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Although 95% of personal injury claims may settle prior to going to trial, having a Florida Board Certified Trial Attorney is very important.  Board Certified Trial Attorneys prepare each personal injury case as though it was going to trial. This means full documentation of injuries and damages.  When an insurance company knows it is dealing with a Board Certified Trial Attorney, they are often  more likely to settle than go to court.

All personal injury attorneys may advertise, but only Florida Bar Board Certified attorneys may identify themselves as "Specialist", "Board Certified", "Expert" or use the letters "B.C.S." (Board Certified Specialist). Only 6% of Florida personal injury attorneys are Board Certified Attorneys. 

Certification is the highest level of evaluation by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of the attorney. The Florida Supreme Court established board certification in 1982 to help consumers identify specialists in the various practice areas.

To become a Certified Trial Attorney, an attorney must first be a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and meet the standards set by the Florida Supreme Court. Board certified civil trial attorneys have practiced for at least five years and been substantially involved in 30% or more in the area of civil trial law during the three years preceding application.  In addition, the attorney must have conducted at least 15 contested civil cases in the court of general jurisdiction during the attorney's practice which includes cases before a jury and as lead counsel. 

Also, certified attorneys must pass peer reviews, complete 50 hours of continuing legal education within the three years preceding application and pass written examinations which demonstrate knowledge, skills and proficiency in the field of civil trial law in order to justify the representation of special competence.

Every five years Board Certification must be renewed.  During this time attorneys must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses.  The requirements for re-certification are similar to those for the initial certification. 

Florida Bar President, Eugene Pettis, a Board Certified Education Lawyer said, "Board certification is becoming a standard of preference for an increasing number of clients. In an ever-crowded field of over 93,000 (Florida) lawyers, the achievement of board certification – the Bar's highest evaluation of a lawyer's competence and experience in a particular area of practice – is the only way of distinguishing an attorney as an expert or a specialist." 

"When choosing a personal injury attorney, potential clients need to make sure attorneys  handling the cases are Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Attorneys.  Many law firms in Florida do not have Board Certified Trial Attorneys handling personal injury cases. Experience shows insurance companies and corporate defense firms know that if they are facing a Board Certified practitioner, it is a force with which to be reckoned. I am a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, and I personally handle all personal injury cases and work to get my clients the best settlements and jury verdicts possible," said Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. "I devote 100% of my practice to personal injury matters."

Fort Myers Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%)  percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.