01/10/2019

OSBA Certifies Area Attorneys As Specialists

They join a total of 703 OSBA-certified attorneys across the state

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) today announced that it has newly certified 16 lawyers as specialists in six legal practice areas. The list can be accessed here. They join a total of 703 OSBA certified attorneys across the state.

All attorneys licensed to practice law in Ohio must have graduated from an accredited law school, passed an intensive examination and attend continuing legal education courses as required by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Some attorneys who devote a large part of their practices to a particular area of the law choose to go beyond these requirements to earn specialty certification.

“Certified attorney specialists have worked hard to hone their skills and perfect their craft in a specific area of law,” said OSBA President Robin Weaver. “In doing so, they meet rigorous standards and maintain their credentials all in an effort to better serve their clients. The OSBA is pleased to work with these dedicated attorneys and we congratulate them on their achievements.”

Attorneys seeking certification must satisfy several criteria: demonstrate substantial and continuing involvement in a particular field of law, meaning they must devote at least 25 percent of their practice to that area of law; submit five professional references attesting to their competency in the specialty area; have earned a minimum of 36 hours of intermediate or advanced continuing legal education (CLE) credits in the specialty area during the past three years as part of the CLE hours required of all attorneys; pass a written examination; prove financial responsibility by maintaining minimum professional liability insurance coverage and remain in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio. Each certified specialist must file annual reports attesting to compliance with program requirements, and must be recertified every six years by meeting all of the original requirements for certification excepting the written examination.

“In the complex and ever-changing field of elder law, the only way to effectively serve clients is to become an expert,” said Dayton elder law attorney Brittany O’Diam Horseman. “The certification process is an excellent way to demonstrate to clients that I am truly dedicated to providing the highest possible level of service to the elder community.”

Westerville attorney Christopher Tamms, certified specialist in family relations law, said that the certification process was involved but fulfilling: “I am honored to be able to demonstrate to my clients and colleagues my commitment to the complex and dynamic area of the law that is family relations law.”

The Supreme Court of Ohio established a Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists to identify specialties and set minimum standards for specialty certification. The Commission accredits the certifying agencies of which the OSBA is the largest in the state.

The OSBA is currently accredited to certify specialists in 11 areas of law, including administrative agency; appellate; elder; estate planning, trust and probate; family relations; federal taxation; insurance coverage; labor and employment; business; commercial and industrial real property; residential real property and workers’ compensation.

Attorneys who wish to become certified in 2019 can apply for certification online through the OSBA website at www.ohiobar.org between January and June.