TALLAHASSEE, March 31, 2005 – Consumers have a new, online resource to connect them with a directory of lawyers who are certified by The Florida Bar: www.flabar.org/certification links consumers to the Bar’s list of certified lawyers by specialty area and by city. Note: The Bar’s Web site lists all Florida attorneys by city.
Lawyers certified by The Florida Bar are available for comment, interviews or contribution to news stories. Tallahassee media contacts by certification area are listed below.
What is a board-certified attorney and why is the online directory important to consumers?
- Certification is a voluntary program for lawyers, approved by The Florida Supreme Court and administered by The Florida Bar. The program began in 1982 to help the public choose lawyers.
- Board Certification means that the certified attorney has met rigorous, objective standards and has demonstrated experience and expertise in a particular area of law.
- You expect that other professionals you deal with – doctors, dentists, accountants, teachers – will be independently certified. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have their competence and experience recognized.
- Certified attorneys are the only lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified,” as specialists or as experts.
Board-certified lawyers are specialists who meet Florida’s high legal standards. Only 3,800 of Florida’s 75,000 lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
- A minimum of five years in law practice
- A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
- A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
- Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
- Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements
Note: Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, requirements similar to those for initial certification must be met.
For more information, please call The Florida Bar’s Public Information Office at 850/561-5769.
Tallahassee Board Certified Lawyers Available As Media Contacts:
Halley B. (Hal) Lewis III/Fonvielle, Lewis, Foote & Messer – 850/422-7773, Civil Trial Law
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Michael Mattimore, Allen, Norton & Blue – 850/561-3503, Labor and Employment Law
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Joe Boyd/Boyd, Lindsey & Sliger – 850/386-2171, Real Estate Law and Marital & Family Law
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Tim Warfel - 850/942-1919, Wills, Trusts & Estates Law
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Kimberly (Kim) King/ Kimberly L. King, P.A. – 850/205-4500, Health Law and Antitrust & Trade Regulation Law
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Ethan Way, Way Law Firm, P.A. – 850/519-3199, Criminal Trial Law
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CONTACT: Lisa Garcia, APR
DATE: March 31, 2005
TELEPHONE: 850/561-5769
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BOARD-CERTIFIED LAWYERS AVAILABLE AS TAMPA-AREA MEDIA CONTACTS; FLORIDA BAR
OFFERS NEW LINK TO ONLINE DIRECTORY OF CERTIFIED LAWYERS
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TALLAHASSEE, March 31, 2005 – Consumers have a new, online resource to connect them with a directory of lawyers who are certified by The Florida Bar: www.flabar.org/certification links consumers to the Bar’s list of certified lawyers by specialty area and by city. Note: The Bar’s Web site lists all Florida attorneys by city.
Lawyers certified by The Florida Bar are available for comment, interviews or contribution to news stories. Tampa-area media contacts and their certification areas are listed below.
What is a board-certified attorney and why is the online directory important to consumers?
- Certification is a voluntary program for lawyers, approved by The >Florida Supreme Court and administered by The Florida Bar. The program began in 1982 to help the public choose lawyers.
- Board Certification means that the certified attorney has met rigorous, objective standards and has demonstrated experience and expertise in a particular area of law.
- You expect that other professionals you deal with – doctors, dentists, accountants, teachers – will be independently certified. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have taken the extra step to have their competence and experience recognized.
- Certified attorneys are the only lawyers allowed to identify or advertise themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified,” as specialists or as experts.
Board-certified lawyers are specialists who meet Florida’s high legal standards. Only 3,800 of Florida’s 75,000 lawyers are board certified. Minimum requirements are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
- A minimum of five years in law practice
- A satisfactory showing of substantial involvement in the field of law for which certification is sought
- A passing grade on the examination required of all applicants
- Satisfactory peer review assessment of competence in the specialty field as well as character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law
- Satisfaction of the certification area’s continuing legal education requirements
Note: Board certification is valid for five years, during which time the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. To be recertified, requirements similar to those for initial certification must be met.
