California's certified specialist program

What California's Certified Specialist program in estate, trust and probate law requires, and how to verify an attorney's status.

California is one of the states with its own state-bar certification for attorneys who work in wills, trusts and estates: the State Bar of California's Certified Legal Specialist program in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. What follows is about that program only: what it requires, and how to check whether a specific attorney currently holds it. Other states run their own certification programs in this specialty, if any; they are not addressed here.

The State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization certifies legal specialists in several areas of law, including Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.

Source: The State Bar of California, Legal Specialty Areas

What the certification requires

The State Bar describes a certified legal specialist as an attorney who has:

• Passed a rigorous examination in a specific area of law.
• Practiced law for at least five years, spending at least 25 percent of their legal work practicing in the specialty area.
• Completed additional continuing legal education in the specialty beyond the standard requirements.
• Received favorable evaluations from peers and judges familiar with their work.
• Demonstrated comprehensive experience by handling a variety of matters in the specialty area.

Source: The State Bar of California, Find a Certified Specialist

Staying certified

Certification is not permanent, and it is not a one-time exam. To remain a certified specialist, an attorney must also:

• Complete 36 hours of continuing legal education in the specialty area on a three-year cycle.
• Recertify and submit a $371 processing fee every five years.
• Pay a $382 Legal Specialization Program fee annually.

Source: The State Bar of California, For Current Certified Specialists

How to check a named attorney's status

Although the State Bar cannot make attorney referrals, its own Attorney Search tool can help confirm whether a specific attorney is a current certified specialist.

On the State Bar's Attorney Search tool, click Advanced Search, then scroll to Cert. Legal Specialty and select a legal specialty from the drop-down menu. Clicking the Advanced Search button brings up a list of certified legal specialists in that specialty, which can be sorted by name, status, bar number, city, and admission date, making it possible to check whether a specific attorney's name appears on the current roll.

Source: The State Bar of California, Find a Certified Specialist

A roster listing is one data point, not the whole picture. How to choose a probate litigator covers what else is worth asking at a first consultation, and ACTEC Fellow vs. board certification covers how a different kind of credential, ACTEC Fellow status, is earned.

This page describes California's own program only and is general information, not legal advice.