MINNESOTA COURT RULES

PROFESSIONAL RULES

Rules of the Minnesota State Boardof Legal Certification

114.Agency Standards for Certifying Lawyers

a.

Accredited agencies shall certify lawyers for a period not exceeding six (6) years.

b.

The accredited agency must verify that a certified specialist meets the following minimum standards:

(1) Is licensed in good standing and on active status in Minnesota.

(2) Shows by independent evidence "substantial involvement" in the field of law during the three-year period immediately preceding certification.

(3) Has at least three (3) written peer recommendations, in addition to references from lawyers or judges unrelated to and not in legal practice with the lawyer, which the accredited agency has verified.

(4) Has successfully completed a written examination of the lawyer's knowledge of the substantive, procedural and related ethical law in the field of law.

(5) Has provided evidence of having completed at least 20 hours every three (3) years of approved CLE activity that is directly related to the certified specialist's field of law, sufficiently rigorous and otherwise appropriate for a certified specialist.

(6) Has provided evidence of being current with CLE credit requirements in Minnesota and having been current throughout the period of application or recertification.

(7) Has promptly self-disclosed any discipline imposed upon the lawyer and has provided evidence that the lawyer is not on a disciplinary suspension or disbarred from the practice of law in any jurisdiction in which the lawyer is or was licensed.

(8) Has signed a release to share information with the Board from the files of the accredited agency.

(Amended effective September 14, 2023.)