Legal Specialization: A Handbook

(Paperback)

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This book explores the growing field of legal specialization, which benefits both the public and the individual attorney/specialist. As the practice of law evolves and the number of licensed practitioners grows, more and more lawyers are focusing on a particular area of practice. In response, a number of states have instituted formal programs through which an attorney with sufficient experience and skill can undergo the testing and peer review process to be recognized as a board certified specialist in their area of expertise.

This volume addresses two aspects of specialization. For attorneys who are considering whether to seek specialization, the contributors discuss both the process of becoming certified and the professional and marketing advantages that follow. For those in states that do not now have a certification process, this book contains detailed information explaining how to set one up in coordination with the state's official bar organization.

The book's contributors acknowledge that the specialization can be a controversial topic in some legal circles and address the issues raised by those who do not see a need for such programs. However, the practice of law is becoming increasingly complex. While legal specialization may not become the norm, it will continue to attract those attorneys who have become particularly adept in their field. This book shows the way.

Author Bio

Robert H. Edmunds, Jr. graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Following service in the U.S. Navy as a line officer, he began work as an assistant district attorney. He later became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, then was appointed U.S. Attorney for that district by President Ronald Reagan. After leaving that position in 1993, he was a partner with the Greensboro, N.C., firm of Stern& Klepfer. While there, he was board certified as a specialist in state and federal criminal law in 1993 and as a specialist in appellate practice in 1994. In 1998, he was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and in 2000 was elected to the Supreme Court of North Carolina, a position he held through two terms. After leaving the Supreme Court, Mr. Edmunds became counsel at the firm of Fox Rothschild, LLP, practicing appellate law. In 2024, he was named Jurist in Residence at High Point University School of Law, where he teaches legal writing and criminal law while maintaining his practice with Fox Rothschild.