Rule 7.4A - State Bar Approval of Organizations That Certify Lawyers as Specialists The board of governors of the state bar may, for the purposes of Rule 7.4, approve organizations that certify lawyers as specialists in accordance with this Rule. The board of governors may, in its discretion, appoint a committee to assist the board in implementing a program for the approval of certifying organizations. Any such committee shall be comprised of members of the state bar and such others whom the board of governors deems necessary and proper.
(a)Rules; authority. The board of governors shall implement rules and standards by which the board approves organizations to certify lawyers as specialists in particular areas of law, and which describe the conditions and procedures under which such approval shall be granted, maintained, and revoked. The board shall retain jurisdiction to approve, deny, or revoke approval of a certifying organization under this Rule and may establish fees for administering its duties under this Rule. At its discretion, the board may delegate any other duties associated with approving specialty certification organizations as it deems necessary and proper.(b)Minimum standards for certifying organizations. To be approved under this Rule, in addition to meeting the standards adopted by the board of governors, an organization that certifies lawyers as specialists in a particular area of the law must make certification available to all lawyers who meet objective and consistently applied standards relevant to the specialty area of law.(c)Duration of approval; renewal; revocation. The board's approval of the certifying organization shall be valid for a period of 5 years, subject to discretionary renewal upon application by the organization. The board of governors may revoke approval of a certifying organization at any time for violation of this Rule or violation of any other terms and conditions of the approval. Notice of a decision to deny approval, deny renewal, or revoke approval shall be provided to the petitioning organization and an opportunity to appeal provided. Added; effective 5/1/2006.