What is required for a lawyer to claim specialization in a particular area of law?

To claim specialization in a particular area of law, a lawyer must have certification by an approved organization, and this certification must be disclosed to clients and others. This requirement ensures that the lawyer has met specific standards of proficiency and expertise in the area of law they are claiming to specialize in. It helps maintain the integrity of the legal profession and provides clients with a reliable measure of a lawyer's qualifications.

The need for certification emphasizes the importance of recognized, objective criteria in establishing a lawyer's expertise rather than relying solely on subjective measures such as public recognition or personal experience. This structure is in place to protect clients from misleading claims of specialization and to uphold high standards within the legal field.

In contrast, compliance with state guidelines alone does not necessarily equate to specialization without the backing of certification. Similarly, while public recognition by peers or handling a certain number of cases might suggest expertise, these are not formal requirements recognized by the ABA Model Rules for claiming specialization.