LBLS accepting requests for certification applications in 2019

The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) is accepting applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification from Jan. 1, 2019, through Sept. 30, 2019. Applications are accepted from November 1st to February 28th of each year in appellate practice, estate planning and administration, family law, and tax law. Applications in health law were accepted until March 31, 2019 for the first year of the specialization. The health law application period will open again on November 1st.

In accordance with the Plan of Legal Specialization, a Louisiana State Bar Association member in good standing who has been engaged in the practice of law on a full-time basis for a minimum of five years may apply for certification. Further requirements are that, each year, a minimum percentage of the attorney’s practice must be devoted to the area of certification sought, and the attorney must pass a written examination to demonstrate sufficient knowledge, skills and proficiency in the area for which certification is sought and provide five favorable references. Peer review is used to determine that an applicant has achieved recognition as having a level of competence indicating proficient performance handling the usual matters in the specialty field. Refer to the LBLS standards for the applicable specialty for a detailed description.

In addition to the above, applicants must meet a minimum CLE requirement for the year in which application is made and the examination is administered:

• Appellate Practice — 15 hours of approved appellate practice law.
• Estate Planning and Administration — 18 hours of approved estate planning law.
• Family Law — 18 hours of approved family law.
• Health Law — 15 hours of approved health law.
• Tax Law — 18 hours of approved tax law.
• Bankruptcy Law — CLE is regulated by the American Board of Certification, the testing agency.

With regard to applications for business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law certification, although the written test(s) is administered by the American Board of Certification, attorneys should apply for approval of the LBLS simultaneously with the testing agency to avoid delay of board certification by the LBLS. Information concerning the American Board of Certification will be provided with the application form(s), and can be viewed at https://www.abcworld.org/.

Anyone interested in applying for certification should contact LBLS Specialization Director Mary Ann Wegmann, email maryann.wegmann@lsba.org, or call (504)619-0128. For more information, go to the LBLS website link listed above.