You expect certification from your doctor -
expect it from your lawyer too!
Board Certification means that the certified attorney has met rigorous, objective standards and has demonstrated knowledge in bankruptcy and/or creditors' rights law.
Hiring an attorney with expertise in any specialized field of law can be a bewildering experience.
As a client, you want to make sure your counsel is experienced in the particular field.
Unfortunately, prospective clients usually have little objective criteria on which to rely.
The American Board of Certification's (ABC) programs are designed to identify and recognize those attorneys in consumer or business bankruptcy who have met or exceeded rigorous certification standards relating to experience, continuing legal education, integrity, and peer review; in addition to demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the law in their specialty area.
To become certified as a bankruptcy specialist by ABC, an applicant must successfully complete a comprehensive day-long written examination covering (1) general bankruptcy/creditors' rights law (2) legal ethics, and (3) substantive questions in the specialty area. In addition, each applicant must show significant experience in legal matters and a substantial dedication of their practice to such matters, as well as providing professional references and participating in at least 60 hours of continuing legal education over a three-year period.
Richard E. West is the ONLY Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney in the Entire Dayton Area.Visit www.abcworld.org to learn more about the rigorous certification requirements and to see how few attorneys in Ohio are Board Certified. Under Ohio Law, only Board Certified Bankruptcy Attorneys are permitted to hold themselves out as Specialists. That's why you will not see any other attorneys in the area displaying that designation in any of their advertising.