Board Certified Lawyer
July 13, 2016On behalf of Terence Gross of Gross & Schuster, P.A. posted in Gross & Schuster – Discussion on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
As a trial lawyer, I routinely take doctors’ depositions. I am amazed that almost every doctor is board certified and that they can become board certified shortly after rece
iving their medical license. This process is completely different as it relates to lawyers. First of all, a lawyer must have been practicing at least five years before he or she can apply for certification. The lawyer must also make a showing of enough initial trial experience in that given area to show that the lawyer has an expertise in that subject. The lawyer then must receive recommendations from at least two circuit judges and six lawyers of proficiency in that area.
When I first became board certified in 1993, the requirement was 15 jury trials to verdict. Due to tort reform, jury trials are not as frequent as they used to be as it relates to personal injury cases. As a result, even though Florida has approximately 100,000 lawyers, only around 1,000 are board certified in civil trial law. Both myself and my law partner, Charlie Schuster are board certified civil trial lawyers. When the public is seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer, this should be part of their research. Another way to check out the qualifications of a lawyer is through Martindale Hubbell, which is one of the oldest and most recognized rating entities of lawyers in the United States. Their highest rating that they give is an “AV” rating and I am proud to say that I have been AV rated since the 1990s as well. Although I don’t know the exact number, I would doubt that there are more than 500 lawyers in the State of Florida that are both board certified and AV rated.
If you wish to check out more information about our law firm, please feel free to surf our website. As the managing partner of Gross & Schuster, I am proud to say that we now have four offices throughout the panhandle from Pensacola to Milton, to Crestview and Ft. Walton Beach. Please feel free to contact us regarding any personal injury matter.