For more information, please call The Florida Bar’s Public Information Office at 850/561-5769.
Tampa Area Board Certified Lawyers Available As Media Contacts:
Chris Knopik
Knopik Varner Moore
406 S Morgan St
Tampa Florida 33602-5434
813/221-3131 phone
813/221-3199 fax
cknopik@kvmlaw.com
Civil Trial Law
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Joe Bodiford
806 E Jackson St
Tampa Florida 33602-4149
813/222-0032 phone
813/843-4698 cell
joebodiford@tampacriminaldefense.com
Criminal Trial
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Patrick Hal Dekle
412 E Madison St Ste 808
Tampa Florida 336024616
813.2232300
pdekle@deklelaw.com
Civil Trial
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William Frederic (Bill) Jung
Jung & Sisco
100 S Ashley Dr Ste 1240
Tampa Florida 33602-5310
813/225-1988 phone
813/225-1392 fax
bjstampa@aol.com
Criminal Trial Law
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Joan M. Vecchioli
Johnson, Pope, Bokor,
Ruppel & Burns, LLP
P.O .Box 1368
Clearwater Florida 33757-1368
727/461-1818 phone
727/441-8617 fax
joanv@jpfirm.com
Labor & Employment Law
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Roland D. “Chip” Waller
Waller Mitchell & Barnett
5332 Main Street
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727/847-2288 phone
727/848-4183 fax
Roland.waller@rdwaller.com
Real Estate
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W.F. “Casey” Ebsary, Jr.
112 South Magnolia Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
813/222-2220 phone
813/225-0202 fax
www.centrallaw.com
centrallaw@centrallaw.com
Criminal Trial Law
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Jeffrey "Jack" Gordon
Maney & Gordon, P.A.
101 E Kennedy Blvd Ste 3170
Tampa Florida 33602 5151
813/221-1366 phone
813/223-5920 fax
j.gordon@maneygordon.com
Civil Trial Law
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Terry Christian
Terry Clifton Christian, P.A.
Dixon Legal Center
620 East Twiggs Street
Suite 203
Tampa, Florida 33602
813/228-7743 phone
813/228-6991 fax
TCCLawPA@aol.com
Criminal Trial and Criminal Appellate
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Fernando Perez III
1303 N Armenia Ave
Tampa Florida 33607-5310
813/254-8472 phone
813/254-0311 fax
F3IntLaw@aol.com
Immigration & Nationality Law
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Glenn Burton
Burton, Schulte, Et Al
PO Box 1772
Tampa Florida 336011772
830/245-6476 cell
813/221-0955 phone
813/490-0182 fax
gburton@law-burton.com
Civil Trial; all defense work (medical malpractice and products liability)
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John B Neukamm
Mechanik Nuccio
101 E Kennedy Blvd Ste 3140
Tampa Florida 33602-5151
813/276-1920 phone
813/276-1560 fax
jbn@floridalandlaw.com
Real Estate Law
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Karen Meyer Buesing
Zinober & Mccrea, P.A.
201 E. Kennedy Blvd., Ste.800
Tampa, FL 33602
813/ 224-9004 phone
813/223-4881 fax
kbuesing@zmlaw.com
Labor & Employment Law
www.zmlaw.com
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Michael P. Maddux
2102 West Cleveland Street
Tampa, Florida 33606
813/253-3363 phone
813/253-2553 fax
patteson@flash.net
Criminal Trial Law
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James J Kennedy III (Jim)
Buchanan Ingersoll PC
401 E Jackson St Ste 250
Tampa Florida 33602-5233
813/222-8180 phone
813/222-8189 fax
kennedyjj@bipc.com
Health Law
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CONTACT: David de Armas, Chair
DATE: March 30, 2005
TELEPHONE: 407/843-3300, ext. 13
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