Certification of Lawyers

Q: Can lawyers claim they are experts in an area?

A lawyer cannot simply state they are experts in one area of law unless they are certified as an expert. Certification requires additional continuing legal education courses approved and accredited by the Mississippi Bar Association.

On the other hand, a law firm or attorney claiming it practices or concentrates in one particular area is more generally recognized as defining that attorney’ or firm’s experience as being predominantly in that stated area of law and, is acceptable.

In 2002, the American Bar Association modified the Model Rules allowing attorneys to claim specialization as long as they did not misrepresent themselves as ‘certified specialists.’

Amy Pietrowski is a former United States Marine Corps Gulf-War veteran, she has yet to serve as a juror.

As seen in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal’s “Ask a Professional.”