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City County and Local Government Law Certification

City, County and Local Government Law board certification logoPurpose:

To identify those lawyers who practice city, county and local government law and have the special knowledge, skills, and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as board certified in city, county and local government law.

Who may apply?

Minimum standards for city, county and local government law certification, provided in Rule 6-18.3, include:

  • Practice of law for at least five years, or four years with an LL.M. in urban affairs or a related field;
  • Substantial involvement in the specialty of city, county and local government law – 40% or more – during each of the three years immediately preceding application;
  • 60 hours of approved city, county and local government law certification continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application;
  • Peer review; and,
  • A written examination.

Becoming Board Certified

All applicants for board certification or recertification should carefully read the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar to be sure you have met each of the requirements prior to filing your application. Unless the rules provide for a waiver of a specific requirement, each of the requirements must be met by the dates indicated in the rule.

New Applicants

The application filing period runs September 1-October 31 of a given year to determine eligibility to sit for the exam in May of the subsequent year (see calendar for details). Applications must be postmarked by October 31. Eligible applicants who pass the exam will be officially certified in August.

REAPPLICANTS

If you’re eligible to sit for the exam from a previous application, you may file the short application.

Recertification

According to the rules, no certification shall last for a period longer than five years. Find out when your recertification application is due.

All applications for recertification must be postmarked by midnight July 31 at the conclusion of the 5-year period of certification. All requirements for recertification are to be completed by this date. August 1 after the fifth year of certification is the effective date of recertification.A single 3-month recertification file extension will be granted if accompanied by a properly executed application for extension and payment of the appropriate fee.

Applications will be posted in April 2025.

STAFF LIAISON

Haley McQuaig
The Florida Bar
651 E. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2300
850-561-3152

City, County & Local Government Law Certification Field Established 1996