State Rules for Disclosing NBTA Certification

Peel v. Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of Illinois, 110 S.Ct. 2281 (1990), disallows any state from prohibiting disclosure of NBTA certification. However, each state can establish its own rules for the regulation of disclosure. The regulations are listed below along with a contact for further information. While we make every effort to ensure this information is accurate and current the final responsibility to know the rules in your state rest with you.

State	Contact	Address & Phone	Current Regulations
Alabama <<Return to Top>>	Edward Patterson	Alabama State Bar 415 Dexter Avenue PO Box 671 Montgomery, AL 36101 334-269-1515	Recognized by the Alabama State Bar
Alaska <<Return to Top>>	Stephen Van Goor	Alaska Bar Association PO Box 100279 Anchorage, AK 99510 907-272-7469	Rule 7.4(b) "a lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer has been certified as a specialist in a field of law by a named organization or authority, but only if that certification is granted by an organization or authority whose specialty certification
Arizona <<Return to Top>>	Marnie Leinberger	State Bar 111 West Monroe Street Suite 1800 Phoenix, AZ 85003 602-340-7327	Currently the Arizona State Bar only recognizes state run programs but there is an evaluation committee appointed to evaluate and implement a plan for recognition of certifying agencies. A recognition program has been drafted and awaits Board approval.
Arkansas <<Return to Top>>	James Neal	Supreme Court Justice Building - Room 2200 625 Marshall Street Little Rock, AR 72201 501-376-0313	No regulation regarding disclosure of certification and no efforts toward establishing a plan for recognizing specialists.
California <<Return to Top>>	Lorna Maynard	Office of Certification 180 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94105 415-538-2115	December 22, 1997: NBTA received official approval of civil and criminal applications for accreditation. June 29, 1999, NBTA's family law program accredited.
Colorado <<Return to Top>>	John S. Gleason	Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation 600 17th Street, Suite 200 South Denver, CO 80202 303-893-8121	Requires disclaimer language "Colorado does not certify attorneys as specialists in any field' on ads only. Disclaimer not required in a "law list, law directory, or a publication intended primarily for use of the legal profession." There is no indication
Connecticut <<Return to Top>>	Ralph Elliot	Connecticut Legal Specialization Screening Committee 185 Asylum Street Hartford, CT 06103 860-522-1216	Recognized by the Rules Committee of the Connecticut Superior Court as a certifier in the specialties of civil trial practice and criminal law fields of law. NBTA must petition the Rules Committee of the Connecticut Superior Court for recognition of the
Delaware <<Return to Top>>	Mary M. Johnston	Chief Counsel 200 West 9th Street Suite 300-A Wilmington, DE 19801 302-577-7042	Recognized by virtue of ABA accreditation
DC <<Return to Top>>	Susan Gilbert	Legal Ethics Counsel District of Columbia Bar 1250 H Street, NW 6th Floor Washington, DC 20005 202-737-4700 x231	Rule 7.1(a) "A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer's services. A communication is false or misleading if it: (1) contains a material misrepresentation of fact or law, or omits a fact necessary to make t
Florida <<Return to Top>>	John A. Boggs	The Florida Bar 650 Apalachee Parkway Tallahasse, FL 32399 904-561-5839	Recognized by virtue of ABA accreditation.
Georgia <<Return to Top>>	Steve Kaskowski	State Bar of Georgia 800 Hurt Building 50 Hurt Plaza Atlanta, GA 30303 404-527-8706	Rule 7.4 "A lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law. A lawyer who is a specialist in a particular field of law by experience, specialized training or education, or is certified by a recognized
Hawaii <<Return to Top>>	Carole R. Richelieu	Office of Disciplinary Counsel 1132 Bishop Street Suite 300 Honolulu, HI 96813 808-521-4591	Rule 7.4(c) "a lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer is certified as a specialist in a field of law by a named organization, provided that the communication (i) is not false or misleading within the meaning of Rule 7.1, (ii) clearly states the n
Idaho <<Return to Top>>	Michael Oths	State Bar PO Box 895 Boise, ID 83701-0895 208-334-4500	Recognized by the Idaho State Bar by virtue of NBTA application to the Bar and by virtue of ABA accreditation (Family Law approved 8/99).
