Forms

BEGINNING THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS

• Register for the October 2013 examination if you have been practicing since January 2012 or longer in the specialty area. 
• Haven't been practicing since January 2012? Then start with the Sample post-exam application (plan ahead, begin tracking your tasks and education requirements)and also mark your calendar for the examination in 2015, date TBD.
• Petition for Testing Accommodations when taking the 2013 legal specialist examination (Applicants who require testing accommodations may concurrently submit a petition with the registration form).

POST EXAMINATION APPLICATION FOR OCTOBER 2011 EXAMINATION PASSERS

Examination results were mailed on February 28, 2012. Results will be not be released via phone, fax, or email.  

Appellate  Bankruptcy Criminal Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Family

Franchise and Distribution  Immigration and Nationality  Legal Malpractice Taxation  Workers' Compensation

Congratulations on successfully passing the October 2011 examination. Keep in mind; although, you have passed the examination, it does not entitle you to hold yourself as a certified specialist. Take the next step to becoming a certified specialist by completing the appropriate specialist application. After completing this step, your full application will be ready for Board review.

CURRENT CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS

Applications for Recertification (due every five years)

Admiralty and Maritime -- TBD Appellate Bankruptcy Criminal Estate Planning, Trust and Probate  Family

Franchise and Distribution -- TBD Immigration and Nationality  Legal Malpractice -- TBD Taxation Workers' Compensation

Serving on the Board of Legal Specialization or the Advisory Commission

The application period is closed for 2013. The next application period for State Bar commission close on February 1, 2014, with application posted in Fall 2014.

Apply to serve on the California Board of Legal Specialization.

Apply to serve on an advisory commission in a particular area of law Online Application.

Tolling Forms for Judges

Judicial Service Declaration - Requesting Tolling of Status and Annual Fee (see Rule 12.7)

Retire or Resign Your Certified Legal Specialist Status Permanently

Certified Specialist Retirement/Resignation Form

FOR EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS

Applications for Approval of Individual Education Activity (for educational providers)

Apply here to request approval to grant legal specialization credit for your educational program in these substantive areas of law. Securing approval will also allow you to provide MCLE credit for these programs. For more information, please refer to Educational Provider Information. Providers can apply for this approval in advance or up to two years after the program is offered.

Admiralty and Maritime Appellate Bankruptcy Criminal Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Family

Franchise and Distribution Immigration and Nationality Legal Malpractice Taxation Workers' Compensation

Sample Evaluation Form — To be distributed to attendees of your approved programs. Providers must ask all of the questions on California's sample form, either by using the official California form or by including California's questions on their own evaluation form.

Application for Multiple Activity Provider Status (for educational providers)

After a provider has had four activities approved during the preceding two-year period, a provider can apply for Multiple Activity Provider (MAP) status, which allows the provider to offer legal specialization credit in the approved substantive certified specialty area for a three-year period.  Providers can apply to be MAPs directly by providing the four individual activity approval requests, the MAP application and appropriate fees for all five applications in one envelope.

Other Forms

• Application for Proposed New Specialty (See Standards for Determining the Creation of a New Specialty.)

Contact Us

Questions? Contact the Department of Legal Specialization at LegalSpec@calbar.ca.gov or at 415-538-2120.