When you’re hiring an attorney, you want to be confident in their ability to defend you from the criminal charges that you’re facing. Whether this is somebody experienced, generally knowledgeable about criminal justice, or well-respected among their peers, you want the right person for the job. One of the best ways to narrow down your search for a quality lawyer is to look for a board-certified attorney. If you’re not sure what it is about board certification that sets these lawyers apart from others, our team at Candela Law Firm has put together a few differences that you’ll find.
Rigorous process to complete
Getting a board certification isn’t an easy process. Not all attorneys are willing to take the extra time to go through the process to obtain this distinction. In fact, fewer than 1% of all attorneys receive board certification during their careers.
The first step in the process is ensuring they meet the unique requirements for continuing legal education. The legal world is always changing with new precedents being set each year so all attorneys must earn a specified number of hours of continuing education credits. Board certification dictates that a certain number of those hours fall directly within the specialty in which the lawyer is applying for certification. Additionally, an attorney must have a certain number of felony trials under their belt to demonstrate expertise. Not all attorneys practice felony law so this can be difficult or nearly impossible to obtain.
The final step to earning board certification is a competency exam that tests understanding of state and federal laws and sentencing. Again, if an attorney doesn’t have a significant amount of experience with federal cases, they’re not likely to be nearly as familiar with these laws and practices compared to someone who is regularly involved with them.
Advanced skill level
The previously mentioned exam is designed to test the current and up-to-date knowledge and skill level of an attorney. When a criminal defense attorney takes this rigorous test, they will be required to demonstrate expert-level comprehension of the rights of a defendant as well as the arresting officers and the state. Beyond rights, they must show ethical practice and an understanding of current guidelines and trends in the world of criminal justice.
Strong reputation in the legal community
When you hire a board-certified attorney, you’re working with someone who has been vetted by several organizations, including the American Board of Certification. These organizations require that attorneys have significant legal experience in their designated field before being given a board certification. As someone who didn’t go to law school or has never practiced law, you might not have an understanding of what all goes into gaining legal experience, so a recommendation from legal organizations can go a long way to providing you with the guarantee that your lawyer is experienced and knowledgeable.
National recognition
When you’re having an attorney fight criminal charges for you, it’s important that you’re well represented. Board certification makes it well known at the negotiation tables and in the courtroom that your representation knows what they’re doing. A prosecutor will often understand the significance of having a board-certified attorney on the other side of the aisle from them so they’ll be much more likely to work with them. What’s more, your team with have the respect of the judges in your case as well.
Speak with a board-certified attorney
If you need a good defense lawyer, get in touch with our team at Candela Law Firm by sending a message via our contact form. Anthony Candela is a three-time board-certified attorney who will provide you with excellent legal representation in your case. He believes you’re innocent until proven guilty and will fight for you and your rights.