Illinois <<Return to Top>>	Jerry Larkin	Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission 130 East Randolph Drive Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60601-6219 312-565-2600	Rule 7.4 (c) "Except when identifying certificates, awards or recognitions issued to him by an agency or organization, a lawyer may not use the terms "certified," "specialist," "expert," or any other, similar terms to describe his qualifications as a lawyer
Indiana <<Return to Top>>	Julia Orzeske	Indiana Commission for CLE 115 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-232-1943	August 24, 1998: NBTA received official approval of civil and criminal applications for accreditation. Family Law application currently under consideration.
Iowa <<Return to Top>>	Norman Bastemeyer	Supreme Court 521 East Locust, 3rd Floor Des Moines, IA 50309-1939 515-243-0027	Iowa approves certification on a case by case basis and requires the attachment of two disclaimers. One stating that the certifying agency is not a state run organization and the second stating that certification does not guarantee a higher level of comp
Kansas <<Return to Top>>	Stan Hazlett	Supreme Court 701 South West Jackson St. Return to Topeka, KS 66603 913-296-2486	Rule 7.4, "A lawyer may communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law" (Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct). Comment to the rule reads, "The provisions in Model Rule 7.4 dealing with designation as a special
Kentucky <<Return to Top>>	Bruce K. Davis	Kentucky Bar Association 514 West Main Street Frankfort, KY 40601-1883 502-564-3795	SCR 3.130(7.4), "...A lawyer may communicate the fact that he or she has achieved a national certificate by an organization qualifying under Peel V. Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of Illinois, 110 S.Ct. 22281 (1990), by clearly identify
Louisiana <<Return to Top>>	Catherine S. Zulli	Louisiana State Bar Association 601 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130-3404 504-566-1600	Currently the Louisiana State Bar only recognizes state run programs - while moratorium still stands there is momentum in the state for the next area of specialization to be civil trial. Louisiana does accept the recommendations of the American Board of
Maine <<Return to Top>>	Karen Kingsley	State Bar 97 Winthrop Street PO Box 1820 Augusta, ME 04332-1820 207-623-1121	Recognized by virtue of ABA accreditation.
Maryland <<Return to Top>>	Melvin Hirshman	Grievance Committee 100 Community Place Suite 3301 Crownsville, MD 21032 410-514-7051	A lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer's services. Use of the word 'specialist' is not permitted. There is no indication of a rule change in the near future.
Massachusetts <<Return to Top>>	Constance Vecchione	Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court 75 Federal Street Boston, MA 02110 617-357-8750	Rule 7.4(b) "Lawyers who hold themselves out as 'certified' in a particular service, field, or area of law must name the certifying organization and must state that the certifying organization is 'a private organization, whose standards for certification
Michigan <<Return to Top>>	Thomas K. Byerley	State Bar of Michigan Michael Franck Building 306 Townsend Street Lansing, MI 48933-2083 517-346-6300	While Michigan currently has no regulation the Michigan Supreme Court may be addressing a proposal to establish regulation for attorney certification in the near future.
Minnesota <<Return to Top>>	Sandi Erickson	The Supreme Court of Minnesota 25 Constitution Avenue Suite 110 St. Paul, MN 55155 651-297-1800	Recognized by Minnesota Supreme Court. Rule 113 states that an attorney who is certified as a specialist under this program may communicate the fact that the attorney is certified by the particular certifying agency as a specialist in the area of law inv
Mississippi <<Return to Top>>	Charlotte Williams	Supreme Court PO Box 249 Jackson, MS 39205 601-359-3694	Recognized by virtue of ABA accreditation
Missouri <<Return to Top>>	Sara Rittman	Acting Chief Disciplinary Counsel 3335 American Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65109 573-635-7400	Disclosure is allowed but disclaimer language is required noting that Missouri has no mechanism to approve certification programs. A rule change is not anticipated in the near future.
