A Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer or Board Certified Criminal Appellate Lawyer is the highest level of recognition The Florida Bar offers for lawyers practicing in the area of criminal law. Certified lawyers in criminal trial law are specialists or experts in the investigation, evaluation, pleading, discovery, taking of testimony, presentation of evidence, and argument of jury and non-jury cases.  Under The Florida Bar rules, only board certified attorneys are allowed to identify themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified”, as a “Specialist”, or as an “Expert” in a specific field of law.

Every lawyer certified in criminal trial law has practiced law on a full-time basis for at least five years. To become certified, the lawyer must have handled 25 criminal cases with at least 20 jury trials, tried to verdict, at least 15 of which involved a felony. Ten trials must have been tried with the lawyer as lead counsel. Each certified lawyer has had substantial involvement -- 30 percent or more -- in the practice of criminal trial law during the three years preceding application.  97 percent of Mr. Mairs’ practice has been devoted to criminal law since 1988.

Each board certified lawyer must also have passed peer review, have completed 45 hours of continuing legal education within three years preceding application, and have passed a written examination demonstrating knowledge, skills, and proficiency in the field of criminal trial law to justify the representation of special competence.  To maintain the certification, a lawyer must re-apply every five years and meet the above-listed requirements.  Mr. Mairs has continuously met these requirements since 1996.

The Mairs Law Firm
1514 Landon Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
(904) 598-0245
FAX (904) 598-0243
don@mairslaw.com