Who is a Certified Family Law Specialist?
Of the 100+ attorneys in the Reno-Sparks area that advertise for family law clients, many have little to no experience in family law. Only about 16 practice family law exclusively and 4 of those 16 are in our Office. Marilyn York is one of about (16) other practicing Certified Family Law Specialists. These are generally the serious-minded Family Law achievers and some old-timers who received this specialist certification gratuitously.
FAMILY LAW SECTION, STATE BAR OF NEVADA
THE STANDARDS FOR BOARD CERTIFIED SPECIALIZATION IN FAMILY LAW
All applicants and board-certified attorneys must be active members in good standing of the State Bar of Nevada and the Family Law Section, and must demonstrate substantial involvement and special competence in Nevada family law practice as set forth herein.
3.2 Applicants… must during each of the five (5) years immediately preceding application, as measured on a time-spent basis, have devoted at least fifty percent (50%) of the total practice of a lawyer engaged in a normal full-time practice, to the practice of Nevada family law….
Applicants must demonstrate their substantial involvement and special competence in Nevada family law during the five (5) calendar years immediately preceding application by providing information to establish their involvement as:
3.4.1 Principal counsel in at least thirty (30) contested family law cases each calendar year….
3.4.2 Principal counsel in at least ten (10) contested hearings or trials… which are two (2) hours or more in length and involve testimony of witnesses.
To attest to the applicant’s expertise in family law, applicants shall submit the confidential reference form… to the following individuals:
4.1.1. Not more than eight (8) Nevada attorneys who are familiar with the competence of the applicant and have been opposing counsel to the applicant either in litigation, hearing or negotiation of a family law matter….
4.1.2 Two (2) judges of any Nevada Court before whom applicant has appeared as an advocate in a family law matter and who are familiar with the competence of the applicant. At least one (1) of the two (2) judges must attest to the applicant’s expertise and recommend certification of the applicant as a specialist before the application is approved.
Applicants must have completed an average of eighteen (18) hours of Continuing Legal Education in family law (hereinafter “CLE”) over the previous five (5) calendar years immediately preceding application….
All applicants for certification and recertification must carry professional liability insurance….
…The certification examination… shall be objective in nature and shall include at least 50, but not more than 200 multiple choice questions, on which the applicant must receive a score of at least 85% to pass.