TWENTY-TWO PALM BEACH COUNTY LAWYERS, INCLUDING J. MICHAEL BURMAN, MAINTAIN BOARD CERTIFICATION, THE FLORIDA BAR’S ‘LEGAL EXPERT’ STATUS, FOR 30 YEARS
J. Michael Burman Founded the Law Firm of Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman in 1980; Practice Areas Include Complex Commercial Litigation, Insurance Litigation, and Personal Injury
West Palm Beach, FL, February 18, 2013 — Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman, a West Palm Beach Litigation Law Firm focusing on personal injury, commercial litigation, insurance bad faith, and family law, congratulates founding partner J. Michael Burman for maintaining board certification from The Florida Bar for three decades. Burman is one of 22 Palm Beach County lawyers and one of just 221 Florida Bar members who earned legal board certification in civil trial or tax law in 1983 and have remained certified for ever since.
In Florida, only board certified lawyers may use the terms “specialist,” “expert” or “B.C.S.” for Board Certified Specialist when referring to their legal credentials. "Maintaining board certification for 30 continuous years is a significant professional accomplishment," said Florida Bar President Gwynne A. Young of Carlton Fields in Tampa. "These individuals are leaders by example in Florida's legal profession and we salute their commitment to excellence and professionalism in the practice of law."
Board certification evaluates attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. About 4,600 of Florida’s 93,000 lawyers have earned board certification. Florida offers 24 specialty areas for board certification, more than any other state.
About J. Michael Burman
For more than 40 years, Burman has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading lawyers. Most recently, he was named to the Super Lawyers 2013 list, the South Florida Legal Guide’s 2013 Top Lawyers listing, and Best Lawyers "2012 Lawyer of the Year" for West Palm Beach as well as the Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions category. He has been profiled in The Best Lawyers in America over the last twenty years, and he is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and included in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He has earned Florida Bar Board Certification, the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar for the competency and experience of a civil trial attorney and is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Before entering private practice, Burman prosecuted capital crimes as a Criminal Division Chief for the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. Today, he specializes in complex commercial litigation, personal injury, wrongful death and insurance bad faith litigation. He also serves as an arbitrator or mediator on selected major cases. Burman has secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of the Firm's clients in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and insurance bad faith. In the area of complex commercial litigation, he has both successfully prosecuted and defended multi-million dollar claims. In addition to his full-time law practice, Burman has served on the Judicial Nomination Commission for the 15th Judicial Circuit as a chairman and member. He also served on the Grievance Committee for the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Burman is a member of the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, The Florida Bar, the Florida Justice Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and the Palm Beach County Justice Association. Burman is admitted to practice throughout the State of Florida and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, as well as before the United States Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice in the state of Colorado. More information on Burman can be found here.
About Board Certification
Board certification is The Florida Bar's highest evaluation of attorneys' competence and experience in one or more of the 24 areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Florida Bar board certified lawyers must demonstrate ability and experience in their fields and professionalism within the legal community. A lawyer who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and who meets the standards prescribed by the state's Supreme Court may become board certified in one or more of the 24 certification fields. Minimum requirements for certification are listed below; each area of certification may contain higher or additional standards.
To become a board certified specialist, a lawyer must be an active member in good standing of The Florida Bar; practice law for a minimum of five years; complete approved legal education programs; demonstrate substantial experience in the specialty area; be favorably evaluated by judges and other lawyers as to competency and professionalism in the specialty field; and pass a comprehensive written examination in the specialty area or satisfy strict criteria to exempt the exam.
Board certification is valid for five years. During that time, the attorney must continue to practice law and attend Florida Bar-approved continuing legal education courses. Recertification requirements are similar to those for initial certification. Not all qualified lawyers are certified, but those who are board certified have voluntarily taken the extra step to have their competence and experience evaluated.
For more information, please visit The Florida Bar Web site at Floridabar.org/certification or contact The Florida Bar’s Legal Specialization & Education Department at 850-561-5842.