Montana <<Return to Top>>	Betsy Brandborg	State Bar of Montana PO Box 577 Helena, MT 59620 406-444-2634 (406-444-2621 general ext.)	Rule 7.4 (c) "a lawyer who is a specialist in a certain field of law by experience in the field, by specialized training or education in the field, or by certification by an authoratative professional entity in the field may communicate the fact of his or
Nebraska <<Return to Top>>	Dennis G. Carlson	Counsel for Discipline Nebraska Supreme Court 3808 Normal Blvd. Lincoln, NE 68506 402-475-7091	No regulation regarding certification although the words 'certified' or 'specialist' are discouraged by the bar unless the attorney has been certified by a bona fide organization. A rule change is not anticipated in the near future.
Nevada <<Return to Top>>	Ann McCarthy	Committee on Specialization 777 E. William Street #201 Carson City, NV 89701 775-885-7333	There is disclaimer language telling consumers to independently investigate any claims made by attorneys and the bar has not certified any attorneys as specialists. In July of 1999 the Board of Governors published their ambition to establish a plan of sp
New Hampshire <<Return to Top>>	Howard Zibel	Supreme Court Frank Rowe Kenison Supreme Court Building One Noble Drive Concord, NH 03301-6160	No approval mechanism in place permitting disclosure of certifications. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, in late 1999, rejected a proposed amendment to Rule 7.4(c) the would have allowed a lawyer to hold him/herself out as a specialist as accredited by a
New Jersey <<Return to Top>>	Wendy Weiss	Supreme Court PO Box 970 25 West Market Street Trenton, NJ 08625 609-984-3077	Approved by virtue of ABA accreditation.
New Mexico <<Return to Top>>	Christina M. Richardson	NM Legal Specialization PO Box 25883 Albuquerque, NM 87125	A lawyer who is certified in a particular area of the law by an organization other than the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization may so state so long as such certification is available to all lawyers who meet objective and consistently applied standar
New York <<Return to Top>>	Kathleen M. Baxter	New York State Bar Association One Elk Street Albany, NY 12207 518-463-3200	While disclosure was previously prohibited, New York adopted the rule, in June of 1999, that disclosure be permitted with disclaimer, "The NBTA is not affiliated with any governmental authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law
North Carolina <<Return to Top>>	Alice Neece Moseley	North Carolina State Bar 208 Fayetteville Street Mall PO Box 25908 Raleigh, NC 27611-5908 919-828-4620	Approved by virtue of ABA accreditation.
North Dakota <<Return to Top>>	Penny Miller	Supreme Court Judicial Wing/1st Floor 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND 58505-0530 701-328-2221	"(a) A lawyer shall not make false or misleading communication about the lawyer, a person professionally associated with the lawyer, or their services. A communication is false or misleading if it: (1) contains a material misrepresentation of fact or l
Ohio <<Return to Top>>	Diane Chesley-Lahm	The Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists 30 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43266-0419	Approved by the Ohio Commission on Certification of Attorneys as Specialists in civil and criminal trial law. Family law application approved in October, 1999.
Oklahoma <<Return to Top>>	Dan Murdock	Oklahoma Bar Association 1901 North Lincoln Blvd. PO Box 53036 Oklahoma City, OK 73152 405-524-2365	Rule 7.4(3) "a lawyer who is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law or law practice by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma may hold himself out as such, but only in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Court" (effective July
Oregon <<Return to Top>>	Martha Hicks	Oregon State Bar 5200 SW Meadows Road PO Box 1689 Lake Oswego, OR 97035 503-620-0222	Disclosure is allowed if not false or misleading. There are no prohibitions to stating NBTA certification.
Pennsylvania <<Return to Top>>	Janet Evans	Supreme Court Two Lemoyne Drive, 2nd Floor Lemoyne, PA 17043 717-731-7089	NBTA is an approved agency by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Family Law approved December 1998.
