BOARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

One of the primary goals of the Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists, Inc. (FALSS), is to further the education of its members.  In this regard, FALSS developed a Board Certification Program to enhance its members’ level of professional excellence by becoming Board Certified in a specialty area of law.  By attaining this designation, the members demonstrate their ability of competency through a higher level of achievement.

Administration.  The Certifying Board for the Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists, Inc., was established to develop the Board Certification Program.  This Board consists of legal support specialists, attorneys, and educators and is responsible for the content, standards, and administration of the Board Certification Specialty Area Examinations.  The Certifying Board is responsible for overseeing the content and accuracy of the questions, and the topics used for each specialty area.

Eligibility Requirements.  The Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists, Inc., has defined a legal support specialist as one who is presently or formerly employed in or interested in the legal profession.  Any member in good standing with FALSS is eligible to sit for a specialty area examination upon meeting the requirements set out below.  Non-FALSS members must abide by the FALSS Code of Ethics.  All examinees must meet the following criteria:

1.   Employed in the legal field on a full-time basis for five (5) years, with three (3) years in the specialty area of law.

2.   Provide verification of experience.

3.   Provide evidence of eight (8) hours of continuing education, five (5) of which shall be in the specialty area, prior to making application.

THE BOARD CERTIFIED SPECIALTY AREA EXAMINATION

Specialty Area Examination Structure.  The Specialty Area Examination takes four hours and focuses on the knowledge of the specialty area as well as questions on ethics, grammar, exercise of judgment, and general legal knowledge.  In order to attain the Board Certified designation, an applicant must achieve a passing score on the exam.

Fees.  The fee for taking the Specialty Area Examination is $75.00 for FALSS members, and $125.00 for non-FALSS members.