Board Certified Bankruptcy Lawyers in Biloxi, Mississippi | What Does Board Certified Mean?
Lawyer Advertising in Mississippi Regarding
"Specialization"
Many successful lawyers seek to distinguish themselves by becoming board certified in various areas of law. Mississippi's Rule of Professional conduct Rule 7.6 sets rules for lawyers who wish to advertise that they have a "specialty" or "specialize" in a particular area of law.
Though many states have certification programs or specialization programs in various areas of law, Mississippi has elected not to offer specialization programs to its members. However, Mississippi, like other jurisdictions that do not have specialization programs, does recognize that there are organizations that do offer programs that offer a specialization recognition. If a lawyer licensed in Mississippi wishes to apply for such a specialization and obtains it, that is permissible. However, if that lawyer wishes to advertise or place that specialization where the public can be exposed to it, that lawyer must adhere to the requirements of Rule 7.6. These requirements are as follows:
RULE 7.6 Communication of Certification or Designation
(a) A lawyer may communicate the fact that he or she has been certified or designated in a field of law by a named organization or authority, but only if that certification or designation is granted by an organization or authority whose specialty certification or designation program is accredited by the American Bar Association. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Rule, a lawyer may communicate the fact that he is certified or designated in a particular field of law by a named, non-American Bar Association organization or authority, but must disclose such fact and further disclose that there is no procedure in Mississippi for approving certifying or designating organizations and authorities.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 7.6(a), a lawyer may state or imply as follows:
1. A lawyer who is admitted to engage in patent practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office may use the designation "patent attorney" or a substantially similar designation; or
2. A lawyer engaged in admiralty practice may use the designation "admiralty," "proctor in admiralty" or a substantially similar designation.
Comments:
Rule 7.6(a) permits a lawyer to communicate that a lawyer has been certified or designated as a specialist in a field of law when the American Bar Association has accredited the organization's or authority's specialty program to grant such certification or designation. Certification or designation procedures imply that an objective entity has recognized a lawyer's higher degree of specialized ability than is suggested by general licensure to practice law. Those objective entities may be expected to apply standards of competence, experience and knowledge to ensure that the lawyer's recognition as a specialist is meaningful and reliable. In order to ensure that the consumers can obtain access to useful certification or designation information, the name of the certifying or designating organization or other agency must be included in any communication regarding the certification or designation. See, Peel v. Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Com., 496 U.S. 91 110 S. Ct. 2281, 210 L. Ed. 2d 83 (1990).
However, even though this Rule permits a lawyer to communicate that a lawyer has been certified or designated as a specialist in the field of law when the American Bar Association has accredited the organization's or authority's specialty program, a lawyer may communicate the fact that he is certified or designated in a field of law by a named, non American Bar Association accredited organization or authority, provided such fact is disclosed and further disclosure is made that there is no procedure in Mississippi for approving certifying or designating organizations and authorities. Recognition of specialization in patent matters is a matter of law and established policy of the Patent and Trademark Office, as reflected in Rule 7.6(b)(1).
Rule 7.6(b)(2) recognizes that the designation of admiralty practice has a long historical tradition associated with maritime commerce and the federal courts.
In Mississippi and in the area of Bankruptcy, an entity that Biloxi lawyers are able to publicly discuss their certification is a company called the:
American Board of Certification (ABC)
101 Second Street SE, Suite 904
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
(319) 365-2222
www.abcworld.org
They offer a certification in Business Bankruptcy and Consumer Bankruptcy.
If you wish to retain an attorney it is not essential that they be a "Specialist" in bankruptcy law to do an excellent job. However, if you wish to only choose a lawyer that has earned a "Specialization" from an ABA approved organization and you are unsure if they have a specialization, simply ask if they do hold such a specialization.
Serving clients throughout Southern Mississippi, including Biloxi, Coll Town, Escatawpa, Gautier, Gulfport, Hickory Hills, Latimer, Long Beach, Lyman, Missala, Moss Point, Orange Grove, Pascagolua, Pass Christian, Three Rivers, Vancleave, areas in the vicinity of Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Keesler Air Force Base, Naval Construction Battalion Center, and other communities in Harrison County.