Coral Springs personal injury trial attorney Dan Cytryn has been certified by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer for more than 35 years.
For attorneys in Florida, board certification isn’t something you can simply go out and buy. It can only be earned over years of ethically practicing law.
Every lawyer practicing in Florida has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law in this state. That’s the bare minimum. Board certification is a separate, voluntary credential on top of the bar license. Board certification is for a very small group of lawyers who have demonstrated real skill, experience, and ethics as a lawyer in their specific practice area.
There are a couple dozen different legal specialties where a lawyer can be board certified. Civil trial law is one of those specialties.
The minimum standards to become board certified in civil trial law in Florida include:
- Practiced law for at least five years;
- Maintained substantial involvement in civil trial law;
- Handled at least 15 contested civil trials;
- Attended at least 50 hours of approved continuing legal education in the three years immediately preceding application for board certification;
- Underwent peer review by judges and other attorneys; and
- Passed a written examination.
One thing worth keeping in mind is that when you retain a board-certified civil trial lawyer, you know that the attorney handling your case has met – and continues to meet – these stringent standards set by the Florida Bar. Board certification in civil trial law is valid for five years. After those five years, the attorney has to apply for recertification.
How Many Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyers are there in Florida?
As of August 2026, there are approximately 860 board-certified civil trial lawyers in all of Florida. This means that well under 1% of the attorneys across the state are board certified in civil trial law.
Becoming Board Certified Means the Attorney has to Spend Substantial Time Practicing Civil Trial Law
An attorney must devote at least 50% of their overall law practice to civil trial law, and that has to be during the three years immediately preceding the application for board certification.
Becoming Board Certified Requires Real Trial Experience
One of the most important aspects of civil trial board certification is the trial experience requirement. Under The Florida Bar’s current standards, an attorney seeking initial certification must have handled at least 15 contested civil trials personally, including jury trials, serving as lead counsel.
In other words, the attorney seeking board certification in civil trial law actually has to be a civil trial lawyer.
Continuing Legal Education Requirement
An attorney seeking to be board certified in civil trial law must attend at least 50 hours of approved continuing legal education in civil trial law within the three years before applying. This is designed to make sure the lawyer stays up to date on the latest changes to Florida law and other issues impacting civil trial lawyers and their clients.
Other Lawyers and Judges Evaluate the Applicant
As part of the civil trial board certification application, the attorney applicant lists judges and other attorneys, including opposing counsel, who've been involved in cases with the applicant. These judges and other attorneys are later asked to confidentially give their opinion on the attorney applicant’s competence, character, ethics, and professionalism.
So, board-certified civil trial lawyers are actually judged by judges and by attorneys who were on the other side of cases against them.
The Written Examination
An attorney seeking board certification in civil trial law also has to pass a written exam that’s designed to test whether the lawyer has the necessary knowledge, skills, and ethics of a civil trial law specialist. The exam tests on a combination of topics including litigation skills, evidence, ethics, and civil procedure. The test is administered in two sessions and is composed of short and long essays and multiple-choice questions. The attorney needs to score at least 70% on the exam to pass.
Why Does Trial Experience Matter in a Personal Injury Case?
Insurance companies and defense attorneys know which Florida lawyers regularly fight and are willing to take their cases to trial. They also know which attorneys are likely to fold and settle, even when that might not be what’s best for the client. A lot of attorneys, even some who claim to be trial lawyers, are much too quick to settle their cases and not risk going to trial.
But a board-certified civil trial lawyer must have a real and substantial track record of taking cases to trial.
Choose a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer for Your Florida Accident Case
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, slip and fall, or any other incident in Broward, Palm Beach, or anywhere else in Florida, give us a call today at (954) 833-1440 for a free consultation to discuss your case.