client’s unique needs.
- Staying Current on Construction Law Developments: Two of the Florida Bar certification requirements ensure that a construction law attorney will know about recent issues affecting the field.
- Candidates must have earned 45 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) in construction law in the three years before applying; AND,
- The Florida Bar requires credentialed attorneys to apply for recertification every few years, and they must earn additional construction law CLE credits in the interim.
- Respect Among Colleagues in Construction Law: Another requirement for construction law board certification in Florida is “peer review,” which refers to what other attorneys in the same practice area think about reputation, professionalism, and other characteristics of the applicant. By meeting this factor, a lawyer has gained the respect of his or her colleagues and associates.
Talk to Our Board Certified Florida Construction Law Attorneys
If you are a contractor, property owner, or other company facing construction law issues and disputes, please contact Linkhorst & Hockin, P.A. today to learn about our legal services. Our founding partners are both Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the area of Construction Law, a credential held by only the most qualified attorneys in this field.
Resource:
floridabar.org/about/cert/cert-applications-and-requirements/cert-cl/
