State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization

Purpose: The Board of Legal Specialization (BLS), under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court, administers the program for the certification of legal specialists in 10 practice areas: administrative, bankruptcy, construction defect, criminal law, estate and trust, family law, personal injury and wrongful death, real estate, tax, and workers’ compensation. Identifying attorneys who have a high degree of experience in certain fields of law improves the quality of legal services and provides useful information for those seeking legal services.

The 13-member BLS consists of eight practicing attorneys who are Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. The Board’s composition is four certified legal specialists and four lawyers who are not specialists, one representative from an ABA-accredited law school in Arizona, and four members of the public.

Openings: Two (2) non-attorney public members (vacancy terms to being upon appointment by the Supreme Court of Arizona). Two (2) attorney members (term to begin June 2026)

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: BLS members must –

• Possess the time, skill and patience to examine applications and peer review information submitted by attorneys seeking specialization certification or recertification.
• Understand the importance of applying the Supreme Court Rules pertaining to the process consistently and fairly.
• Attend approximately 12 meetings per year that normally convene at 4:00 p.m
• Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. The Board of Governors will submit nominations to the Arizona Supreme Court for its ultimate appointment.

Term: Four years.

Deadline: Applications are due by COB August 29, 2025. Questions? Contact Mabel.Ramirez@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7326.

Public Member Application

Lawyer Application