Rhode Island <<Return to Top>>	David Curtain	Supreme Court John E. Fogarty Judicial Annex 24 Weybosset St., 2nd Floor Providence, RI 02903 401-277-3270	Rhode Island requires attachment of disclaimer language that NBTA is not a state regulated agency. A rule change is not anticipated in the near future.
South Carolina <<Return to Top>>	Hal Miller	Supreme Court Commission on Specialization PO Box 2138 Columbia, SC 29202 803-799-5578	Approved by virtue of ABA accreditation and corresponding filing in South Carolina. Family Law approved August 1999.
South Dakota <<Return to Top>>	Thomas Barnett, Jr.	State Bar 222 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501-2596 605-224-7554	Rule 7.4 (c), "...If a lawyer or firm practices in only certain fields and desires to advertise such limitations... any such advertising must be accompanied by the following disclaimer..., (1)'Such certification is granted by an organization which has bee
Tennessee <<Return to Top>>	David Shearon	Supreme Court Commission on Specialization Nashville City Center 511 Union Street, Suite 1430 Nashville, TN 37219 615-741-3096	Recognized by virtue of ABA accreditation. Tennessee has accepted NBTA certifications in Civil, Criminal and Family Law as the first step toward certification in those areas in Tennessee. Until certified by the Tennessee Commission on continuing Legal E
Texas <<Return to Top>>	Steven W. Young	State Bar of Texas PO Box 12487 Capital Station Austin, TX 78711-2487 800-204-2222	Accredited by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization to certify in Civil and Criminal Trial Law. Family Law application is currently under consideration.
Utah <<Return to Top>>	Billy Walker	Office of Professional Conduct Utah State Bar Association 645 South 200 East Suite 205 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 801-534-9110	Rule 7.4 allows for a plan of approval by the Utah Supreme Court however no plan currently exists. An informal procedure exists that an attorney can state truthful information but should avoid the word 'specialist' in any claims. A rule change is not an
Vermont <<Return to Top>>	Wendy S. Collins	Conduct Board 109 State Street c/o Pavilion Office Building Montpelier, VT 05609-0703 802-828-3204	Previously not regulated but, as of Sept. 1, 1999, Vermont recognizes ABA accredited agencies.
Virginia <<Return to Top>>	Diana Balch	Virginia State Bar 707 East Main Street Suite 1500 Richmond, VA 23219-2803 804-775-0503	Disclosure permitted when accompanied by disclaimer language clarifying that there is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying organizations. A rule change is not anticipated in the near future.
Washington <<Return to Top>>	Christopher Sutton	Washington State Bar Assoc. 2101 Fourth Avenue Fourth Floor Seattle, WA 98121-2330 206-727-8284	Washington requires the attachment of specific disclaimer language stating, "the Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law and certification is not a requirement to practice law in the state of Wash
West Virginia <<Return to Top>>	Bruce A. Kayuha	Discipline Board 900 Lee Street East Suite 1710 Charleston, WV 25301 304-558-7999	No current regulation other than to prohibit use of the word 'specialist.' A draft report by the State Bar's Lawyer Advertising Commission's Subcommittee on Regulation (as appointed by the West Virginia Bar) re; regulation of attorney certification desig
Wisconsin <<Return to Top>>	Keith L. Sellen	Office of Lawyer Regulation Suite 315 110 East Main St. Madison, WI 53703-3383 608-267-7274	Approved by virtue of ABA accreditation. SCR 20:7.4(c)
Wyoming <<Return to Top>>	Bar Counsel	Wyoming State Bar 500 Randall Avenue PO Box 109 Cheyenne, WY 82003-0109 307-632-9061	Disclosure is allowed except disclaimer language is necessary in advertising. Rule 7.2 (g); if an attorney's advertisement contains information beyond that outlined in section (c) they must provide the specific disclaimer, "the Wyoming State Bar does not

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