Rule 6-25.4 Recertification

The applicant must satisfy the following requirements for recertification:

(a) Substantial Involvement. The applicant must demonstrate a satisfactory showing of continuous and substantial involvement in the field of Florida and federal government and administrative law and throughout the period since the last date of certification as determined by the board of legal specialization and education and the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee. Substantial involvement means the applicant has devoted at least 40 percent or more of the applicant’s practice to matters in which issues of Florida and federal government and administrative law are significant factors and in which the applicant had substantial and direct participation in those Florida and federal government and administrative law matters. Experience working on matters exclusively involving city, county, and local government law (such as code enforcement, municipal financing and licensing, local referenda, ordinances, and zoning) does not constitute practical experience for purposes of obtaining state and federal government and administrative practice recertification. An applicant must furnish information concerning the frequency of the applicant’s work and the nature of the issues involved. Demonstration of compliance with this requirement may be made initially through a form of questionnaire approved by the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee and written or oral supplementation may be required. The board of legal specialization and education and the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee may accept an affidavit from the applicant attesting to the applicant’s compliance with the substantial involvement requirement.

(b) Education. The applicant must complete 50 hours of continuing legal education in state and federal government and administrative practice since the last application for certification or recertification. Accreditation of educational hours is subject to policies established by the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee or the board of legal specialization and education.

(c) Peer Review. The applicant must submit the names and addresses of 3 individuals, at least 2 of whom are lawyers and 1 of whom is a federal, state, or administrative law judge, to complete peer review forms. Individuals who currently practice in the applicant’s law firm or government entity may not be used as references. The applicant may provide the name and address of the head of a government entity or a member of a collegial board that serves as the head of a government entity in lieu of a judicial reference if the applicant has advised or appeared before the person within the 5 years preceding the application. Both lawyer references must be members of The Florida Bar. Individuals who currently practice in the applicant’s law firm or government entity or are relatives of the applicant may not be used as references. The board of legal specialization and education and the state and federal government and administrative practice certification committee may authorize references from nonlawyers.

(d) Waiver of Compliance. Any applicant for recertification who at the time of application is serving and has served full time for 3 or more years as an administrative law judge, arbitrator, hearing officer, or member of an administrative tribunal or panel is deemed to meet the recertification criteria. Added July 6, 2006, effective August 1, 2006, (SC06 1269), (933 So.2d 1123); amended and effective December 4, 2020 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors; amended and effective March 28, 2025 by The Florida Bar Board of Governors.